In addition to Irish acts, the venue has played host to many well-known international artists down through the years such as Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, David Bowie, Billy Connolly, Hall & Oates, R.E.M., Gary Numan, Radiohead and Adele.

[3] Dublin's Olympia Theatre started out as The Star of Erin Music Hall in 1879,[4] with its principal entrance opening onto Crampton Court.

Previous owners had attempted to get permission to demolish the theatre as early as 1970, despite a 1967 Dublin City Council resolution calling for the building's preservation.

[11] In November 1974, the Olympia was forced to close following major structural damage when parts of the proscenium arch and the ceiling above collapsed during a break in rehearsals for a production of West Side Story.

[14] The venue has hosted both domestic and international acts, including: Adele, Ryan Adams, Arcade Fire, Aslan, Barenaked Ladies, David Bowie, Charlie Chaplin, Blondie, Billy Connolly, Chris Cornell, Dead Can Dance, Goldfrapp, Human League, Jack L, Marina Diamandis, Midge Ure, Ellie Goulding, Florence and the Machine, Foo Fighters, Kraftwerk,

Laurel and Hardy, Lisa Stansfield, LCD Soundsystem, Amy Macdonald, Ice Spice, Gary Numan, Paramore, Radiohead, The Coronas, The Corrs, The Killers, The Script, Tori Amos, and Vulfpeck.

[citation needed] Tom Waits recorded his live version of "The Piano Has Been Drinking" here, released in 1981 on the Bounced Checks compilation.

In September 2015, Sweden's Eurovision Song Contest winner Måns Zelmerlöw kicked off a 17-date European tour at the venue.