[2] The Dublin fringe festival was initially founded in 1980 during a recession and held at various times throughout the 1980s without significant media attention or funding.
[citation needed] In the first year, Conor McPherson's This Lime Tree Bower premiered, and in 1996 Enda Walsh's Disco Pigs took off from The International Bar.
[5] Directors who have presented works at the festival have included Jimmy Fay (1995–1996), Ali Curran (1997–2000), Vallejo Gantner (2001 -2005), Wolfgang Hoffmann (2006–2007), Roise Goan (2008–2013),[6] and Kris Nelson (since 2014).
[citation needed] Successful works from past Fringe Festivals have included early plays by Conor McPherson, Enda Walsh, Owen McCafferty, Shane O’Reilly, Corn Exchange, Loose Canon, Pan Pan Theatre Company, WillFredd Theatre, Dead Centre, One Two One Two, Semper Fi, Anu Productions,[citation needed], Danielle Galligan and Eva O'Connor.
This can range from a number of cafes and theatres, as well as less traditional venues such as the Liffey Boardwalk or on a Dublin bus.