S4304 Number Twenty Two

This is one of those rare premises that is entirely underground - I can see a listicle on pubs that are entirely under or above ground except for their entrance doors coming on some time I'm short of content - and has a very long and storied history

This was the site of the famed music venue McGonagles, of which much has been written elsewhere; and before that it was the Crystal Ballroom. If you look at the lists of artists which have played there in either incarnation - McGonagles being in the era of better memories so has a decent Setlists.fm entry, with the Crystal having hosted Johnny Cash amongst others - you get a run down of many of the international acts who bothered to grace Dublin with their presence in the days before it became an essential touring stop.

During this period I do not believe it had a full pub licence, but as much of it was before I was born I'll willingly take correction on that!

In the 1990s, the site hosted The System nightclub, which was one of the venues in the early days of the dance music scene in Dublin.

But its days of importance had to come to an end, and the site was physically redeveloped in the early 2000s by Paddy McKillen (Senior, not the Press Up son!), with the basement space used for "Venu Brasserie", backed by Michelin-star winning chef Patrick Guildbaud. This closed in 2011.

There is something illegible on the door in the 2014 Google Streeview pases, and for the few years before reopening as Number Twenty Two it was doing annual service as an "adults Christmas grotto" for a few years and I believe sitting idle in between.

We're now back to a more sensible/sustainable use; and as Number Twenty Two it's open as a decently sized performance space, with a double height stage area with floor and balcony seating and bars.

I was there at a company arranged event so I can only say it was absolutely perfect in every way! Bit is actually decent enough. There aren't many spaces like this left in the city; and any addition should be welcomed.