Dublin City: Rock Capital of the World

From Kate Bush to Bono, Mick Jagger to Lady Gaga, Windmill Lane Recording Studios have hosted some of the world’s most famous rock stars. We take you behind the scenes, and discover some other Dublin musical hot spots too.

Known around the world, the iconic Windmill Lane Recording Studios first opened its doors in 1978. In the early days it was home to traditional musicians and groups, such as Planxty; but it was Dublin legends U2 who really put the place on the map when they made it their home. Enduring albums including Boy, October, The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree and Zooropa were all recorded at Windmill Lane, while outside, a wall of graffiti quickly became testament to the affection (and adoration) the band inspired.

Legend has it that in the early days, the place was so rough and ready that Bono and his bandmates had to wait until the receptionist went home in the evenings. The sound of the ringing phone made its way through to the recording studios themselves. Relocated since 1990 from its original spot at 22 Windmill Lane, to a beautiful Art Deco building on the nearby Ringsend Road, this Dublin Docklands institution has seen the laying down of hits from the likes of Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Rod Stewart, The Cranberries, Snow Patrol, and many more. The global hit Riverdance was recorded here too.

Studio One at Windmill Lane is the only recording studio in Ireland (apart from at RTÉ), that can accommodate a full 80-piece orchestra – which is where Riverdance comes in. This amazing space has also given birth to the scores of (ahem) scores of films, including Mission Impossible, My Left Foot and A Room With A View. Meanwhile, Studio Two is where smaller ensembles meet, though there’s nothing small about the fame of Kylie Minogue, Kate Bush and Hozier.

And now you can join them: the inquisitive can start with a studio tour, where you get to go backstage and see what goes in to the laying down of tracks. Tours take an hour and include encounters with the studio’s history (including its resident ghost!), and even a virtual band. But how much more fun would it be to go further?

The Merrion’s Concierge can help you arrange to get behind the glass for your own recoding session. Fancy a spot of trad? Windmill Lane will put together a group for you to record with, including some of Ireland’s leading talents – from Uilleann Pipes, to Bodhrán, Fiddle to Harp. And not to worry if you’re not a musician yourself, you can step into the control room, where expert producers will help you to make a brand new recording.

For those with a little bit of the poet in them, song writing workshops with famous local names will take you all the way from first chords to full recorded track. Experiences take can take anything from three to eight hours, and you can bring your own band in if you want to fulfill a particular dream. Talk to the Concierge about catering requirements to make the day perfect.

Part of the magic of Windmill Lane is that it is such a part of the fabric of Dublin’s musical history, so the people who you’ll meet on the tour, or during your session, are the same ones that have worked and recorded with some of the biggest stars in the world. And now, maybe, you too (see what we did there?).

Bitten by the music bug? Don’t stop there. While the likes of The 3Arena and Croke Park hold the biggest gigs, you’ll find more up close and personal sessions in smaller spots. First up, there are the Trad Sessions in The Merrion Cellar Bar every Thursday night. Then check out Vicar Street for pop up gigs in a great atmosphere. Another spot to look out for up and coming stars of the future is The Workman’s Club on Wellington Quay. Merrion Hotel Guests can arrange Windmill Lane sessions and experiences directly with the Hotel Concierge.