Licensing laws in Ireland have been a constant hindrance on the country’s clubbing scene. Promoters face an uphill battle to bring big name DJs to clubs which are forced to close their doors at 3:00 am. When we compare our laws to those of our continental neighbours, who have truly embraced a 24 hour party culture, it seems that we have been left somewhat in the dark ages. The idea of someone being able to buy a drink after 2:30 am in Ireland is met with crazy notions of a country falling apart at the seams and the idea that young people need to be told when they have had enough, probably by someone who has never even stepped foot inside a nightclub.
Despite these obstacles, the clubbing scene in Ireland is flourishing and if you know where to look, there is always a party where you can go to keep your buzz going with other like minded people. Over the next few weeks Wunderground will be looking at some of the best underground party options the capital has to offer. This week we’ll be looking at the evolution of the early house.
What To Expect
What started of as a place for workers of unsociable hours to go and have a pint after their shift is now becoming a place where party lovers go to keep’er lit and combat the agonising wait till the offos open. Most of Dublin’s early houses operate a regulars only policy, so you can’t simply walk into any of the cities early doors pubs with a sound system and a bag of yokes and expect a party. There are however a select group of places who welcome roll over soldiers and are dedicated to giving people somewhere to go when everywhere else is shut. Inside these places you can expect a full on nightclub atmosphere, with blacked out windows keeping reality at bay well into the afternoon. Tunes will be banging and makeshift dance floors will be packed to capacity with glassy eyed party animals. Expect bright colours, flamboyant and fluorescent face paint and the very best dance moves coming from the hippest shaker and swingers on the block. The local language is a rough mixture of waffle and shite talk and the phrase “what was I talking about again” can be heard on repeat in all of the pub’s nooks and crannies.
Where To Look
Walking up George’s Quay on a Saturday morning one could be excused for thinking there was some kind of degenerates day out happening, with gangs of saucer eyed session heads with uncontrollable jaws in ill fitting 1970’s styled woolly jumpers lining the street. This however is not the case, what you are actually witnessing is the revelers of the Dark Horse Inn on their way back to the pub after an early morning visit to the local charity shop. The Dark Horse is definitely Dublin’s best known early house for those fond of a Saturday morning bop and has long had a reputation for throwing the very best parties. None more so than the Breakfast Club, where the menu consists of a host of local and international talent, pints, shots and whatever else you can get down your throat at 7:30 am and not a sausage in sight. There are also a number of other venues around the city center where early morning parties can be found, the Chancery Inn, Inn’s Quay and Club Nassau, Nassau street also have a reputation for being session friendly and recent Back Up Pony and Lollietrance parties have have proved to be very successful.
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What Will It Cost
Apart from years of anguish in later life caused by sleep deprivation and substance abuse, prices for entry to these parties often depend on what DJs are playing on any particular morning, usually it will cost between €8 – €10. Inside you will probably see some sort of drink promotions but don’t expect anything too cheap, treat it the same as you would with a night out. Also, put your best game faces on when approaching the doors as session victims are likely to be refused entry.
The popularity of these parties show that there is a demand for a 24 hour party scene in Ireland. Thanks to places like the Dark Horse and the promoters responsible for bringing us these early morning dens of iniquity we are given a little sample of what that would be like and for that we salute you.
Next week we’ll be looking at some of the city’s BYOB warehouse parties.
