Dolans Pub has grown from a small traditional bar with a bold ambition into a thriving cultural hub that has welcomed an army of musical legends everyone from through its doors.
Founded in 1995 by Mick and Valerie Dolan, Dolans was born from a dream that very nearly didn’t come true. The couple had initially purchased a bar in County Clare, but when the deal collapsed — fate intervened. A conversation with legendary Limerick Piper Mickey Dunne led them to take a look at Limerick instead.
Mick, a former Merchant Navy officer with a deep love of music and friendships with legends like Phil Lynott, had first visited the Dock Road while on shore leave. When the opportunity arose to buy a pub there, the couple took the leap – even if the area had a less-than-glowing reputation.
There’s a story that Mick tells…
“A bank manager once said to me, ‘Why would you buy on Dock Road? You wouldn’t even park a car down there.’ A few years later, I saw him again and said, ‘You were right – you can’t get a car down there now because it’s so busy!’”
The Dolans’ gamble paid off. The pub became known for its nightly traditional Irish sessions, giving a platform to local talent and helping to revive a neglected part of the city.
Just three years in, Mick knocked through the back wall of the bar and transformed an old banana warehouse into Dolans Warehouse,a 380-capacity venue that would go on to host acts such as Fontaines DC, Cmat, Kneecap, Mumford & Sons, David Gray, Macy Gray, Chrissie Hynde, Sharon Shannon, Snow Patrol, Glen Hansard, Franz Ferdinand, Ash and Christy Moore.
Back then, the Dolans lived above the pub with their children, Neil and Sarah.
When David Gray came to play one of his first Irish gigs in support of his then-unknown White Ladder album, the family sitting room served as his dressing room. This year when he played a sold-out show at King John’s Castle, Gray fondly recalled the really nice pints brought to him “by a lovely woman” – none other than Valerie Dolan.
As the reputation of Dolans grew, so did the venue itself. Mick, with his eye for design, continued knocking down walls and repurposing spaces. In 2004 Upstairs@ Dolans opened as a 120-seat intimate venue for singer-songwriters and folk acts. A decade later came Dolans Kasbah, a gritty, eclectic stage that welcomed Fontaines D.C., Gilla Band, and Limerick’s own Bad Reputation metal gigs and alternative acts under the Seoda Shows banner. Most recently, Dolans Terrace has become a go-to for aftershow parties, cocktails, and late-night DJs.
Having played for 15 years all over the world, our favourite people to work with are still the ones at home in Dolans – They’re just sound people who love music – Barry Murphy, Hermitage Green
The Dolans’ influence now reaches beyond Dock Road. Under the Dolans Presents brand, they’ve brought major acts like Fontaines DC, Cmat, Kneecap ,The Waterboys, Crowded House, Chic, Kraftwerk, Kasabian, Johnny Marr, Gavin James, Bell X1 and many more to Limerick city centre through Live at the Big Top and Live at the Castle events.
And despite all this growth, Dolans still has nightly trad sessions at the fireplace. They have strong ties with the Irish World Academy of Music & Dance at the University of Limerick, and their traditional nights regularly draw some of Ireland’s most respected musicians and families — the Dunnes, Hayes, Shannons, Clohessys, Lyons and many more.
The bar and restaurant continues to serve up those really nice pints and delicious food nightly from their extensive menu. (The Irish Lamb Stew is a huge favourite) The many musicians and customers who visit the Dock Road venue are not wrong when they say “you are always fed and watered well in Dolans”.
From Birthday Parties, to Christmas Parties, to Weddings, Dolans can cater for them all.
Today a full family affair, all four Dolans, Mick, Valerie, Sarah and Neil and Jenny are hands-on with the business supported by a team that Mick describes as “amazing”.
“We could have anywhere from 25 to 150 people working on a night,” he says. “And the trust, the loyalty, and the energy they bring — it’s just fantastic.”
From knocking walls to building a legacy, Dolans has become much more than a venue. It’s a living, breathing part of Limerick’s cultural heart – a place where music dreams begin, memories are made, and the next 30 years look just as promising.
Dolans has that incredible history. For generations, it’s been the place where people saw their first big gig — parents, kids, even grandkids – Stuart Clarke, Hot Press
Live at the Docklands returns with biggest line-up yet
Limerick set for three weekends of unmissable live music by the Shannon
Limerick’s Live at the Docklands series is back this August — and it’s bigger than ever. Set in a marquee on the industrial Docklands overlooking the River Shannon, the open-air concert series will feature nine headline shows, making this the most ambitious run since the event began.
Since its inception, the Docklands series has brought thousands of music lovers into the city every summer, welcoming acts such as The National, Madness, The Coronas, Jenny Greene with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and James Blunt. This year’s line-up raises the bar once again, with Moncrieff, Picture This, The Saw Doctors, The Waterboys, Kaiser Chiefs, Sharon Shannon Band, IE/DC, Qween ft. The Dublin Gospel Choir, and Block Rockin Beats all set to take the stage.
Neil Dolan says this summer is a major milestone:
“Everything takes time to build. When we started doing shows at the Milk Market or the castle, it was one or two a year. Now we’re up to nine Docklands gigs in just over two weeks. That’s a remarkable difference.”
Many of the acts on this year’s bill began their journey through Dolans’ smaller stages — a progression that Neil is proud to see.
“It’s about bringing bands through the different venues. Moncrieff played them all. He’s a massive fan of Limerick, and this will be a huge show for him.”
He also highlights Kingfishr, who went from opening slots to becoming the first act to sell out Docklands this year:
“They’re keeping Limerick on the map, and that’s something we love to see.”
To complete the experience, Dolans will host free pre- and after-show events across its venues including Dolans Warehouse and Dolans Terrace, featuring local artists, live bands and DJs from 5pm until late.
With a dedicated production and site team working behind the scenes, Neil says the goal is simple:
“We want to give people the best possible experience. We know how hard it is for people to spend their money on tickets, and we don’t take that for granted.”
Live at the Docklands runs across three weekends in August, with several shows already sold out.
www.dolans.ie for tickets.
Dolans took a chance on us very early on. Everyone there puts their heart and soul into what they do. That’s what makes it work – Qween
