The recipients of the 2026 Grassroots Venues Support Scheme have been announced.
A total of 60 venues across Ireland have been awarded funding, with €1 million allocated – double the €500,000 pilot fund from 2025, which supported 34 venues.
We covered the original scheme announcement and the 2025 recipients and it’s good to see the scheme not only continuing but significantly expanding in its second year.
What’s changed from 2025
The numbers? Last year: 34 venues, €500,000 fund, grants up to €15,000 each. This year: 60 venues, €1 million fund, grants up to €20,000 under Stream A. The scheme has also expanded its scope – comedy venues are now eligible alongside music venues, and a new Stream B offers smaller grants of up to €8,000 to venues building toward the established track record required for Stream A. The geographic reach has also widened, with 28 venues outside major cities receiving funding this year.
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New names on the 2026 list compared to 2025 include Prim’s Bookshop in Kinsale (currently hosting SOAK on her Irish tour), Cyprus Avenue Cork, Whelan’s Dublin, The Workman’s Club, The Sugar Club, The International Bar, Monroe’s Live Galway, The Social in Gaoth Dobhair and Lucky’s in Dublin.
The scheme now also requires that all artists and crews be paid for their work – and if an established act is booked, the venue must also programme at least one grassroots artist on the same night.
Edel Curtin of Coughlan’s Cork, speaking on behalf of the Live Venue Collective: “This is not just vital financial help for our venues; it is also an acknowledgement of the essential role our stages play in the development of Irish artists. There is a long challenging road ahead in keeping our grassroots venues open and functioning and this support is a step in the right direction.”
The full 2026 list
| Venue | Location | Grant |
|---|---|---|
| John Lee’s Bar and Venue | Tullamore, Co. Offaly | €20,000 |
| Prim’s Bookshop | Kinsale, Co. Cork | €20,000 |
| Cyprus Avenue | Cork city | €20,000 |
| The Laughter Lounge | Dublin 1 | €20,000 |
| The Ol’ 55 Bar and Venue | Galway city | €20,000 |
| Spirit Store | Dundalk, Co. Louth | €20,000 |
| Toals Bar | Dundalk, Co. Louth | €20,000 |
| McHughes Public House | Drogheda, Co. Louth | €20,000 |
| The Cornerstone | Loughrea, Co. Galway | €20,000 |
| The Grand Social | Dublin 1 | €20,000 |
| The International Bar | Dublin 2 | €20,000 |
| Dolan’s | Limerick city | €20,000 |
| The Attic | Doolin, Co. Clare | €20,000 |
| Whelan’s | Dublin 2 | €20,000 |
| Bank Lane | Waterford city | €20,000 |
| Sin É | Dublin 7 | €20,000 |
| The Sound House | Dublin 1 | €20,000 |
| Yamamori Tengu | Dublin 1 | €20,000 |
| Mike the Pies | Listowel, Co. Kerry | €20,000 |
| Connolly’s of Leap | Leap, Co. Cork | €20,000 |
| The White Horse | Ballincollig, Co. Cork | €20,000 |
| Kavanagh’s Bar and Venue | Portlaoise, Co. Laois | €20,000 |
| Kenny’s Bar | Lahinch, Co. Clare | €20,000 |
| The Whale Theatre Company | Greystones, Co. Wicklow | €20,000 |
| The Workman’s Club | Dublin 2 | €20,000 |
| Set Theatre | Kilkenny city | €20,000 |
| Pot Duggans | Ennistymon, Co. Clare | €20,000 |
| Hen’s Teeth | Dublin 8 | €20,000 |
| Wigwam | Dublin 1 | €20,000 |
| Levis Bar | Ballydehob, Co. Cork | €20,000 |
| Coughlan’s Bar | Cork city | €20,000 |
| The Bernard Shaw | Dublin 9 | €20,000 |
| Peadar Kearney’s | Dublin 2 | €20,000 |
| Cleary’s Bar | Newcastle West, Co. Limerick | €20,000 |
| Róisín Dubh | Galway city | €20,000 |
| The Social | Gaoth Dobhair, Co. Donegal | €20,000 |
| De Barra’s Folk Club | Clonakilty, Co. Cork | €20,000 |
| The Commercial Bar | Limerick city | €20,000 |
| Monroe’s Live | Galway city | €20,000 |
| John Cleere’s Bar and Theatre | Kilkenny city | €20,000 |
| The Sugar Club | Dublin 2 | €20,000 |
| Billy Byrne’s | Kilkenny city | €20,000 |
| Seven Bridgestreet | Galway city | €15,000 |
| Lucky’s Bar | Dublin 8 | €15,000 |
| Arthur’s Pub | Dublin 8 | €15,000 |
| The Green Room Dingle | Dingle, Co. Kerry | €15,000 |
| Buncrana Cinema | Buncrana, Co. Donegal | €8,000 |
| O’Flaherty’s Bar | Buncrana, Co. Donegal | €8,000 |
| Mo Chara | Dundalk, Co. Louth | €8,000 |
| Wickham Way | Limerick city | €8,000 |
| Odd Mollie’s | Drogheda, Co. Louth | €8,000 |
| Mary Mullens Bar | Galway city | €8,000 |
| Arundels by the Pier | Ahakista, Co. Cork | €8,000 |
| The Circular Bar | Dublin 8 | €8,000 |
| The Greyhound Bar | Kilkee, Co. Clare | €7,900 |
| The Reg | Waterford city | €6,000 |
| The Maritime Hotel (Live by the Bay) | Bantry, Co. Cork | €6,000 |
| Abbey Lane | Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny | €6,000 |
| Paddy Mac’s Bar and Lounge | Coachford, Co. Cork | €6,000 |
| The Salmon Pool | Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny | €5,000 |
The full approved applicants document is available at gov.ie.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
