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WORDS #1

Ecstatic Ravers, But Councillors Still Have Doubts
Sunday Tribune, 9 February 1992

A number of politicians who attended a large rave disco at Dublin’s Mansion House on Friday night gave the event qualified approval, even though they had earlier expressed fears about the sale and use of drugs at such events. They had been particularly concerned about the possible use of Corporation property for drug abuses.

A special meeting last Thursday of Dublin Corporation’s Finance Committee, which administers the running of the building, debated at length whether Acid House parties or raves should be allowed in the Lord Mayor’s residence.

Councillors expressed concern that these events were closely related to the taking of drugs such as Ecstasy and that the Corporation should not be seen to be endorsing this by allowing rave dances to proceed in buildings owned by the city.

Marcus O’Neill, one of the main promoters for such events in Ireland, attended the meeting at the request of councillors and extended an invitation for all public representatives and the press to attend Friday night’s concert “to see for yourselves what really goes on.” Mr O’Neill has a conviction for possession of the hallucinogenic drug LSD.

The concert, organised and promoted by Dance Crazy Ltd, a company owned by Mr O’Neill, commenced at 7 pm. By 9.30, hundreds of young people were being turned away as the Round Hall in the Mansion House rapidly filled.

Inside, fire eaters, jugglers, and a massive sound and laser show entertained an estimated 1,500 dance-goers in extremely hot and humid conditions.

Most dancers appeared to be aged between 14 and 20 and many had brought along a change of clothes in rucksacks due to the sweat produced during dancing.

A number of councillors took up the invitation to attend the event, including Alderman Tony Gregory TD (Ind), who originally tabled the motion calling for a debate on who is allowed to rent the Mansion House.

However, he did express concern that events such as Friday’s concert provided a good opportunity for drug dealers due to the large numbers of young people involved.

“I was walking around inside the hall, and a young man came up to me and said, ‘Why aren’t you dancing?’ Cllr. Gregory said. “I told him that I was too old for that sort of thing, and he said back to me that it was a pity I wasn’t outside earlier because he could have gotten something off a friend to help me feel better.

“That is very worrying because whatever about inside the hall, there certainly seems to be no problem in buying drugs outside, and while I would probably not agree with banning these events altogether, we must make sure that we are not providing an opportunity for drug pushers to exploit youngsters,” Cllr. Gregory added.

Councillor Senator Joe Costello (Labour), who had also expressed concern about the leasing of the Mansion House for rave parties, said he was not impressed by the security measures taken by the organisers and that he was certain that a number of young people at the disco were taking Ecstasy.

However, Cllr. Costello said he was also against banning the events from the Mansion House completely, as he felt that it would drive the scene underground, a similar view expressed by Councillor Eric Byrne TD (WP) and Councillor Sadhbh O’Neill (Green), who also attended the event.

“Ecstasy is great, and all the bad things that are being said about it is crap,” said Peter from Ballymun, a tattooed young man who said that he had not taken Ecstasy on Friday night but usually did.

“It’s a designer drug. It doesn’t do anything bad to you, and you can dance all night and feel good. You get a good buzz out of it, and most people are on it, and it’s easy to get. You can get it inside (the Mansion House) if you really want,” he said.

Marcus O’Neill, the organiser of the event, said that he promotes a large number of similar dances at venues throughout the country and blamed the media for giving the rave scene bad publicity.

WORDS #2

Paul Webb on DJing at the Mansion House
From Notes on Rave in Dublin documentary

“I remember my first gig I did there were 600 kids there, mainly from the north inner city. They all came with rucksacks on, and there I was, thinking, ‘What the hell is going on here?’ They all had complete changes of clothes in their rucksacks, so they would go into the room. They would do what they do, dancing non-stop for three-and-a-half hours. Afterward, they would get the rucksack out, change from wet, sweaty clothes into dry ones, and off they would go again.

“I was standing at the door next to an off-duty guard who was working there that night. There were 600 kids whooping, hollering, singing, and dancing as they went out the door. I turned to the guard and asked, ‘What do you reckon?’

“He said, ‘I prefer this. If there were 600 drunk kids, they would all be boxing the heads off themselves. Look at them now—they’re all singing, dancing, and laughing.'”

WORDS #3

A Clean Bill of Health: No Sign of Designer Drugs at Mansion House Rave Disco
Evening Herald, 8 February 1992

High energy. Good clean fun! That was the verdict from the politicians invited to the sold-out rave disco at the Mansion House. Members of Dublin Corporation’s special finance committee sweated blood, sweat, and tears in their quest to determine if the designer drug ecstasy is being sold at the venue.

Earlier this week, gardai told the corporation no seizures of ecstasy had been made at the Mansion House. But they confirmed that seizures had occurred on Dawson Street and South Anne Street on the nights of Mansion House raves.

Inspector Malachy Mulligan of the Harcourt Square Drugs Unit also said seizures had been made at raves in other parts of the city.

Meanwhile, most of the youngsters at the £8.50 sell-out disco last night claimed that the drug was freely available outside the Mansion House in the city center or in the suburbs at £25 a tablet.

“I have seen nothing here that would cause parents to worry. I feel very envious of these young kids,” said Deputy Eric Byrne (WP) last night.

And Deputy Tony Gregory (Ind) mentioned that while most of the 1,500 youngsters appeared to be enjoying themselves, he still had mixed feelings. “There are no obvious signs of drug-taking, and my only concern is that there are so many young people here. If there are drugs here, it is only among a small minority,” he said.

Senator Joe Costello (Lab) said he would reserve judgment until he attended other raves at the Mansion House.

Cllr Christy Burke (SF), who also attended the disco, said today: “The first Dáil met in the Mansion House, and I don’t think even it would have disapproved. I wouldn’t dream of banning these rave dances. It was a very happy event with no sign of anyone under the influence of drugs.”

Last night’s disco was organised by Dance Crazy Cyclone Zone, and according to organiser Marcus O’Neill, body searches will be introduced.

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