Dancing in the shadows: The re-emergence of illegal raves

Dublin, a city renowned for its vibrant culture and rich history, has recently seen the rebirth of an underground subculture that echoes back to the rave scene of the 1990s.  

Across Dublin in various secret locations people gather under the shroud of darkness, illuminated only by dazzling light displays. With deep bassy music that can be felt all the way up through your chest, people dance together with a sense of freedom that is difficult to replicate within traditional legal settings.  

“When we started doing parties in Dublin, they were massive, and it became such an electric atmosphere. When you’ve got hundreds of people gathered in front of a massive sound system at an illegal party and it’s 5am and the sun is rising, it’s beautiful,” said Swede, leader of the Annaghtek crew, a DJ collective that was one of the first of its kind in Ireland.

Since then, loads of younger crews have began popping up.  

Swede said, “I’m always ready to assist newer crews. It’s the kind of a scene that thrives on being co-operative, rather than competitive because there is no money involved. It’s not like the club scene which is very profit driven. So, there is an honesty about it, you can’t get any more authentic than running a non-financial enterprise like this.” 

The hush-hush aspect of these nights control the type of crowd that attends, and has created a niche space in Dublin nightlife which differs from that of a standard nightclub. “It’s all about the passion for music and it’s essentially a big second-family get together,” Swede also said.

With these events popping up all over the city and becoming more frequent, the rave scene certainly seems to be taking off. With hundreds of people in attendance, these kinds of events are far from a small operation.

Each rave is well thought out by DJ collectives that seek to provide a space for people to enjoy themselves, rather than turning a profit.  

“I love the atmosphere around it, the freedom and the different kinds of music that you wouldn’t get in a nightclub. The whole adventure of finding a party is a big part of the magic,” Swede said. 

Visitors from all over the world are drawn to Dublin’s nightlife and pub culture for good reason – going out and enjoying a few pints is a big part of the Irish culture. However, with rising drink prices, you can now expect to pay around €7 for a pint anywhere in the city. Most venues in Dublin now charge an entry fee varying from €10-€25 – before you even get yourself a drink.  

“There is an honesty about it, you can’t get any more authentic than running a non-financial enterprise like this.”

Swede, from Annaghtek

Compared with other big European cities, the licensing laws in Dublin are limiting nightclubs. They must close by 2:30am or apply for a Special Exemption Order (SEO), which costs €410 per night.

However, change is promised. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee received Cabinet approval last year for her bill to reform Ireland’s old fashioned licensing system.  

The current system is based on a several outdated laws – some of which are over 200 years old and others which pre-date the foundation of the state, 100 years ago, according to gov.ie.

The new bill proposes that nightclub closing times be extended to 6am, which McEntee has said “will aim to support the development of night time culture and the night time economy.” With these restrictions on nightlife, the city has witnessed the rebirth of the rave subculture.  

One of the biggest rave crews in Dublin, ‘Injector’ said, “When we first started, there was roughly one rave per month. Now, we are seeing three different types of rave events on every weekend. It’s getting bigger and bigger.” 

A lot of organisation goes into these events to ensure that they go off without a hitch. “The safety of the location is a top priority, we run logistics to minimise any risk,” said a member of Injector.

Between scouting for a location, getting the venue ready and marketing the event with the hopes of not getting busted, it is a big undertaking to organise a rave. 

For the Injector crew, monitoring the type of crowd that comes is important, as they want to ensure that everyone is coming to a rave for the right reasons, as well as being of legal age.

“You have to be sensible about it, we basically vet everyone who joins our page. We keep track of ticket sales to get a feel for everyone and keep an eye on the number of people coming,” Injector said.

There is a level of professionalism about these operations. “We have seen more amateur groups take our locations and destroy the place with balloons and rubbish,” a member of Injector said. 

Minimising the environmental impact is a key part of organising a successful rave.  

Through these efforts, rave organisers have successfully cultivated a space where people come together in a different way.

“It’s all about unity, liberation and respect. At a rave, there is a mutual feeling of togetherness and freedom, as well as a love for the music,” Injector said. 

“Part of the fun is the mystery of exploring secret locations. When you go into a club for like the thousandth time, you don’t feel that sense of excitement, energy or freedom,” Injector continued. 

When asked about how this type of energy is fostered at a rave, Swede from Annaghtek said, “I don’t proactively encourage it, it’s naturally what happens when people come together. When you remove all the traditional barriers that we have created in modern society. That’s just naturally how people are. People need that kind of community that is lacking so much in modern, civilized society. It’s a time and a place, a zone is that is created temporarily, for people just to be free.” 

“It’s naturally what happens when people come together. When you remove all the traditional barriers that we have created in modern society. That’s just naturally how people are. People need that kind of community that is lacking so much in modern, civilized society. It’s a time and a place, a zone is that is created temporarily, for people just to be free.” 

Swede, from Annaghtek

“Even if you go on your own, and don’t know anyone, you will have 20 friends by the end of it. So, it’s like a very primal psychological mechanism,” said Swede.  

As for the illicit substances that are associated with type of music scene, Swede said, “There’s drugs everywhere. People are taking drugs at home, in the pub and in clubs. Raves are no different, I haven’t seen a problem with drugs developing in the rave scene more than you would see anywhere else.” 

This purity that surrounds this blossoming culture poses a threat to clubs. One of Injectors goals is to create true competition with the hopes that nightlife in Dublin will improve. A member of Injector said, “You have to get them into action. We put pressure on them if they are losing business to our events. If it can at least force them into putting better nights on, being kinder to people and not being so money focused. They have no reason to improve if they’re getting money either way. Forceful innovation is what I’d like to call it.” 

This underground scene has a radiant, magical energy that is currently captivating people in Dublin, and it does not show signs of slowing down anytime soon.