Dublin's ambitious new plan to turn city into 'Europe's leading night-time hotspot'

The plan has three core pillars — cultural activity, mobility and transport, and safety — and aims to collaborate with local artists and foster relationships with night-time venues to pilot 'new, engaging and inclusive cultural programming'

Dublin City Council has unveiled a new “transformative plan” to position the capital as a leading night-time destination in Europe. On Monday, the council launched the Dublin City Night-time Economy strategy, which aims to create a dynamic, inclusive, and vibrant nightlife that will attract residents and visitors.

The plan has three core pillars — cultural activity, mobility and transport, and safety — and aims to collaborate with local artists and foster relationships with night-time venues to pilot “new, engaging and inclusive cultural programming”.

The task force will also advocate for increased frequency of public transport during peak the night-time and extended operating hours. The city also needs more late night venues.

And the group has outlined plans to identify safe waiting spaces for late-night transport hubs and to upgrade lighting in high-traffic areas to improve visibility and deter criminal activity.

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Ray O’Donoghue has been appointed as Dublin’s Night-Time Economy Advisor, and the plan is supported by the Department of Tourism. Speaking about the strategy, he said: “This plan is a call to action for all stakeholders to unite in crafting a sustainable, exemplary, world-class nightlife. It envisions a safer, more inclusive, and culturally vibrant Dublin. We want to make Dublin one of Europe’s top night-time destinations through tangible, on-the-ground initiatives.”

Tourism Minister Catherine Martin said the strategy marks “a crucial step forward in reimagining Dublin’s nightlife”. She added: “By supporting cultural vibrancy, we can unlock the full potential of our night-time economy. I believe that a thriving nightlife will not only boost the city’s economy but also strengthen our sense of community and make Dublin a more inclusive and exciting place to live and visit.”

This comes as Dublin city centre was given a coveted Purple Flag, an award it has consistently held since 2013. The accolade is given to cities for a standard of excellence in evening and night-time economy through a diverse cultural offering that is non-alcohol dependent, family-friendly, safe and vibrant.

Dublin Town CEO Richard Guiney acknowledged there have been “justifiable criticism” of the nightlife experience in the city centre but said challenges are being addressed. He said: “Securing the Purple Flag award for 2025 is evidence of the strength of city partnership and our determination to regain public support and engagement in the city, particularly after dark.”

There has been much criticism around Dublin’s nightlife since the pandemic, both from residents and businesses. Many clubs and late-night bars didn’t survive the closures, and young people are screaming out for more venues.

The Government signed off on a draft of the Sale of Alcohol Bill almost two years ago that proposes to increase trading hours of all bars and restaurants from 11.30pm to 12.30am and facilitate late-night opening of bars to 2.30am. Nightclub hours could also be extended to 6am as part of the changes. This was initially promised to be in operation by summer 2023, however, that has been pushed back on several occasions.

Taoiseach Simon Harris recently said it would be brought to Government this October but he’s not sure the legislation would be passed by the Oireachtas within the lifetime of this Government.

Dublin City Council said the initiative will take place over the next 18 months to two years. Its proposals include integrating more safe spaces in the city at night time, similar to a welfare area at a festival.

A spokesperson said: "Here, they can receive first aid or simply take a break if they’re feeling unsafe. We trialled this concept on Culture Night Late, where we had a medic, security personnel, and a welfare officer present. We’re now looking to roll it out on a more permanent basis."

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