Sir Henry's
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Nightclub logo | |
 | |
| Location | South Main Street, Cork, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°53′46″N 8°28′35″W / 51.8962°N 8.4763°W |
| Owner | Jerry Lucey[1] |
| Type | Nightclub, music venue, bar |
| Opened | 1978 |
| Closed | 2003 |
Sir Henry's was a bar and nightclub on South Main Street in Cork, Ireland. It was founded by Jerry Lucey in 1978.[1] The name was derived from Henry O'Shea, a baker and building owner in the South Main Street area of Cork city.[2] The club was known for its house, trance, R&B, hip hop and regular live rock concerts.[3] Gigs held there included a number by The Golden Horde, Toasted Heretic, Sonic Youth with support band Nirvana, Therapy?, The Wedding Present and The Fall.
During late 1980s, the club ran a series of three-night long acid house weekenders, which attracted DJs such as Laurent Garnier,[4] Shades of Rhythm and Justin Robertson. From the mid 1990s the music tended towards deep house.
Henry's closed in June 2003 and the building was demolished soon afterwards.[5][6]
Sir Henrys was a rock bar for most of the 1980s.[7] The club at the time also held gigs by an older and more traditional "pub rock" element, but this scene had died out by the mid 1980s, as post-punk bands such as Nun Attax (later Five Go Down to the Sea?) grew in prominence.[7]
Many of Ireland's up-and-coming young bands performed here[8] and the 'Battle of the Bands' was held there for a number of years where unsigned talent competed for a recording contract. Artists that performed there over these years included Phil Lynott, John Martyn, ex-Clash Mick Jones' Big Audio Dynamite, The Pogues and The Sisters of Mercy.
On 20 August 1991, Sonic Youth played Sir Henry's, supported by the then virtually unknown band Nirvana.[9][10] Some scenes were featured in the documentary 1991: The Year Punk Broke.[11]
