Irish musicians and comics speak out as gigs at Iveagh Gardens come under threat

Fiona Frawley

A public consultation regarding events at the venue will run until 6th October.

The Office of Public Works is currently undertaking a review of live events at the Iveagh Gardens, a popular venue for outdoor music and comedy gigs during the summer months in Dublin.

For well over a decade, outdoor events have been held at the Iveagh Gardens, with artists including Aslan, Candi Staton, The National and Chic all taking the stage. The late, great Sinéad O’Connor had been scheduled to perform at the Gardens in 2022, but the show was sadly cancelled following the death of her son Shane. In terms of comedy, the Iveagh Gardens Comedy Festival has run for years, programming international stars including Trevor Noah, Nicole Byer and Bill Burr alongside up-and-coming Irish acts, and has always been a major date in the Irish comedy calendar.

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Musicians, comedians and gig goers have been taking to X/Twitter to voice their support for live events at the Iveagh Gardens, sharing positive experiences and detailing the calibre of shows held at the venue.

Deputy editor of Hot Press Stuart Clark wrote:

The gigs in the Iveagh Gardens are under threat. If this perturbs you as much as it does me, we have up until Friday to forcibly tell the Office of Public Works how we feel. Hit them up at [email protected] Don’t let them take another bit of cultural Dublin from us!!!!

Clark also noted that curfews at Iveagh Gardens events have always been “strictly observed”, with “punters behaving themselves impeccably”.

The OPW are trying to stop music and comedy events happening in the Iveagh Gardens next Summer, I think this would be a great loss to the city, please email [email protected] before Friday so we can save our cultural events! pic.twitter.com/AZ1fXJXuSt

— Sorcha OFlanagan (@SorchaPR) September 27, 2023

Referring to the comedy festival, comedian Alison Spittle said:

If it’s gone, it will wound Irish comedy, it encourages comedy clubs to make their lineups more diverse and is the stand-up Olympics.

In a statement to Lovin, the OPW said:

This consultation is inviting all visitors to share their experiences of the gardens and their views on how the gardens are used. We are seeking to gather a wide range of views on how visitors enjoy the Iveagh Gardens to balance the needs of all visitors. This is to ensure that all visitors can share their views on our events.

The views received will help inform the role this wonderful historic garden plays in Dublin in the coming years.

The OPW is appealing for observations from the public regarding events at the Iveagh Gardens until 6th October. If you’d like to have your voice heard, be sure to email eventsiveaghg[email protected].

Header images via Getty / aikencomedy

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