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14th March 2025
05:53pm GMT
When Footloose hit cinemas in 1984, it was a campy, synth-scored rallying cry against small-town moral panic. Kevin Bacon moves to a town where dancing is banned and rallies the local youth to overthrow the joyless regime. It was a pop-cultural manifesto against puritanical overreach, disguised as a teen drama.
Forty years later, we’re living out footloose because the slow erosion of night culture means we are being priced out of dancing. Inflation means we’re slipping into a new wave of prohibitionism, with alcohol and nightlife bearing the brunt of the crackdown. But we can fend off this conservatism by voting with our euro and hitting the clurb with the fam.
So here’s a few ideas if you need them.
Location: Eden Quay, Dublin 1
Go for? Live DJs and late-night events
Location: Harcourt Street, Dublin 2
Go for? A lively crowd and strong cocktails
Location: Fleet Street, Dublin 2
Go for? Upstairs dance floor with indie and pop classics
Location: Leeson Street, Dublin 2
Go for? A cocktail bar that turns into a dance spot
Location: Harcourt Street, Dublin 2
Go for? A glamorous clubbing experience
Location: Harcourt Street, Dublin 2
Go for? Affordable drinks and a packed dance floor
Location: Red Cow Complex, Dublin 22
Go for? A big dance venue with themed club nights
Location: Great Strand Street, Dublin 1
Go for? Underground electronic music and late-night sushi
Location: Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Go for? A mix of live gigs and club nights
Location: Parliament Street, Dublin 2
Go for? LGBTQ+ friendly dance nights and themed parties
Location: Wexford Street, Dublin 2
Go for? Indie music and an upstairs dance floor
Location: South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2
Go for? Hidden underground bar that gets lively late at night
Location: Harcourt Street, Dublin 2
Go for? The nostalgia factor
Location: South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2
Go for? Drag shows and LGBTQ+ club nights
Location: Lemon Street, Dublin 2
Go for? A high-energy night out in a stylish setting
Location: Fade Street, Dublin 2
Go for? A bite to eat before hitting the dance floor
Location: Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2
Go for? A fiesta-style clubbing experience
Location: Swords, Co. Dublin
Go for? A nightclub experience outside the city centre
Location: Wexford Street, Dublin 2
Go for? Throwback tunes from the last decade
Location: Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1
Go for? Drink deals and diverse music nights
Location: Wellington Quay, Dublin 2
Go for? A Zaconey & Coke in a laid-back setting
Location: Dawson Street, Dublin 2
Go for? A glamorous night out
Location: Secret location, Dublin
Go for? A legendary old-school club night
Check social media – Clubs like Xico and Seek post event updates online.
Arrive early – Some spots get busy fast, and queues can be long.
Hydrate & refuel – L’Gueuleton and Yamamori Tengu are great for pre-dance bites.
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