Let’s face it, Irish clubbers have long had to suffer their clubs shutting early. But in signs of a break through, the Irish government may have finally realised they can benefit from clubs being open longer!? An outline for legislation has been agreed that will extend nightclub opening times to 6:AM from 2023 onwards, allowing alcohol to be sold until 5:AM, with an extra hour being granted for drinking and dancing time.

Pubs opening hours are also set to be increased to 12:30AM every day. Bars with late licences will be allowed to open until 2:30AM every day – bringing an end to Sunday trading laws forcing premises to shut early.

Licenses and permits will have to be granted by the courts and a new fund of €2m will be set up to provide grants to nightclubs and music venues to soundproof their buildings.

The proposed legislation means Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Kilkenny, Sligo and Galway become pilot cities and will be given advisors to develop sustainable night time economies in their regions.

If approval is given, the bill would have to pass the legislative processes in the Houses of the Oireachtas to become law.