Comments on: Dublin Punk & New Wave Venues (1976-84)

By: davidjmcdonagh

davidjmcdonagh — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:47:54 +0000

I remember an off-duty Garda, pissed and dancing on his own to ‘LA woman’ in McGonagles c1985. I also remember Sharkbait and At Gunpoint in The Underground in Dame Street. On the day of Self Aid in 1986, there was an alternative gig called Self Aid Makes it Worse, organised by Eamonn McCann. It took place in McGonagles and The Underground and a newly emerging Hot House Flowers were on the bill. My favourite night club in the 1980s was Sides.

By: gerry molyneaux

gerry molyneaux — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:32:38 +0000

desmond dekker also played there and rival skinhead gangs clashed,might have been bohs rovers etc.bouncers lost control and the special branch looneys arrived with batons outside.

By: gerry molyneaux

gerry molyneaux — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:25:11 +0000

robbie when is that book coming out.was a huge vipers and revolver fan,used to do neu carnage punkzine in 1978 on.still into punk,ska and oi.

By: gerry molyneaux

gerry molyneaux — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:18:59 +0000

does anyone remember the cimarons in belfield or the whizz kids and gloria mundi in the same venue,the skinheads gobbing a liffey full of spit at the whizz kids lead vocalist and gloria mundi putting up with abuse bacause one of them was a trans.i have most of the early punk releases down here and up north-good vibes,it records,rip off.whatever happened to ZEBRA the reggae band.i have a ticket stub from oi band the business in the iveagh rooms…..that gig in itself would fill a book….dublin band skin appeal were there.

By: gerry molyneaux

gerry molyneaux — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:04:18 +0000

the racecourse gig i think had burning spear,big country and a couple of other bands.skinheads attacked a helicopter bringing in u2 i think,there were fughts all over the gig.a picture of skinheads appeared on the front or inside page of the INDO the next day and it was on all the papers-one of them hangigng from the helicopter landing forks

By: gerry molyneaux

gerry molyneaux — Sun, 12 May 2013 19:56:52 +0000

found that hot press detailing death of patrick courtney at the belfield punk gig,undertones first outside belfast,..

By: gerry molyneaux

gerry molyneaux — Sun, 12 May 2013 19:55:20 +0000

eamon delaney or devo as he was known spoke to me yesterday and says he has loads of old hot presses.let me know if yr interested.

By: gerry molyneaux

gerry molyneaux — Sun, 12 May 2013 19:53:06 +0000

gerry here forgot about this website.no was complete chaos gig in marian college,3 bands played,teds came into hall and were looking for any punks.met joe morris at slf gig with some skin pals,great lad.met eamon delaney yesterday,great craic.we used to do neu carnage punkzine.great fckin days.

By: Ciaran Tobin

Ciaran Tobin — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Remember seeing Strange Movements & the Blades upstairs in Spinning Wheel near a wallpaper/paint shop on Mary St. I seem to recall Irish flag and Papal Flag with Strange Movements and footprints scattered on it.. I have a lot of ticket stubs for many of the gigs listed above, including U2 at the Stadium for £1.50 ( the Island Records homecoming), Stranglers/Atrix Stadium.
A wacky night I remember was the Fall in McGonagles with Smith holding the mike to a radio and creating distortion/feedback. Got a bottle of Harp from Steve Jones while standing at the side of the stage in the Stardust for the Greedies. My parents moved house when I was away on holidays in 1980 and my mother threw the treasured souvenir lurking in my wardrobe out.

By: Seamus Duggan

Seamus Duggan — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 20:55:01 +0000

I was at two of those gigs, and two before then in ’83 and ’84. The first night in 85 was, I think, the best. I found the set list somewhere online and was surprised by how clearly it came back. Great cover versions – She Cracked by the Modern Lovers and Friction by Television especially.

By: Seamus Duggan

Seamus Duggan — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 20:51:39 +0000

Apart from almost being stabbed and watching someone turn blue it was a pretty good day, alright! One of my first gigs.

By: Geraldine Greene

Geraldine Greene — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 19:25:18 +0000

Holy moley – I don’t remember the riots – I was probably tucked up in bed with sun burn and exhaustion by then. I remember hearing about the railings being broken down, as I think that’s how my brother got into the concert, I remember Annie Lennox stopping alright after a bottle was hurled at her. Fantastic day all the same

By: Seamus Duggan

Seamus Duggan — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 23:09:39 +0000

Desmond Dekker played there, and I remember seeing the Stars of Heaven there too. I think it had a different name depending on which door you used 21 Club / Hawkins?

By: Seamus Duggan

Seamus Duggan — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 23:01:36 +0000

I remember the bouncers confiscating everything on the way in alright, including innocent bottles of 7up etc and then selling them back to people. There were small plastic cups of orange juice for some ridiculous amount and it was a hot, hot day. Some punks broke the cold water pipe going into the toilets and set up an impromptu water fountain.
Some of the bottles being thrown at Annie Lennox were filled with piss and she was not happy “We’re not animals, we’re human beings” There were also people on the roof of one of the stands and one guy stayed up for ages running around and dancing – the whole gig was stopped until he finally came down. looked for a while like he was only coming down if he fell.
A huge section of the fence was pushed over and thousands of non paying customers got in.
There were quite a few overdoses despite the whole of the drugs squad being there and one of the people I was with went blue for a while but fortunately came to. Helicopter ambulance was bricked and had to leave without landing.
There was a riot in Dublin that night as there was supposed to be a laser show from the top of Liberty hall but it was more like a couple of night watchmen with torches. A british journalist hiding in a doorway got to feel some Garda baton.
The lead singer from A Perfect Crime spent the whole gig after they played wandering around trying to get noticed and being pointedly ignored.
Almost got stabbed by a knife wielder in hot pursuit of someone else.

By: europhile

europhile — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 22:04:57 +0000

You’re right. I went with my my sister and nephew to see The Wombles in The State. I remember my nephew getting hysterical because he could see the faces of humans under the Womble costumes. Till then he thought The Wombles were real.