A recent trip to the United States had one Irish journalist wondering what happened to late-night spaces in Dublin.

Irish Independent Tech Editor Adrian Weckler was recently stranded in the US and had to find somewhere to go at 5am US time to work. 

“And there were loads of places,” he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“There were loads of cafés and just general establishments - I was like the guy in the Edward Hopper painting Nighthawks.

“It reminded me of what we used to have in Dublin, which was somewhere to go that wasn't a pub, wasn't a restaurant where you could chat, get something to eat at pretty much any hour of the night. 

“For some reason, we ditched it.” 

Spaces in Dublin

Mr Weckler said many people will blame anti-social behaviour and crime for the lack of diverse amenities in the city – but he suggested consumers have also played a part. 

“I really think it's connected to the same reason that we no longer have as many nightclubs,” he said. 

“I think it's more to do with just people not being motivated to - that is a terrible loss to our culture. 

“That is because we have Tinder, and because we have Deliveroo, and because we have Netflix. 

“We simply have alternative ways of meeting people, hooking up with people, of entertaining ourselves.” 

A view of Trinity College Dublin at night. Image: Richard Green / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Weckler also pointed out the explosion of social media also means people can have conversations without meeting in person – lowering the demand for late-night cafés and other spaces. 

He said without these late-night spaces in the city, Dublin is a lesser city. 

“There was something unique about sitting in a café at 2am,” he said. “Talking about life, or writing your memoir or whatever it was.” 

Campaign group Give Us the Night estimated last year that more than four in five Irish nightclubs have shut down since the year 2000. 

In April, Dublin City Council appointed concert promoter Ray O'Donoghue the 'Night Mayor' for a two-year period.