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Head to O'Connor's pub in Doolin to see Irish musicians in action. (Doug McKinlay/LPI) Music seems to run in the blood of the Irish and once you set foot in the Old Sod, it seems you are...
- Etain O'carroll
14 hours ago · Here are nine fantastic sounds to start listening to. 1. Dea Matrona. Inspired by the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac and Led Zeppelin, Dea Matrona is a Belfast-based Irish rock band, led by frontwomen and school friends Mollie McGinn and Orlaith Forsythe. From humble beginnings busking in the Northern Irish capital, Dea Matrona has now reached over ...
- Fleadh Cheoil Na hÉireann, Changing Venues
- Hughes, Dublin
- The Cobblestone, Dublin
- The Crane Bar, Galway
- Murray’s Bar, Inishbofin Island
- Willie Clancy Summer School, Co Clare
- De Barra's Folk Club, Clonakilty
- Mcdermotts Pub, Doolin
- An Spailpín Fánach, Cork
- The Corner House, Cork
Held in late August, the Fleadh is the mother of all Irish music festivals and attracts about 250,000 people over eight fun-filled days. You'll have to qualify to enter the music, singing, dancing and even whistling, competitions but really they're only part of the story. It's the impromptu evening sessions, rowdy sing-a-longs, concerts and céilís(...
You'll find trad music session in pubs all over Dublin, from the manufactured craic in Temple Bar to the folksy tunes in ever-popular O'Donoghues, but if you want to see some serious musicians head for Hughes. Expect a decent pint, excellent sessions, set-dancing and shaggy-bearded locals with misty eyes.
Call into this cosy Smithfield institution and pull up a chair beside some of Ireland’s best players. The Cobblestone has been in the Mulligan family for five generations, and they take their music very seriously, hosting a session seven nights a week. The first Tuesday of every month sees the venue running Na Piobairí Uilleann(pipers session), whi...
The music at the brightly-coloured Crane is just as it should be: no egos, no pretension, just addictive, toe-tapping rhythms and a heartfelt love of the craft. Few pubs have space to dance but the atmospheric old Crane is an exception and is the best place in Galway to catch a céilíin full swing.
Just off the coast of County Galway lies Inishbofin, a tranquil island that measures just under 6km long by 4km wide. Spend the day walking its beautiful, unspoilt beaches before calling into Murray’s Bar in Doonmore Hotelfor a music session led by local and visiting singers and musicians. Warm yourself by the turf fire and try their fresh seafood ...
Some of the best musicians in the world gather in Miltown Malbay for Ireland's largest traditional music school. Along with the expert workshops at this eight-day event are lectures, recitals, céilísand exhibitions. Day and night the pubs are jammed and music comes from every direction as informal sessions pop up in the town's bars and spill out on...
Flutes, fiddles, bodhráns, pipes and mandolins cover the walls at this temple of traditional music in Co. Cork. De Barra'swith its vibrant but easy-going attitude offers intimate gigs in the sitting room (really), a purpose-built auditorium and a long list of big-name regulars.
Tucked away in the wilds of west Clare is a small town with three great music pubs. Lots of musicians live in this uniquely rocky area and McDermottsis the locals' favourite. If it's standing room only, head for nearby McGann's or O'Connor’s, though there's no guarantee of a seat there either.
Sitting just across the road from the Beamish brewery, you're guaranteed a decent pint at the old-world Spailpín Fánach. Much loved for its laid-back sessions, open fires and snug corners, it's the place to quietly nurse a drink, join the craic or just nod in the corner and let the melody waft over you.
A truly traditional family run pub in the heart of Cork City, The Corner House always offers up great music. Most Mondays include sets from the Lee Valley String Band, while Wednesday night trad sessions led by The Four Star Trio have garnered a cult following. Sessions also take place on Thursday evenings, and the first Friday of every month.
- Paul Brannigan
- Sprints. "I don’t have to know everything to be able to tell you that something’s shit... You don’t have to be Usain Bolt to run a race, and you don’t have to understand the theory of everything to understand that, morally, someone’s an asshole."
- NewDad. 'From the West Coast of Ireland, this alternative indie rock band brings sombre themes to life with their easy-going sound, raw vocals and thrumming backing' is the blurb used to introduce NewDad on bandcamp.
- Kneecap. With song such as Get Your Brits Out and Fenian Cunts, and a merchandise line (and hometown mural) featuring a police Land Rover in flames, Belfast's Irish-language hip-hop trio Kneecap aren't afraid of making provocative artistic statements, a stance which has earned them criticism from politicians across the political divide in Northern Ireland.
- M(h)aol. "M(h)aol’s debut album has the power to break down walls and kick over statues; it needs to be put on school curriculums and broadcast from rooftops and vans; its lyrics need to be printed out and xeroxed and made into pamphlets and distributed on every street corner."
- Whelan’s, Dublin. This is one of the most renowned music venues in Ireland’s largest city — the wooden floorboards of Whelan’s have felt the footsteps of many beloved musicians (think Ed Sheeran and Jeff Buckley).
- Róisín Dubh, Galway. Probably the best-known spot for live music in the west of Ireland, Róisín Dubh practically enjoys cult status. But it’s more than just a place for good tunes — it’s a cultural hub for the west, and often the first port of call for musicians visiting the city of Galway.
- Peadar O’Donnell’s, Derry-Londonderry. It’s incredible when a venue puts on live music events seven nights a week, without fail, but when spontaneous sessions are even more reliable?
- Limelight, Belfast. One of the premier venues in Northern Ireland, Limelight has hosted some legendary gigs over the years — Oasis, Fall Out Boy, and The Strokes have all popped up here.
Oct 23, 2024 · These live Irish performances are up there with the best of what Irish music has to offer, boasting hard-hitting lyrics, stunning vocals, and incredible crowd interactions.
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Sep 12, 2020 · These are thrilling times for Irish music (the pesky matter of a once-in-a-century pandemic aside). Gone are the glum old days of blokey singer-songwriters and earnest indie bands as far as the...
