Minister urged to tackle the threat to Dublin’s iconic venues

THE Minister for Culture, Josepha Madigan, has been urged to establish a consultative forum that would recommend ways to protect and revitalise Dublin’s famous arts and culture tradition.

Responding to the announcement that the iconic Bernard Shaw pub is set to close at the end of October, the Labour Party councillor for the area, Kevin Donoghue, said it highlighted the threat facing Dublin’s arts and cultural spaces.

“The Bernard Shaw is a cultural institution in the city, where many up and coming artists can perform and display their work,” he sid.

“Dublin has a proud history of contributing significantly to the arts and culture. However, in recent months, key iconic cultural venues across the city such as Hangar and District 8 have closed their doors.

“I am therefore calling on the Minister for Culture to urgently intervene and establish a consultative forum with key stakeholders from the arts and culture community, to recommend ways in which the city’s famous arts and culture tradition can be protected and revitalised.

“Our city cannot become one full of trendy boutique hotels and fancy student apartments,” Cllr Donoghue added.

“Dublin is world-renowned as a hub for arts and culture, where artistic talent can flourish. However, that reputation is at stake, if we continue to allow our arts and culture landscape to fade away.

“As well as a consultative forum, it is time for the Government and Dublin City Council to prioritise the delivery of a night mayor as outlined in the Dublin Agreement to help ensure night life and the night time economy doesn’t die in our capital city.

“With the closure of venues like the Tivoli and Hangar and now the Bernard Shaw the ability for Dubliners to enjoy late nights away from the main tourist centres is decreasing.

“If Dublin was to have its own night mayor, we would be able to liaise between venues and the courts when it comes to licensing.

“We would also be able to work with transport companies such as Dublin Bus to develop a better strategy around late night routes.

“I hope the Minister will respond positively to my call for a consultative forum to be set to up to address the growing threat facing the arts and culture tradition in our capital city.”

A spokesperson for the Minister said that the matters raised by the councillor were primarily for Dublin City Council.

“Decisions on individual planning applications are a matter for Dublin City Council in the first instance, or for An Bórd Pleanála on appeal, and it would not be appropriate for the Minister to intervene in the planning process,” the spokesperson said.

“Nonetheless, the Department has been working with key partners to develop supports to facilitate the development of after-hours cultural events.

“The Department will shortly establish pilot projects to support night time culture in partnership with a number of local authorities.”