City centre venues to echo with sounds of the sixties as historic music scene is celebrated
LIMERICK’S vibrant 1960s beat club scene will be brought back to life this Culture Night as musician Cha Haran, former member of The Intentions (later known as Granny’s Intentions), organises a special celebration of the city’s musical heritage.
The Limerick Beat Experience promises to transport participants back to an era when newly-coined “teenagers” flocked to underground venues, tuning into pirate radio stations like Radio Caroline and Radio Luxembourg for the latest sounds.
Beginning at 5pm in St Joseph’s Hall (Eircode: V94NC44, opposite South’s Pub), DJ Pol O’Maoileoin will spin original vinyl from legendary Limerick venues including Club a Go-Go, The Cavalier, and the Frans, recreating the atmosphere that once drew young music lovers seeking their generational soundtrack.
At 6pm, a guided walking tour led by Limerick music historian John O’Regan will visit the original city centre sites where beat bands performed. These venues hosted acts including The (Grannies) Intentions, The Chosen Few from the north, and notably, Them featuring a young Van Morrison. Local DJs Danny Hugues and Peter Jackson were instrumental in championing the beat sound across these establishments.
The evening concludes at Punches Bar, Punches Cross, at 9pm with a special performance by MIXUMGATHERUM, a collective of Limerick musicians well-versed in the dancing hits of the era, followed by another DJ set from Pol O’Maoileoin.
“This inaugural Limerick Beat Club Experience brings together music, memories and more,” say organisers, who are encouraging beat fans, mods, scooterists and music lovers of all ages to attend what promises to be “a top Limerick night”.
The event forms part of Culture Night festivities on Friday September 19, celebrating the rich musical legacy that helped define a generation of Limerick youth.
