It’s fair to say as a nation we’ve built up a bit of a name for ourselves as being fond of an aul deoch or two (That’s Irish for a drink for all you outsiders)!
So, where is the best late-night watering holes in Ireland? Whether you’re looking for somewhere new to go out and boogie or you’ve just flown in for a weekend away, we have the top ten nightclubs in Ireland you must visit before you die.
With the turn of the century, Ireland has become one of the hotspots for tourists to travel to from destinations far and wide. We don’t always provide the best weather so what more of an excuse do you need than to check out our top ten list of nightclubs in Ireland?
10. The George (Dublin)
Located on Georges St, equipped with amazingly cheesy music and extremely friendly customer base, if you haven’t had a crazy night out at the George, you haven’t lived!
As the self-professed heart of LGBT in Ireland, oh it’s all about the G. With regular guest appearances from the queens of RuPaul’s drag race to the hottest international DJ’s, this low lit, velvet decorum late night club is not to be missed!
Address: South Great George’s Street South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2, D02 R220, Ireland
9. Sintillate (Sligo)
Overlooking the calm Garvoge river Sintillate, formally HMV Soundgarden, is an unbelievable space with incredible sounds. From the atmospheric lighting to the smoke machines you are sure to lose yourself to its scintillating charm.
Top named DJ’s & packed out dancefloors crowded with moving bodies for that sweaty, breathy night you’ll hardly remember but never forget! Oh God, it takes me back. I am feeling it now!
Address: Kempten Promenade, Sligo, Ireland.
8. TIME (Cookstown)
One of Northern Ireland’s most popular nightclubs, you are guaranteed a good TIME! A two-floor nightclub with two exclusive VIP areas, seven bars and includes a split-level outdoor bar & terrace.
TIME underwent a £500k facelift in 2015 making for an improved sound system, larger dance area and huge stage for the top DJ acts in and outside of the country.
You’ll feel like Kevin & Perry in Ibiza walking into the main dance area with strobe lights and smoke machines galore. The club keeps a jam-packed schedule and attracts huge crowds each weekend, the perfect place to go on a mad one!
Address: 40-42 James St, Cookstown BT80 8LT
7. Lavery’s (Belfast)
Lavery’s have been in operation for nearly 100 years, it’s a family owned traditional Irish pub and deceptively large space judging from its outside façade.
Comprised of four bars, not one but two roof gardens, plus a ground floor beer garden & NI’s largest pool room, there is plenty of places to get lost in.
On Saturdays, that’s when the party really kicks off, their sizeable open pool room is transformed into an alternative club, Beat Connection.
All of a sudden, this club night screams anything but traditional – The new age décor takes you to another dimension packed with enough lights to bring on a full-blown seizure and top DJ’s bouncing out the electronica, hip-hop and house.
The club attracts enormous crowds of the right people creating that friendly chilled vibe we come back for!
Address: 12-18 Bradbury Pl, Belfast BT7 1RS
6. Coyotes Late Bar & Club (Galway)
You can try to resist, but with its American hillbilly atmosphere littered with stars and stripes and 4 floors including the lit up outdoor bar the atmosphere in Coyotes is always pumping so much so even the staff are up dancing on the tables and on the buzz!
Coyotes can be forgiven for its smaller dance floor in the club as there is room for dancing at the main bar, or on the bar!
It’s renowned for its Hens & Stags packages offering Cocktail-Making Masterclasses, Poker Night’s, Dance Lesson’s or Karaoke, in fact, it holds its own X-factor type ‘Coyote Factor’ each year, this year with a cash prize for the winner of 3000 bleedin’ yo-yos!
Address: 34 Shop St, Galway, Ireland
5. The Foundry (Carlow)
Welcome to one of the swankiest clubs in Ireland. LED Palm trees, LED disco ball, that is in addition to an iconic video wall spanning more than 120 square metres with more than 500,000 LED lights, be te jayses that must have cost ‘em a pretty penny but visually it is stunning.
Lots of seating throughout and the Bamboo Bar is a heated smoking area and beer garden, a lovely and open area for chilling out and having a fag as well as checking out the big screen to see if the main stage is kicking off.
The Foundry claims some quality resident DJ’s including Today FM’s Bob Conway. Can be known to attract a younger crowd, the energy here is poppin’.
Address: Tullow St, Graigue, Carlow, Ireland
4. WigWam (Dublin)
Formally Twisted Pepper, Wigwam has gone full hipster. They have refined the space, perfected its sound system and deliver high quality live techno and house acts pumping out the good times until 3 am on Fridays & Saturdays.
Equipped with an arsenal of fabulous cocktails & open 7 days a week! For all you rummy connoisseur’s out there they stock over 100 different types of rum!
Ping pong tables are a nice touch reaffirming that new age hipster vibe they have going. One of the treasures of Dublin city.
Address: 54 Abbey Street Middle, North City, Dublin, Ireland
3. Pulse Nightclub (Letterkenny)
If you’re looking for the epitome of the VIP nightclub experience, Pulse has got you covered. Known for its decadence and extravagant décor this Letterkenny club has a lot to offer.
The dancefloor is veiled by crystal chandelier with so many lasers it’s like being on the set of entrapment.
There are 9 bars across 6 varied rooms, and each room is completely different from the last. There is a stage for live acts and DJ decks for the main dance floor as well as other little rooms for skiving off and having the chats with a potential fling! And in the secret garden room, there is a lovely cosy atmosphere.
Address: 55-61 Port Rd, Gortlee, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, Ireland
2. Dali (Cork)
Hold the phone! We have a new contender! Dali nightclub in Cork opened earlier in the year and this place is serious about house, techno & electro. They boast a team of the best sound engineers in the country.
Attributing their unrivalled sound to the biggest void acoustics install in Ireland along with the first Arcline 8-line array in the country, we don’t fully understand what this means but bottom line it makes the place sound great! Dali has serious character; the space is a national heritage a former cinema built in 1921 retaining most of its architectural features.
They have some serious DJ’s hitting the decks and lots of elbow room to electro-boogie ‘til your heart’s content!
Address: 13 Carey’s Ln, Centre, Cork, T12 RD00, Ireland
1. The Wright Venue (Dublin)
The wright is the height of opulence and luxury, hosting parties to a slew of top named celebs including Rihanna, Usher, Robbie Keane & the Irish football team, we got to give it to the Wright Venue.
This Multi-story, multi-award winning, multi-bar is frequently securing top DJ’s like Laid Back Luke & Afrojack, which is surprising considering it’s not as central as you would hope, but believe us, it’s worth the taxi fare out.
The sheer style of the place makes you feel like a celeb just for getting past the bouncers! State of the art Sound and lighting, crystal beaded chandeliers in the VIP rooms and packages named like ‘the godfather’, ‘300% Unicorn’ & our personal favourite ‘The last ride before you’re a bride’ The Wright Venue is, without a doubt, our top nightclub to see in Ireland before you die!
Address: South Quarter, Airside Retail Park, Crowscastle, Swords, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Written by Sinéad Murpy.
