Late night revellers will soon be able to enjoy nighttime light shows and DJ sets in a wide range of iconic cultural institutions like the National Concert Hall and IMMA.
And after that dancing could continue in nightclubs until as late (or early) as 6am.
Nightlife in Ireland is set for a transformation in the coming months with the creation of a new nighttime economy that will see later openings and more cultural events into the night.
A pilot programme will see six ‘night advisors’ sent out to six towns and cities over the summer to conduct pilot programmes and report back to the Arts Minister Catherine Martin.
Meanwhile, there is also major work being done in the Department of Justice by the minister there, Helen McEntee, on a massive overhaul of the country’s antiquated drink laws.
Among the reforms on the sale of liquor, we could see the abolition of Special Exemption Orders (SEOs), the official name for late night drinking licences, and extended opening times for nightclubs until as late as 6am.
Minister Martin said: “The establishment of nighttime advisors in the six pilot towns and cities will be a significant step towards securing a vibrant and importantly a more sustainable nighttime culture for all our citizens.
“The selection of these pilot towns and cities is a vital stage in this process and I would like to thank the CCMA (County and City Managers’ Association) and the local authorities for their leadership and support for this process.
“This is in direct response to an action in the Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce which I published last year.
“The Taskforce explored ways in which we could promote a thriving, inclusive and diverse nighttime Economy.
“It is crucial now that we follow up on their recommendations and act on them to create and support opportunities for audiences, venues, businesses and performers.”
One initiative already up and running for the past two weeks is from the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA).
The museum and arts venue has launched ‘IMMA Nights’ from mid-May until mid-September.
Each Thursday and Friday throughout this pilot season, IMMA will open the grounds of the 48 acres site to a range of activities including talks workshops, art, dance and theatre performances, DJs and live music.
The National Concert Hall (NCH) is developing a new festival encompassing the NCH campus which celebrates the new in music with a focus of electronic music and the visual arts.
The festival will present a number of major concerts in NCH’s main auditorium and will be driven by Dublin’s most exciting curators, artists and ensembles.
The Crawford Gallery in Cork will also have later openings and night tours.
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