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Valley of Death, and Crime, Temple Bar.

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Temple Bar venue ‘terrified’ for staff as Dublin is becoming a ‘Valley of Death’

Ciaran Hogan at The Clockwork Door where some consoles were stolen during Culture Night last year
Ciaran Hogan at The Clockwork Door where some consoles were stolen during Culture Night last year
Ciaran Hogan, owner of The Clockwork Door in Temple Bar, says he would consider moving out of Dublin. Pic: Steve Humphreys
Ciaran Hogan, owner of The Clockwork Door in Temple Bar, says he would consider moving out of Dublin. Pic: Steve Humphreys
thumbnail: Ciaran Hogan, owner of The Clockwork Door in Temple Bar, says he would consider moving out of Dublin. Pic: Steve Humphreys
thumbnail: Ciaran Hogan at The Clockwork Door where some consoles were stolen during Culture Night last year

Today at 11:33

A Temple Bar business will consider “moving out of Dublin if given the opportunity”, as the city is like the “Valley of Death”.

Ciaran Hogan, owner and operator of the Clockwork Door for the past seven years, believes the city centre has got progressively worse in the past year.

Not only is he considering relocating, but he is also opting out of participating in Culture Night this Friday following an incident this time last year.

“We had an incident last year on Culture Night, a group came in and swiped some valuables,” he said.

“It left a bitter taste with us. We’ve a video games rooms and some consoles were stolen. They ripped them off the wall and put them under their jackets.

“How the city has progressively gotten worse this year, it has been quite dramatic. Walking to and from a business is like walking through the Valley of Death.

“There’s open drug use, anti-social behaviour, drunken behaviour and lawlessness.

“If I could, I wouldn’t be in Dublin anymore. I think the business will probably be moving out if we get the opportunity.

“I’m terrified. I think about this every night, we close at 10pm and some of the staff head home through all of this. If they get attacked it’s on me. I feel really, really bad about that,” he added.

Ciaran Hogan at The Clockwork Door where some consoles were stolen during Culture Night last year
Ciaran Hogan at The Clockwork Door where some consoles were stolen during Culture Night last year

The Clockwork Door on Wellington Quay is a social space and venue with a mix of board games, a café, study spaces, a hostel common room, lecture hall and escape rooms.

They host events like Laughter Yoga, Mocktail Classes, game nights and movie nights. But Ciaran believes the city centre location is bringing more bad than good.

“The Clockwork has been a hub for social events and meeting up with new people. We like to think we’re an oasis of happiness, somewhere where people can relax. It’d help if Dublin city was approachable,” Mr Hogan said.

“The city centre is decaying. It’s violent, it’s dangerous and its hostile. It affects us in different ways, customers are avoiding town and rightfully so.

“This is happening because the situation hasn’t been addressed for a decade. Crime is getting really bad, businesses are moving out, there’s no more money, everything will spiral very quickly,” he added.

The organisers of this year’s Culture Night have been contacted for comment.

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