The venue has promoted countless shows by Irish and international artists varying in style from Christy Moore to the Dirty Three. It was in October 1999 when Mark Dearey, and his then business partner Mark Mulholland, launched Dundalk's Spirit Store gigs in a tiny performance space capable of holding 63 souls. Derek Turner was recruited to take care of the sound.

The first band to play live at the venue were Lunasa, and since then a parade of class acts have passed through, including The Frames, The Four Of Us, Damien Rice, Bell X1, Snow Patrol, Declan O'Rourke, The Walls, The Blizzards, John Spillane and almost any significant Irish act you can think of. There’s an equally impressive visitors’ book of touring acts, including Conway Savage, Josh Ritter and the Handsome Family.