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Copper Face Jacks

Coordinates: 53°20′07″N 6°15′49″W / 53.3353°N 6.2635°W / 53.3353; -6.2635
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Copper Face Jacks
Coppers
Streetscape of Harcourt Street; Jackson Court Hotel and Copper Face Jacks visible at right
Copper Face Jacks is located in Central Dublin
Copper Face Jacks
Copper Face Jacks
Location within Central Dublin
Address29–30 Harcourt Street
Dublin
Republic of Ireland
Coordinates53°20′07″N 6°15′49″W / 53.3353°N 6.2635°W / 53.3353; -6.2635
Public transitLuas Harcourt
OwnerBreanagh Catering Ltd
TypeNightclub
Opened16 February 1996
Website
copperfacejacks.ie

Copper Face Jacks is a nightclub in Dublin, Ireland that opened in 1996.[1][2] It is located on Harcourt Street, below the 36-room Jackson Court Hotel. It is known for its popularity among people from rural Ireland working in the city, including teachers, nurses, Gardaí and Gaelic games players.[3][4][5][6][7]

The club has six bars, two beer gardens and a VIP area, and employs 173 staff.[8]

History

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Copper Face Jacks opened on 16 February 1996 and is owned by former Garda Cathal Jackson.[9] It takes its name from John Scott, 1st Earl of Clonmell, a heavy-drinking 18th-century judge nicknamed "Copperfaced Jack" who lived on Harcourt Street.[10]

In 2013 the club's profits were estimated at €15,000 per day.[11] The nightclub is owned by Breanagh Catering Limited, whose only directors are Cathal Jackson, and his wife, Paula. From 2008 to 2019, these two directors earned a cumulative €8.3m each in salary.[12] Revenues averaged between €12-13 million from 2008 to 2016, with revenues of €14million in 2016 and 2017, earnings were about €6 million.

In January 2014 seven people were injured in a crush outside the club, leading to concerns over safety.[13]

In 2018 the club was accused of ignoring licensing laws, serving alcohol over an hour after the supposed closing time of 3:30 a.m.[14]

The club and hotel was placed up for sale by the Jackson family in 2019, but later withdrawn from sale.[15]

As of April 2020, the business was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.[16][17]

Cultural depictions

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Copper Face Jacks, also commonly known as Coppers, is mentioned in Melissa Hill's novel Something You Should Know.[18]

Ross O'Carroll Kelly visits Coppers in the 2016 novel Game of Throw-ins.[19]

In 2018, playwright and author Paul Howard wrote Copper Face Jacks: The Musical, performed at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Top ten places to meet that special someone in Ireland - SEE PHOTOS". IrishCentral.com. 2 September 2010.
  2. ^ "Guide to UK Restaurant Brands". Martin Information. 13 March 2002 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "The seven stages of a night out at Copper Face Jacks..." independent.
  4. ^ Daly, Anthony (30 October 2014). Dalo: The Autobiography. Random House. ISBN 9781448152513 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "New dawn as Grainne swaps GAA for Wags". independent.
  6. ^ Donohoe, Amy (20 February 2021). "6 ways you know you're a culchie living in the city of Dublin". DublinLive.
  7. ^ "12 reasons why Coppers is such a bizarre national phenomenon". www.dailyedge.ie.
  8. ^ "The Genius' Behind Copper Face Jacks Are Sitting On An Absolute Mountain Of Cash". Her.ie.
  9. ^ Deegan, Gordon. "Copper Face Jacks nightclub firm pays out €45.95 million dividend". TheJournal.ie.
  10. ^ Dunlop, Robert (1897). "Scott, John (1739-1798)" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 51. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  11. ^ "Copper into gold: the club that defies the odds". independent.
  12. ^ "See you in Coppers: 12 years of multi-million profits at Ireland's most successful nightclub". The Currency.
  13. ^ Mullally, Una. "The Coppers formula". The Irish Times.
  14. ^ Neylon, Laoise. "Licence to swill: Copper Face Jacks and other top nightclubs flout drink laws" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  15. ^ Gleeson, Colin. "Revellers relieved as Copper Face Jacks is taken off the market". The Irish Times.
  16. ^ "A night in Coppers: Jackson Court Hotel offers special nightly rates for students amid accommodation crisis". independent.
  17. ^ Berry, Darragh (26 April 2020). "Dublin nightclub Copper Face Jacks has apparent timeline for reopening". Irish Mirror.
  18. ^ Hill, Melissa (13 April 2014). "Something You Should Know" – via Google Books.
  19. ^ O'Carroll-Kelly, Ross (1 September 2016). Game of Throw-ins. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 9781844883462 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ "Our Listeners Review 'Copper Face Jacks:The Musical'". TodayFM.
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