Keeping it live at the Lobby
FOR more than one generation of Leesiders the public houses on Union Quay, adjacent to the City Hall, hold a special place in Cork’s musical landscape.
For one golden period in the mid-1990s all four establishments on the strip operated in the very definition of harmony. At one end, hip-hop, funk and reggae beats pumped from the Donkey’s Ears, which was at the vanguard of DJ culture in the city. Up from that was the Phoenix, which was the starting out point for any number of young rock bands. Above that again, Charlie’s continues to endure today as a lively spot for blues and folk sessions. And on the corner was the flagship presence of the Lobby. In its 17-year lifespan, this venue built an enviable reputation as a live music venue of substance.
