While dance clubs still dominate Irish nightlife, it would take almost bionic powers of self-delusion for promoters to believe they will continue to do so without further innovation and investment.
It has been the best part of a decade since the club culture emerged, snake-hipped and lithe-limbed, to tempt the once-innocent youth of the nation into dimly-lit sin-pits for dancefloor frolics under an electric sound-burst of syncopated beats.
Now, spoiled by the sheer range of choice available, clubbers are less eager to part with their pounds for the ordinary, and are seeking something a little bit special. Happily, they may be about to get just that, and fittingly, it is happening in Cork, the first conurbation in the Republic where the dance culture thrived.
Tonight, is Telefunkin's opening night in the splendour of the city's Metropole Hotel, better known as the Deep South's home of jazz. A monthly spectacular held in two elegantly-appointed rooms, it will have a capacity of around 750. It is being launched by two of the city's most established promoters, Frontline and the Simply Delicious Corporation.
The main room will play host to a tantalising blend of soul, disco, house and funk from resident DJs Angi, also of Cork's long-established Tuesday night shindig Mor Disco, and Tonie Walsh, familiar to Dublin clubbers from nights such as Powderbubble and other groovesome offerings in the Red Box.
The smaller second room will have guests of international repute, starting tonight with The Unabombers, direct from Manchester where they have an association with the painfully cool Grand Central label. You can expect a hip hop-flavoured concoction.
The aim of Telefunkin, according to Joe Kelly, one of the promoters, is to provide a club for people who want to dress up and hear quality underground music in a pleasant venue. Regular club-fiends will know that there is very little currently on offer that will satisfy even those basic criteria.
No expense is being spared on these monthly productions, with the Lighting Surgeons hauled down from the capital to sort out the atmospherics and award-winning Cork designers Bite! Associates beavering away on the swish publicity material.
Tickets for tonight's event are priced at £8, the doors are opening at 10 p.m., and if you want to make a meal out of it, the Metropole is offering special room rates for patrons.
The second Telefunkin takes place on February 28th, when the guests are Morcheeba from London and on March 28th, Fila Brasillia arrive from Hull.