Cyprus Avenue: The unassuming Cork venue that creates industry powerhouses

A look inside the small Cork venue that has housed music legends

By Sophie Lee . Founder . 27/11/25

Photography by Ciaran Foley

It’s funny really, I walk past Cyprus Avenue to and from work most days, and only recently have I stopped and thought about how unassuming this venue actually is. From the outside, you’d never know that it has housed industry powerhouses early in their careers. Located right in the heart of Cork’s city centre, it’s a fairly small room, but its intimacy is what makes it special. For so many of us, getting the chance to see big mainstream artists here before they blew up feels like a dream in hindsight.

Having been to countless gigs there myself, I’d say Cyprus Avenue has the same atmosphere and character as The Button Factory, except with that unmistakable Cork charm. I’ve always preferred intimate gigs over huge productions, and Cyprus Avenue is one of the few remaining smaller venues in Ireland that still carries that magic. It encapsulates the feeling of Cork perfectly: a genuine sense of community, creativity, and pride that runs through our city’s music scene.

Cyprus Avenue first opened its doors in 2003 under Ger Kiely, the owner of The Old Oak bar, and ever since, it has been an anchor of Cork’s live music scene. With a capacity of around 500, it captures that rare “big enough to feel electric, small enough to feel personal” balance. One of the things I love most about Cyprus Avenue is how versatile it is, it doesn’t discriminate by genre. I’ve been at raves, techno nights, indie shows, local bands, touring acts. Every experience feels different.

Venues like Cyprus Avenue are vital to Ireland’s music ecosystem. They give emerging artists the room to grow, connect with audiences, and make mistakes before they step onto bigger stages. They offer a community space, high-quality entertainment, and a sense of belonging that only a Cork venue can deliver.

If there’s one person who will read this article repeatedly, it’s ASC’s co-founder Emma Cody, a Dublin native who is absolutely obsessed with Cyprus Avenue. Our favourite band, Inhaler, played here in their early days, long before the crowds got bigger. That’s really the point: you never quite know who you’re seeing at Cyprus Avenue. A band who seem small now could be headlining arenas in a few years.

I remember my guitar teacher telling me when I was eighteen that he’d seen Inhaler play at Cyprus Avenue when no one knew who they were. People were drifting in and out, half-listening, and now look at them. They’ve since headlined St. Anne’s Park and played the 3Arena. That’s the magic of venues like this.

It’s not just Inhaler. So many huge artists have passed through Cyprus Avenue: Declan McKenna, Snow Patrol, The Coronas, Mumford & Sons, Ocean Colour Scene, Billy Bragg, The Darkness, The Undertones, The Frank and Walters, Pillow Queens, and that’s only naming a few.

As it’s a smaller venue, the sound quality in Cyprus Avenue is always exceptional. Artists can fill the room effortlessly. It’s never too crowded or sweaty, and the bar is conveniently located just behind the venue space, making the whole experience relaxed and easy. There’s an intimacy to Cyprus Avenue that you just can’t recreate in bigger venues.

Venues like Cyprus Avenue matter now more than ever. After Covid, the creative industry has made a huge comeback, but it’s places like this that we need to protect. Without smaller venues, local and rising talent would have nowhere to grow. Ireland is producing exceptional talent, Cork especially, and spaces like Cyprus Avenue remain vital in keeping those local music scenes alive.

Cyprus Avenue may be small, but its influence is anything but. It’s a home for Cork music, a starting point for rising artists, and a venue that makes every gig feel personal. In a country where Dublin often dominates the spotlight, Cyprus Avenue stands as proof that some of Ireland’s most prominent talents begin quietly, right here in Cork.