By Elio Bonelli

Irish comedians and musicians are speaking out at the prospect of commercial events at the Iveagh Gardens being shut down. 

According to event organisers and locals in Dublin, a small group of people are campaigning against events being held in The Iveagh Gardens, which is already having a negative effect on the use of this space. There were no clear reasons as to why they were campaigning against them. 

The Office for Public Works (OPW) is running a consultation into these events happening and will run until Friday, 6 October, having been extended from its original date of 29 September. 

In the deadline set by the OPW, words of support must be sent to them by this date. 

Stuart Clark is the Deputy Editor of Hot Press, and he took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice his opinion.

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 EventsIveaghGardens@opw.ie Don't let them take another bit of cultural Dublin from us!!!!

— Stuart Clark (@stuartclark66) September 27, 2023

Sharon Mannion is a comedian, actor and improviser and she echoed the same sentiments. 

“We will definitely miss the events at this venue. It would be such a shame if one of Dublin’s best gigs were to go. The festival here is a highlight for the community and a highlight for comedy.” 

“It would be a loss for the comedy scene in Ireland if gigs stopped here and what would that mean for us?” she concluded. 

“I will miss coming here if the gigs are cancelled, especially with how easy it is to get to.”

Nellie O’Neill, Social care worker

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 EventsIveaghGardens@opw.ie before Friday so we can save our cultural events! pic.twitter.com/AZ1fXJXuSt

— Sorcha OFlanagan (@SorchaPR) September 27, 2023

Nellie O’Neill is a social care worker and has attended events at the Iveagh Gardens at least once a year over the last decade.  

He said, “The gigs have become part of my summer with a lovely venue in the city centre of Dublin. There is great public transport with great access to the heart of the city.” 

“The thoughts of that venue not being allowed to run just because some small group of people had other ideas of what this park should be used for, worries me. Stephen’s Green is just over the road and there are no problems there!”

“I will miss coming here if the gigs are cancelled especially with how easy it is to get to,” he added. 

In a statement, the Office for Public Works (OPW) said: 

“A public consultation about how the Iveagh Gardens accommodates all visitors is taking place. This consultation has been extended to Friday, 6 October.”

“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 statement concluded.