Mick and Valerie Dolan along with their son and daughter Neil and Sarah and all their staff and crew celebrated three decades of live music in Limerick last week.
Pretenders, Macy Gray, Joe Jackson, Franz Ferdinand, Bob Geldof, The Stranglers, Mick Flannery and Fontaines D.C. are just some of the artists that have played at Dolans Warehouse over the years.
The bar opened on Dock Road in 1994 and expanded its live space with the opening of Dolans Warehouse in 1998.
Mick remembers the opening night of the Warehouse which featured Seamus Begley and Sharon Shannon on stage. He told Richard Lynch (I Love Limerick) .. “You could walk across the atmosphere in the room, it was a special, special night.”
Under the banner, Dolans Presents, the venue has expanded their live events to Limerick Milk Market, King John’s Castle, The Lime Tree Theatre, University Concert Hall and the huge summer festival Live at the Docklands which brought the likes of Madness, The National, Van Morrison and Paul Weller to Limerick city.
This year’s Live at the Docklands will feature Moncrieff, The Waterboys, Picture This, Block Rockin’ Beats, Kingfisher and Kaiser Chiefs. See www.dolans.ie for dates and tickets.
Professor Eoin Devereux (University of Limerick) spoke at the 30th anniversary celebration reflecting on the significant impact of Dolans on Limerick’s music and cultural scene.
He said he had some of his happiest times coming to Dolans not just to see headliners like The National or Fontaines D.C. but also the new artists coming through the Music Generation project and witnessing the beginnings of Denise Chaila’s career with Rusangano Family.
Devereux said, “There is a lot of talk about the “R” word in Limerick. There’s a lot of talk about regeneration in Limerick, revitalising a city. Oftentimes policy makers and planners get fixated on buildings, on bricks and mortar.
“The most interesting kind of regeneration of the city is through culture. It’s allowing, permitting, making space for young people and others to express themselves, to participate, to take part in an inclusive way.
“And Dolans, even though they don’t use those words, have been at the forefront of the revitalisation of Limerick City.
“Week in, week out, night after night, we’ve had the most amazing array of artists perform here at Dolans. There is much credit owed to the Dolan family for allowing that to happen.”
Devereux went on to mention the welcome that all artists receive from Dolans when they come to play shows in Limerick, from the family, the staff and crew who look after the tech, sound and lighting at the venue.
“I talk a lot to musicians and bands because I’m such a music fan, and the most consistent thing people say about Dolans is, when we arrived in Dolans, we were made to feel so welcome.
“When young bands, being paid relatively small amounts of money, are on tour, they say …
“At least when we are playing Dolan’s. We were given a hot meal. We were given a drink. We were treated really well.”
“Bands at the highest level and bands just starting out consistently tell me how well they are treated by this venue. It’s a favourite amongst musicians in Ireland and beyond.
“Celebrating 30 years of Dolans, they have absolutely in a radical, revolutionary way transformed Limerick city in terms of culture. So well done to the Dolans.”
On stage this weekend at Dolans are Jerry Fish, SLOMOSA, Abbaesque, The Doors Alive, Winterfylleth, WINDINGS, How To Gael: Ar an mBothar, Mega Trad, Search Results, Shark School and Saturday’s weekly After Show Party on Dolans Upper Deck.
www.dolans.ie for times and ticket information.
