Windmill Lane Recording Studios

When looking at a boxy old building beside the bus depot on Dublin’s Ringsend Road, hardly anyone can say that some astonishing music has been recorded and mixed inside. Dublin's world-famous Windmill Lane Recording Studios is an intriguing and fun place to explore, as the building seems to have a story for every step. It is where history is made and legends are born.

Origin and growth

Sound engineer Brian Masterson and Post Production Studio owner James Morris opened Windmill Lane in Dublin in 1978. They were passionate about creating a world-class production facility in Dublin. They invested heavily in the best equipment and brought in designer/architect John Story.

The original studio buildings were located on Windmill Lane, famously covered in graffiti by U2 fans from all over the world. Music fans vividly remember the old Windmill Lane. The original studio opened off the Liffey Quays in 1978. In 1980, an unknown Irish band called U2 recorded their debut album, Boy. In three years, U2 fans started visiting Windmill Lane and adding graffiti to the walls around the site.

In the mid-80s, another studio, Windmill Two, was decided to open just off Stephens Green. Def Leppard recorded Hysteria with Mutt Lange there. Growing demand for studio services led to the relocation in 1990 to a larger facility on Ringsend Road. Art-Deco building stands out from the glass and steel monoliths of the tech giants surrounding it. The building once housed a Bovril factory, tramline depot power station, and snooker hall. An eight-ball from the old tables serves as a mouse at the Neve desk.

Housed today in an iconic Art Deco building, the studio surprises with what you will discover inside. It comprises three state-of-the-art recording studios, the largest of which can accommodate an 80-piece orchestra. Its wooden floor is also where Riverdance’s steps were recorded.

From rock to rap, from AC/DC to 50 Cent, global superstars and local breakouts record at the premier audio production house on Ringsend Road. Some artists who have recorded there include Kate Bush, The Rolling Stones, The Cranberries, The Spice Girls, and, more recently, Lady Gaga, Ed Sheeran, Westlife, The Script, and Hozier. The soundtracks for such great movies as The Mask, Mission Impossible, and The Commitments were also recorded there.
In 2004, Brian Masterson sold studios to a famous client. In 2020, the building opened its famous green doors to the public for the first time. The team is happy to see visitors' reactions when they get behind these iconic doors and learn about the building's long history.

Studio tour

After disruption due to COVID-19, the studios are running again with a new visitor experience, which is a huge draw for domestic and international tourists. President Michael D Higgins was the guest of honour for launching the new visitor experience, at which singer Paul Brady performed alongside Dónal Lunny.

Like any good studio tour, it naturally focuses on former glories, making you feel thrilled while standing where artists used to sing songs you grew up listening to. The tour, through a mix of technology, audiovisual media, and storytelling, gives visitors an insight into the creation and production of some of the past 40 years' albums and songs. Visitors can also observe the music recording and production process. The small mementoes are as intriguing as the big studio—a framed fax from the Fugees, for example, reads: “We have booked from 11 pm through to early AM tomorrow; however, expect anything to happen!”

Visit this place to explore a major piece of Irish and international music recording history. Visitors can watch evocative videos, work a mixing desk, and pose for photos at the 72-channel Neve console in Studio One. Windmill Lane is also a working building, so you may find a studio occupied by “a client” during the tour. Amps, instruments, and mikes will only add to the experience. After visiting the studio, be ready to spend the evening at home searching for albums recorded at Windmill Lane.

Corporate event

If you are looking for a team-building experience that offers your company something truly exciting and different, think about the place where some of the world’s most talented and creative groups have produced their best-ever work. At Windmill Lane Recording Studios, corporate visitor experiences will allow your team to step out of their comfort zone together in a fun way and record their very own hit.

Guided by an experienced producer, your team will get behind the microphone, lay down a recording and receive their own digital master. Watch how producers mix your song and see how audio is treated in a professional studio. Your unique event can include your choice of song, an associated visual masterpiece, and “Artist Rider’’.

The recording studio experiences can cater to small, medium, and large groups, with a maximum group size of 90 people. You do not have to be musical or sing as all the singing is done as a group. Usually, once they see how it all works, everyone wants to participate! 

The VIP pass offers exclusive access to the legendary Studio One. These professional session musicians have played with some of the greatest artists in the world. While you enjoy a meal with your team, clients, or colleagues, watch the house band perform the hits of the famous stars recorded here. 

The cost is determined based on the size of your group and the features you would like to add to the session, such as video recording and catering. All the Windmill Lane Recording Studios crew are highly experienced, professional engineers and producers who have worked with renowned artists. They also have excellent people skills to ensure your team gets the best studio experience!

This visitor experience is central to the docklands, adding to the development of area potential. It embodies the theme of cultural innovation that has always been inherent in the docklands. The experience boosts tourism in Dublin, with visitors also receiving a historical summary of the Ringsend area from the times of Oliver Cromwell to the 1916 Easter Rising.