Night-time economy advisers reimagine rural life after dark

Agriland

6 days ago

Longford town, one of nine national pilot locations selected for Ireland's night-time economy initiative, is embracing the opportunity to reimagine rural life after dark.
Backed by Longford County Council and a dedicated night-time economy adviser, Karen Reilly, the town devised a 2024–2025 action plan aimed at enhancing cultural, economic, and social vibrancy in the evenings.
The plan was developed in alignment with a report by the National Night-time Economy Taskforce, published in 2021, which outlined key recommendations for creating a more dynamic and inclusive night-time culture across the country.
In Longford, the plan was shaped through extensive public and business surveys, stakeholder workshops, and the formation of a cross-departmental working group within the council.
The initiative has supported events like Café Lates, First Fridays, and the Safe and Sound Campaign.
The Night-Time Economy Support Scheme provides grants of up to €3,000 aimed at encouraging local businesses, artists, and community groups to host evening activities.
Reilly said: 'For a rural town like Longford, this initiative is more than just entertainment, it's about creating a safer more inclusive, and economically resilient community.'
According to the adviser, by extending the use of public spaces and supporting late-night transport and public realm improvements, the plan is helping to make Longford a place where people want to stay, socialise, and spend locally after dark.
Galway nightlife
Galway city is another pilot location selected to lead the way in developing a more inclusive and sustainable night-time economy.
The initiative aims to reimagine how Irish cities and towns function between 6:00p.m. and 6:00a.m., according to Kate Howard, night-time economy adviser for Galway city at Galway City Council.
Galway's participation is guided by a dedicated night-time economy action plan (2024–2025), developed in close collaboration with local stakeholders including businesses, cultural venues, residents, and community groups.
Howard said: 'It is not just about traditional nightlife. It encompasses a broader spectrum of experiences, including retail, cultural programming, food and drink, sport and community-led events that contribute to the vibrancy and wellbeing of the city after dark.'
Appointed a night-time economy advisor in 2023, Howard was tasked with co-ordinating efforts to enhance the city's evening and night-time environment.
'The plan focuses on creating a safe, welcoming and diverse environment that supports cultural events, hospitality, retail, safety, transport and community activities,' she explained.
'Its key themes – infrastructure, communications, and experiences – are designed to ensure anholistic and inclusive approach.
'A vital aspect of the adviser's role is strengthening collaborative structures within local government and across the city, embedding the night-time economy into the city's broader planning and policy frameworks.
'This ensures that the needs and opportunities of the night-time are considered in all future strategies, from urban design and transport to community development and cultural programming.'
A key component of Galway's action plan is safety and its commitment to supporting businesses through targeted training.
In 2024 and 2025, Galway City Council delivered a series of free workshops for night-time operators, covering topics such as vulnerability awareness; anti-sexual harassment; bystander intervention; and drink spiking prevention.
'These sessions, led by international experts, were designed to equip staff with the tools to create safer, more inclusive environments.
'n addition, disability awareness training was introduced to help venues better accommodate customers with accessibility needs, enforcing Galway's ambition 'to be a truly welcoming city day and night',
'This commitment to safety is further supported by the Safe and Sound campaign, an initiative promoting awareness, visibility, and respect in collaboration with night-time economy stakeholders, to ensure that everyone can enjoy Galway at night with confidence,' Howard said.
A standout initiative is the Café Lates pilot, which supports local cafés in extending their opening hours into the evening, offering relaxed non-alcohol focused social spaces.
'This programme which was first trialled in Galway city, has been well received, and is now in its second year, reflecting strong public demand for more diverse night-time options,' Howard outlined.
'The Galway City Café Lates model has also demonstrated its effectiveness beyond the city, with replication across five of the nine national night-time economy pilot areas: Kilkenny, Cork, Sligo, Longford, and Drogheda.'
Galway has also developed an initiative called 'Youth Lates', a programme of events designed specifically for 16–19-year-olds.
'These events are co-created with young people and delivered in partnership with youth organisations, arts venues, and local creatives,' Kate explained.
They provide safe, engaging and culturally rich experiences, ranging from live music events and creative workshops, offering young people a meaningful way to participate in the city's night-time life.'
(Left to right): Ciaran Lennon, communities engagement officer; Karen Reilly, night-time economy advisor; David Hussey, LEDJS and Cllr. Kevin Hussey. Image source: Brian McCann.
Another cultural offering is Thursday Lates at Galway Arts Centre, which pilots extended opening hours and provides evening access to exhibitions, performances, and creative workshops.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to make cultural venues more accessible after dark and to encourage new patterns of engagement with the arts in the evening hours.
'Galway's night-time economy action plan is not just about economic growth. It's about fostering a city that is inclusive, culturally rich, and alive with opportunity well into the evening,' Howard said.
Night-time economy
A number of recommendations in the report of the night-time economy task force specifically focus on broadening the part of the night-time economy offering that does not involve the sale of alcohol or is not centred on its sale, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (DCCS), which is funding the initiative.
According to the spokesperson: 'There is a recognition that Ireland also has a more diverse culture today and there is a need to provide more alcohol-free options for our new communities in the night time economy.
'Younger people are also seeking a healthier lifestyle and there is a need to respond to the overall public demand for a late night café culture.'
The support scheme provided grants of up €10,000 to cafés to host events to increase footfall in towns and cities, provide opportunities for artists – including new and emerging artists at local level – and also encourage the use of cafés as venues for a variety of artists in a more long-term way, the department spokesperson said.
The scheme was extremely successful, with many cafés interested in trialling more events, with some reporting that they would still require a little more grant support to generate the consistent footfall needed.
Rural life after dark
In support of action 19 in the report of the taskforce, DCCS is funding nine night-time economy advisors in Dublin city, Cork city, Limerick city, Galway city, Kilkenny, Sligo, Longford, Buncrana and Drogheda.
'The night-time economy pilots are a significant project within the night-time economy policy area and arguably one of the most impactful. The advisors are helping to drive and support a more sustainable night-time economy in their local areas.
'They also work collaboratively on larger projects which have included a late night transport campaign in partnership with the National Transport Authority, a late night safety campaign and the Café Lates initiative,' the department spokesperson said.
The pilots are reimagining cafés as evening cultural venues, hosting everything from spoken word and live music to DJ sets, games, and creative workshops.
In Co. Donegal, Buncrana has recently launched a phase 2 of its night-time economy grant scheme, which provides small funds of up to €1,000 to support a range of activity from live music and cultural pop-ups to night-time food events and creative uses of public space.
The grant scheme is open to all, including cafés that want to contribute to a richer, more diverse evening culture in Buncrana.
Meanwhile, in Limerick city, Twilight Thursdays – which runs on the last Thursday of every month – offers a mix of family-friendly fun, live music, food and drink experiences, and cultural showcases and also features extended cafe and retail hours.