Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum: An Immersive Journey Through the History of Irish Rock
A unique experience awaits music enthusiasts in the heart of Dublin’s vibrant Temple Bar district. The Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum is more than just a static collection of artefacts and memorabilia. Housed within the walls of Temple Lane Studios–a working music venue, rehearsal space and recording studio–the museum offers an immersive journey through the history of Irish rock music while celebrating its present and future.
To better understand this institution, which will soon be celebrating its 10th anniversary, we shared a conversation with its Tour Manager, Alan Buckley, whose own passion for rock and roll traversed many eras, from his father’s record collection of old school rock music to the grunge generation of the 1990s and beyond. “For the most part, we don’t choose the music we love; the music chooses us,” he reflects.
Among the most important bands of his life is U2, who emerged in the late 1980s. They originated from the North side of Dublin, his own part of town, and went on to conquer the world. “The 1980s were not a glorious Irish history, I can tell you,” says Buckley, recalling a period of great economic hardships for the country and the violent conflict of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. “Yet, at the same time, we seemed to have the biggest band in the world.”
Although U2 emerged in the early 80s, it was their 1987 album The Joshua Tree that propelled them to global superstardom. The record’s success also resonated profoundly with Ireland at large, and Buckley calls it a “game-changer. Because, after that, thought not directly because of it, things started seeming to get a little better in Ireland. There was a bit more hope. We had some heroes. Music, I think, because it is so linked to the Irish condition, lifted us.”
Pioneers of Irish Rock: Van Morrison, Rory Gallagher, and Thin Lizzy
The history of Irish rock did not begin with U2, though it took a little longer for the country to embrace the modern sounds that began to emerge in the late 1950s and early 1960s in the United States and the United Kingdom. “Ireland was always a little suspicious of rock and roll from the point of view that, as a recently independent country, a former colony, we have a tendency to be a little suspicious of outside influence, outside culture.”
For Buckley, Van Morrison was a pivotal figure in the development of Irish rock both at home and abroad. Van the Man will celebrate his 80th birthday later this year, and Buckley refers to him as the “Godfather of Rock Music,” crediting him as the first artist to get out there and do it, quite simply, because of his brilliance, the strength of his talent and his knack for innovation: “He kind of put Irish modern music on the world stage and I would say a lot of people followed in his footsteps.”
It was around this time that other seminal Irish musicians gained prominence on the world stage. Among them, the profoundly influential Rory Gallagher, commonly referred to as Ireland’s first rock star, and Thin Lizzy, whom Buckley refers to as “Ireland’s first international rock group,” and whose 1972 breakthrough hit was a unique rendition of the traditional folk song “Whiskey in the Jar.” “People had never heard it on electric instruments,” says Buckley. “And almost in that moment, you could say that Celtic Rock was born.”
This groundbreaking fusion not only gave Thin Lizzy their first hit but also had a profound cultural impact that resonated throughout Ireland. “Maybe by accident, I think what Thin Lizzy did at that moment is they made it cool to be Irish, and they made Irish traditional music not just the preserve of guys in Aran seaters with big beards. They became cool. And that was something that Ireland needed so badly; we needed someone cool. And to this day, I don’t think we produced a cooler man than Phil Lynott.”
The Cultural Impact of Irish Rock: From Celtic Roots to Global Influence
The story of Thin Lizzy’s breakout hit and a focal part of the story told throughout the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum is the connection between Irish rock music and Irish identity. This connection grew not only through the work of Irish artists living in Ireland but extends to the fusion of Irish musical heritage with the burgeoning music scenes of the United States and the United Kingdom in the 1960s and 1970s.
Buckley also discusses the importance of musicians from the Irish diaspora–the sons and daughters of Irish emigrants–and their key role in propelling modern Irish music, highlighting the example of The Pogues, arguably the most Irish-sounding band in the world, who came out of the London punk scene, out of which U2 also originally emerged.
The link between Irish identity and Irish rock has continued through the decades and is exemplified by other iconic bands like The Cranberries, fronted by Dolores O’Riordan and her distinctive Limerick accent. “People told her that her accent was too strong. People said it was too regional, that people wouldn’t understand her. Those were what we might describe reasonably, without being too insulting, as stupid people.”
“Her voice, her accent, gave the band such a unique quality, which not only had universal appeal but was also quintessentially Irish.” This affirmation and celebration of Irish identity continues today with the music of contemporary artists like Hozier, Fontaines D.C., and Lankum, who embrace their cultural roots and distinctive sound. By infusing their music with elements of Irish tradition, storytelling, and unmistakable accents, they create something both deeply personal and widely resonant. These artists, much like their predecessors, are “not afraid to sound Irish.”
“We Will Never Have Another Sinéad O’Connor”
Although Buckley maintains that Rory Gallagher is the most influential Irish musician to have emerged in the last 100 years, in his brief bio on the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum’s website states that his favourite Irish artist is Sinéad O’Connor. “Without trying to make this all about me, she’s someone I actually spent time with,” he shares. “She’s someone who worked in our studios from the time she was 17 right up until the time she passed away.”
O’Connor recorded several of her projects at Temple Lane Studios; in fact, it was both the first and the last studio she ever stepped into. “For me, there has been no other voice-and I use that word very specifically-that comes close to what Sinead did for Irish music. I don’t just mean her singing voice, which was beautiful. I mean, the lady had something to say. She spoke her truth, she had an integrity, she had an artistic vision but, equally, a deep, personal drive to really speak the things that were important to her.”
Making her statements through such iconic albums as her breakthrough full-length The Lion and the Cobra (1987) and affirming herself on the global stage with her second album, I Do Not What What I Haven’t Got (1990), O’Connor would continue to push creative and personal boundaries, and remain an outspoken voice on social and political issues, using her platform to advocate for causes close to her heart.
“People don’t always come when you want them. Sometimes people come when you need them,” reflects Buckley. “Sinead may not have been the voice that everybody wanted to hear in Ireland; Sinéad was the voice that Ireland needed to hear. And I cannot stress what a beautiful, amazing, and honest contribution Sinéad has made to Irish music. I cried real tears when she passed away. I still occasionally do. We will never have another Sinéad O’Connor.”
A Unique and Immersive Experience
The Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum opened in 2015 and will soon be celebrating its 10th anniversary. However, its location has a much deeper history, as Temple Lane Studios, where it is housed, has been a working music studio for over half a century. “To this day, it remains a living, breathing music studio,” says Buckley, emphasizing its unique role in Irish music history.
Unlike traditional museums, the tour immerses visitors in the creative process, taking them through rehearsal spaces, a club-sized venue, a cinema, and recording rooms. Guests can even step into jam rooms and play instruments themselves. “You’re not just visiting a museum; you’re visiting a working music studio that has hosted nearly every major Irish artist over the last 50 years,” Buckley explains.
The museum also boasts an impressive collection of memorabilia, including a dedicated Thin Lizzy exhibition, one of the most comprehensive in existence. Other highlights include U2 artifacts and a newly acquired set of Rory Gallagher guitars from a London auction. Throughout the tour, visitors encounter pieces of Irish rock history from some of the country’s biggest musical legends.
The museum’s impact extends beyond Irish artists, with global acts like Muse, The Black Eyed Peas, Stereophonics, and even Michael Jackson recording at Temple Lane Studios or its sister location. More than just a museum, it remains a hub for the future of Irish music, offering education in music production, sound engineering, and concert design. As Buckley puts it, the experience is “more authentic, something more alive,” making it an essential stop for anyone exploring Ireland’s rich rock heritage.
For more information, visit the Irish Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum website.
