DJ of Dublin's Grove social club, Cecil Nolan, dies

The infamous DJ of Dublin's northside social club the Grove, Cecil Nolan, has passed away at age 81. Nolan was known for playing alternative music at the Grove discos, which ran for 30 years until its closure in 1997.

The Grove opened in 1967, in Clontarf, later migrating to Raheny in 1975. The discos ran on Saturday and Sunday evenings, and several reunion nights were organised where Nolan attended as a special guest. On his time at the disco, Nolan said: “I played whatever I wanted because I knew there was a market out there for it and if it failed, well I didn’t care, at least I was enjoying myself”.

Nolan died in St. Francis Hospice, Raheny, where he moved after a stage four cancer diagnosis. In a statement on Rip.ie, his family said he would be “very sadly missed” by them, and “all of The Grove family home and abroad.”

He is survived by his sons Rob and Conor, brothers, sisters, and grandchildren. Due to Covid-19, a private funeral service will be taking place in the next few days. He has been remembered on social media by the Grove regulars and industry members since the news broke.

RIP Cecil Nolan, emperor of northside indie and the only man who could unite Cureheads, rockers, headbangers and all wearers of 10-hole Doc Martens https://t.co/Wuuclsc4m8

— James Kelleher (@etienneshrdlu) November 16, 2020

Cecil Nolan.... the legend and musical influencer of generations between 1969 and 1999 in the Grove in Clontarf has passed. God rest a very special man. pic.twitter.com/nfh2snYQ2Q

— Marty Whelan (@martylyricfm) November 16, 2020