Anyone who’s browsed for a guitar in Dublin has probably noticed a few familiar shop fronts disappearing. The reasons span soaring city-centre rents, online competition, and shifting tastes among younger players.

4 related posts

Music shops closed in UK since 2020: over 30% ·
Fender Stratocaster units sold (approx.): 5 million+ ·
Uilleann pipes as Irish cultural emblem: recognized by UNESCO ·
Guitar sales decline since 2019: 15-20% ·
Dublin music stores per capita: 1 per 15,000 residents

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • The exact number of active music shops in the Dublin metro area remains unconfirmed.
  • Whether guitar popularity among Gen Z players will recover in the next decade is uncertain.
  • The full impact of EU tariffs on Irish brick-and-mortar instrument retailers is not publicly documented.
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Surviving suburban stores like Waltons (Blanchardstown) and Xmusic (Red Cow) are expected to consolidate their local positions.
  • Online sales of instruments are steadily taking a larger share of the Dublin market.
  • Players will increasingly rely on delivery for specialist guitar stock.

Eight data points, one pattern: closures are concentrated in city-centre locations while a few brands hold steady against digital disruption.

Fact Value
Music shops in UK closed since 2020 30% (UK Music, the UK’s music industry body)
Fender Stratocaster units sold 5 million+ (Fender)
Uilleann pipes heritage status UNESCO recognised in 2017 (UNESCO)
Guitar sales decline 2019-2024 15% (NAMM)
Waltons city-centre closure February 2018 (IrishCentral)
Goodwins Capel St closure Announced 2024 (Irish Independent, a national newspaper)
Top guitar brand by revenue Fender (NAMM, the global trade association for music products)
Dublin metro music shops Approx 1 per 15,000 residents (Music Maker, a Dublin instrument retailer)

Why Are So Many Music Shops Closing?

Tariffs and supply chain effects on local stores

  • Post-Brexit customs have increased paperwork for UK-to-Ireland instrument shipments.
  • Waltons cited “soaring rent” as the reason for leaving its Georges Street location after 30 years.

TheCity reported that the proposed rent increase for the Waltons Georges Street site was 100% on a 25-year lease that was due to expire (TheCity, a Dublin city-news outlet). The story captured a pattern hitting several city-centre retailers: landlords seeking market-rate rents, forcing long-standing tenants to relocate or close.

Digital competition vs brick-and-mortar music shops

Goodwins on Capel Street, a specialist guitar shop in business for 46 years, announced a closure in 2024. Owner Liam Carroll said he planned to retire and had not yet set a specific closing date (Irish Independent, a national newspaper). Goodwins’ departure leaves one less source for premium guitar brands in Dublin 1.

Bottom line: Dublin’s music-shop closures stem from soaring rent and digital competition, forcing survivors to relocate to suburban shopping centres or specialise in high-margin instruments.

The catch is that the surviving shops in Dublin depend on loyalty and niche stock, not casual foot traffic.

What Is Ireland’s Famous Instrument?

The uilleann pipes as national emblem

  • The uilleann pipes are widely regarded as Ireland’s national bagpipe.
  • UNESCO added the uilleann pipes to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2017 (UNESCO, the UN cultural agency).

Hot Press described Waltons as “one of the best-known suppliers and retailers of musical instruments in Ireland,” a shop that has long carried uilleann pipes and bodhráns alongside guitars and pianos (Hot Press, an Irish music magazine).

Comparison to Scottish bagpipes

  • Unlike the loud, mouth-blown Scottish great Highland bagpipe, the uilleann pipes are quieter, bellows-blown, and capable of greater melodic range.

This difference explains why uilleann pipes are preferred for intimate session playing and have become emblematic of Irish traditional music.

UNESCO recognition adds a layer of cultural urgency to keeping shops that sell these instruments alive.

Which Is the No. 1 Guitar Brand?

Fender vs Gibson market share data

  • Fender controls roughly 40% of the global electric guitar market by revenue, compared to Gibson’s estimated 20% share.
  • Fender Stratocaster sales exceed 5 million units (Fender, the guitar manufacturer).

Three distinctions between the two giants, one pattern: Fender plays volume, Gibson plays heritage.

Attribute Fender Gibson
Founded 1946 1902
Best-selling solid-body Stratocaster (~5m units) Les Paul (~1.5m units)
Market share ~40% ~20%

Top models from Fender

  • The Player II series and the American Professional II are Fender’s current best-sellers in Dublin stores.
  • Music Maker on Pearse Street stocks the full Fender range, from Squier to Custom Shop (Music Maker, a Dublin instrument retailer).

For a Dublin buyer, the brand war is largely settled by budget and feel rather than revenue statistics.

Are Guitars Losing Popularity?

Sales trends 2019-2025

Rise of digital instruments and ADHD-friendly options

  • Electronic keyboards, synthesizers, and drum machines have gained ground as entry-level options.
  • Some experts point to the rhythm-based feedback of percussion as more immediately satisfying for ADHD players than guitar.
The upshot: The music shop of the future in Dublin may stock as many MIDI controllers as acoustic guitars.

If the trend continues, fewer young players will rely on a guitar shop near me — and more will turn to digital instruments they can buy online.

Where Can I Find a Music Shop Near Me in Dublin?

Music shops in Dublin city center

  • Music Maker, 25/27 Pearse Street, Dublin 2 — guitars, amps, drums, band accessories. Established 1933 (Music Maker, a Dublin instrument retailer).
  • Xmusic, Red Cow Retail Centre, Dublin 22 — broad stock including PA and live sound (Best in Ireland, a local directory).
The trade-off: City-centre rent has pushed specialists out. The shops that survive in the city core tend to be higher-end or lesson-focused.

Neighborhood stores in Newbridge, Tallaght, Dundrum

Shoppers living outside Dublin city should check their local shopping centre — many suburban stores carry a wider range than city-centre survivors.

Confirmed facts

  • Waltons closed its city-centre store in 2018 due to rent.
  • Fender is the largest guitar brand by revenue.
  • Uilleann pipes are a UNESCO-recognised national instrument.

What’s unclear

  • Exact number of active music shops in the Dublin metro area.
  • Whether guitar popularity among young players will recover.
  • The full extent of tariff impact on Dublin instrument retailers.
  • Whether Goodwins has definitively closed or is still trading down.

Voices from the industry

“Waltons was one of the best-known suppliers and retailers of musical instruments in Ireland.”

— Hot Press, Irish music magazine

“The owner of Goodwins said he planned to retire and had not yet set a specific closing date.”

— Irish Independent, national newspaper

For Dublin residents searching for a music shop near me, the choice is narrowing but not gone. City-centre options are thinning, yet suburban stores like Music Maker and Xmusic remain well-stocked for guitars, drums, and PA gear. For anyone looking to buy a Stratocaster or uilleann pipes in the Dublin area, the implication is clear: visit the surviving suburban specialists while their doors are open.

Additional sources

youtube.com, petitfute.com, sanjosebrief.com, reddit.com, ipoi.gov.ie

For a broader look at other music stores in Ireland, including shops outside Dublin, this guide covers the full landscape.

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Frequently asked questions

What music shops are open near me in Dublin?

Music Maker (Pearse Street), Xmusic (Red Cow), Waltons (Blanchardstown), and The Music Outlet (Swords) are among the open retailers in and around Dublin city. Many have online stores that deliver across Ireland.

What instrument is best for ADHD?

Percussion instruments like drums and hand drums offer immediate rhythmic feedback that can help with focus. Keyboards and digital workstations also appeal to players who like layered learning. Guitar and bass are also common choices for their tactile feedback.

Is guitar losing popularity in 2025?

Sales data from NAMM shows a 15% decline in guitar sales from 2019 to 2024. Fewer under-25s are picking up guitars, while digital instruments have gained ground. Interest remains steady among older buyers.

What is the famous symbol of Ireland?

The harp is the official national symbol of Ireland, but the uilleann pipes are recognised by UNESCO as a key intangible cultural heritage. Both are deeply associated with Irish traditional music.

What is the largest music store chain globally?

Guitar Center in the US and Thomann in Europe are the largest music store chains by revenue. In Ireland, Music Maker is the longest-running physical retailer, operating since 1933.

What is the most popular guitar ever made?

The Fender Stratocaster is the best-selling electric guitar in history, with over 5 million units sold globally since its introduction in 1954. Its design has become a cultural icon. (Related: Cast of This Is Spinal Tap)

Where is Music Maker located in Dublin?

Music Maker is located at 25/27 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. It has been trading since 1933 and stocks guitars, amps, drums, and band accessories.