Grant recipients announced for the €500,000 Grassroots Music Venues Support Scheme
- Published on: 12 June 2025
- Last updated on: 16 June 2025
The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, has today announced the recipients of the Grassroots Music Venues Support Scheme. €500,000 has been provided in funding to assist small, established grassroots music venues to showcase the talent of emerging musicians across Ireland.
A total of 33 venues have been offered funding of up to €15,000 from the Night-Time Economy Grassroots Music Venues Support Scheme to support the continued programming of early-career musicians. Applications were received from a wide range of late-night venues including pubs, nightclubs and theatres. Venues in many rural towns and villages are being supported, with funding awarded to 16 venues outside of our major cities.
Following the announcement of the Scheme in March 2025, there was a high level of interest in this pilot scheme, with nearly 100 applications submitted before the scheme was closed.
Those approved for funding met the scheme’s eligibility criteria, which included a requirement to demonstrate evidence of a strong track record of regularly holding ticketed grassroots music events, showcasing emerging artists performing original music, spanning the years 2023-2024.
Minister O’Donovan said:
"Our grassroots music venues play a vital role in nurturing emerging musicians and providing them with an opportunity to hone their talent, and it is very important that we recognise their contribution to the music industry, particularly given the challenges these venues face.
"I look forward to seeing the diversity of genre and talent that will reach new audiences as a result of this funding over the months ahead. I’d also encourage music lovers from across the country to embrace the resource of their local venue and support artists in the early stages of their careers."
The Grassroots Music Venues Support Scheme is a Night-Time Economy initiative in support of the work of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce and following a recommendation emerging from Action 5 in the revised Night-Time Economy Action Plan.
This scheme will provide funding for a series of events showcasing grassroots artists performing live/electronic music they have written/created themselves. It is envisaged that these events will also provide employment for crew, light and sound engineering, marketing and PR, as well as increasing footfall to grassroots venues and contributing to a thriving night-time economy.
A total of 96 applications for funding were received.
Approved applicants
Venue name and location
- Arthurs Pub Dublin 8
- Bank Lane Waterford City
- Billy Byrne’s Kilkenny City
- Clearys Bar Newcastle West, Limerick
- Connollys of Leap Leap, Cork
- Coughlans Bar Cork City
- Dali Cork City
- DeBarra’s Folk Club Clonakilty, Cork
- Dolans Limerick City
- Hen’s Teeth Dublin 8
- John Cleere's Bar & Theatre Kilkenny City
- John Lees bar Tullamore, Offaly
- Kavanagh’s Bar and Venue Portlaoise, Laois
- Kennys Bar Lahinch, Clare
- Langtons Set Theatre Kilkenny City
- Levis’ Bar Ballydehob, Cork
- McHugh’s Drogheda, Louth
- Mike the Pies Listowel, Kerry
- Mo Chara Dundalk, Louth
- Pot Duggans Ennistymon, Clare
- Róisín Dubh Galway City
- Sin é Dublin 7
- Spirit Store Dundalk, Louth
- Tengu Dublin 1
- The Attic Doolin, Clare
- The Bernard Shaw Dublin 9
- The Commercial Bar Limerick City
- The Cornerstone Woodford, Galway
- The Grand Social Dublin 1
- The Lighthouse Dun Laoghaire, Dublin
- The Soundhouse Dublin 1
- The White Horse Ballincollig, Cork
- Wigwam Dublin 1