The Zoo...It's Been So Long

For a generation, it was the place to be on a Sunday afternoon, particularly in the mid-2000s, dubbed at one time “a home for misfits and metalheads” in the Marble City.

Show Notes

Remember the Zoo club in Kilkenny?

For a generation, it was the place to be on a Sunday afternoon, particularly in the mid-2000s, dubbed at one time “a home for misfits and metalheads” in the Marble City.

Rock and metal nights on a Friday or Saturday were for years followed up with all-ages shows on a Sunday afternoon that gave a home and a platform to young, up-and-coming Kilkenny bands and a space with a captive audience for touring acts.

The Parliament Street venue gave rise to bands like Nearly Dead Jim, Slave Zero, Itchy Trigger Finger, Gigotos, Myp Et Jeep, Crucifractuce, Atrax Mantis and so many more.

This Monday, just after 6pm, KCLR is set to air The Zoo: It’s Been So Long, a one-off documentary feature by Shane O’Keeffe that explores the impact the Zoo club had on some of those bands, musicians and the local music scene in Kilkenny at the time.

The documentary features the voices of Andrew McGuinness, Jimmy Trigger (Itchy Trigger Finger), Evan Prendergast (Mantra, Worn Out), Shane Corcoran (Crucifracture), Steve O’Brien (Oh Bryan), Bob Ryan (Nearly Dead Jim) and more.

Over a decade has passed since the Zoo closed its doors, many still yearning for its return.

What is The Zoo...It's Been So Long?

The Zoo Club in Kilkenny was thee place to be on a Sunday afternoon in the mid 2000’s. Since it’s inception it provided a home to all lovers of Rock and Metal. Every Sunday people of all ages would converge on Parliament street and step underground to immerse themselves for four hours in a world no one else knew about. This in-depth audio documentary will look at the how the club played a crucial role in the development of a bubbling Kilkenny Music scene .

Now over a decade has passed since the ZOO hits the lights and shut down, and many people still yearning for its return. With that in mind It’s important to acknowledge and pay our respects to a time in so many peoples lives that has never been forgotten. So join me on this pure nostalgia trip down those fabled steps once again.