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The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Pubs with Live Music in Ireland
Ireland's pub culture is legendary, and there's no better way to experience the country's charm than with a cozy night of live music in an authentic Irish pub. Whether you're tapping your feet to a lively jig in a bustling Dublin pub or unwinding with a soulful cover in a quiet village, Irish pubs offer an inviting place to experience a taste of Irish culture. If you're planning a trip to Ireland, here are some of my top tips to help you find the best pubs with live music. After spending several weeks in Ireland, and getting to hear live music all over the country at various pubs, I'm happy to share my tips so that you can embrace Ireland's spirit and enjoy a little bit of craic {good times} with the locals and visitors alike! Slainte {cheers to health}!
The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best Pubs with Live Music in Ireland
Full disclosure: I'm not a big bar hopper over here in the states. I have very little interest in the club scene. I know, I know, shocking as it seems, this midlife mom of three who likes comfy pants and a warm blanket at 8 pm would totally be the bar hopping type! I'm not. I've spent very little time in the clubs. I am, however, a HUGE fan of live music.
If you are like me, once you remind yourself that the word pub is just short for public house, and when you look at it as an extension of the local living room, you get behind the idea of being a dirty old stay out late so you can enjoy some of the magic that is the good old Irish Pub.
1. Do a Bit of Pre-Trip Research
Ireland has a booming tourism industry, and many pubs now advertise their live music schedules online. Start by searching for the top-rated music pubs in each city you plan to visit. Websites like TripAdvisor, Yelp and even dedicated Facebook travel groups are a great place to start. Once you find some pub names, you can start searching to find if they have event information on their Facebook or Instagram pages.
Some great pubs to start with:
Dublin: Temple Bar {touristy but iconic}, and Fitzsimons {lively sing along}Westport: Matt Molloy's {has multiple stages indoors and in "the yard"} and Mcging's {live music Thursday-Sunday}Galway: Richardson's {near Eyre Square} and lots of pubs on Quay StreetCresslough in Co. Donegal: Mcnulty's {joined in on a traditional Irish jam session!}Killarney: this was my favorite live music town! Just wander down High Street. You're sure to find something! Kilkenny: Paris, TX {yes, this is a bar!}, and Fieldhouse {fun cover band}
Pro Tip: If you are in Dublin, don't miss the buskers on Grafton Street. Did you know Bono got his start on Grafton Street? We have been following Allie Sherlock for years, so it was a real treat to get to see her perform while we were there. Find her on YouTube you won't be disappointed.
2. Know What You Are Looking For
Many tourists visiting want to find the traditional Irish folk music {or trad music} and are sometimes disappointed when they find pubs only offering contemporary styles, blues, or even jazz nights. Some pubs have set schedules and offer different genres on different nights. Some pubs might have traditional music on Fridays and a local cover band on Saturdays. You'll have to ask around or check online to find out what is scheduled during your visit. I'd encourage you to embrace a variety of music styles while you are in Ireland, you might just find something new you like!
3. Ask the Locals
Once you are in Ireland, locals are often the best resource for finding live music sessions. Many of Ireland's best-kept secrets aren't on social media, and the locals know where to find them! Bartenders, shopkeepers, or even your Airbnb host will have invaluable recommendations for those live music spots. Don't be afraid to strike up a conversation and ask for their favorite places to go for live music.
4. Listen
It doesn't take much to wander down the streets and get drawn in by the live music pouring out. Don't be afraid to open the door, wander into a pub and do a little lap to see what is happening inside. After about a song or two, you will likely decide if you'd like to stay or not.
5. Visit Small Villages and Towns
Those big cities like Dublin, Galway, and Cork have well-known pubs with live music, but our most memorable experiences happened in those smaller villages and towns. Here, the pubs are more intimate, and the music is often less commercialized.
While in Cresslough {county Donegal}, we found live music at a pub and after striking up a conversation with some locals who sat down at our table, we were invited to a pub across the street for their weekly jam session. There was nothing special about the little pub named Mcnulty's, but the peat was burning in the fire and we were the only ones that weren't locals inside. There was no formal stage, just musicians pulling up chairs and sitting huddled close to one another.
Instruments started coming out, musicians shared guitars and drums, and the thing we liked the most is that you'd see the older artists sharing tips and helping encourage the younger musicians as they gained the confidence to sing louder or play harder. Between filling pints, the bartender pulled out his harmonica and started playing with the group as well! The whole thing felt more like a family gathering than a concert and it was one of the highlights of our trip.
6. Get There Early for a Good Spot
If you're heading to a pub known for its live music, plan on arriving early, especially if it's a popular location during peak tourist season. Pubs are often small and limited on space and seating and can get crowded quickly. Getting there early means you can have a better chance of securing a good spot or at the very least, a place to sit! We walked in and quickly turned out of a very popular pub in Donegal. It was advertised as the "locals pub" on a lot of the tourist materials, which will very much guarantee that it's not a pub for the locals! The tourists inside seemed to love it, it just wasn't our jam.
7. Look for the Signs
Not every pubs that hosts live music will advertise online, but many will post "live music tonight" signs outside. In some pubs, you'll see tables with signs that say "reserved for musicians when there is a session". If you see musical instruments nearby, that's probably a good sign to make yourself cozy for a bit.
8. Check out Local Festivals
If you're visiting Ireland during festival season, make sure you attend a local music festival or folk festival, and you'll likely find plenty of pubs filled with musicians and impromptu jam sessions. Festivals like the Galway Arts Festival, Cork Folk Festival, Doolin Folk Festival and Ennis Trad Fest are all known for attracting talented musicians, and the pubs around these events come alive with traditional music.
During festivals, even pubs that don't normally feature live music may host performances, and it's common to see street musicians playing outside popular areas.
9. Bring Cash for Tips and Drinks
Most of the pubs we visited accepted credit cards, however, those few random pubs in the rural areas were cash only. It's a good idea to have a few euros {or pounds in Northern Ireland} for drinks and to tip the musicians. We've all heard that tipping isn't mandatory or part of the culture, but it is appreciated by the musicians and they almost always have something {a guitar box, hat, or jar} during their session for tips. Musicians often rely on tips to help support their craft, and it's a lovely way to show your appreciation for their music.
10. Embrace the Etiquette of an Irish Pub
There doesn't seem to be any written etiquette of an Irish pub, but here's what we observed.
If you are staying to listen to the music, buy a drink. I'm generally sober, but do occasionally get a drink. However, after hitting pubs every night for several weeks straight, getting a pint of Guinness wasn't in the cards. The bartenders did not bat an eye if I asked for club soda and since I always travel with these, I had my own mocktail.
Not really a beer drinker, but feel like you need the obligatory Guinness while at the pub? You can order a half pint. A full pint is a lot for me, so why waste beer?
Pro Tip: Don't rush the Guinness pour! It's a rookie mistake to grab the pint after the first pull, but know that a good bartender will let it sit for a minute and then top it off on that second pull. So patience grasshopper!
It's ok to walk in, and walk out of a pub if you don't find what you are looking for. If you are in a busy downtown area with a lot of pubs, feel free to try them out and find that one that fits your fancy on that particular evening.
Pubs are family-friendly! If you have young children, most pubs will allow kids until 8 pm. After that, it's 18 years old and up.
Most live music doesn't start until after nine. If you are an early bird like me, you might want to take a nap before the evening or just embrace the culture and the fact that you just might be out after 10 pm on a school night!
Some pubs will have signs that say "smart attire only." There were plenty of people in jeans and t-shirts. Don't stress on the dress code, but I will say, I wish I had packed a dressier shirt to wear with jeans for an evening at the pub.
Some pubs serve food. Not all pubs serve food. If you are going to a pub hoping for dinner, make sure you get confirmation that they have food. Not all pubs have kitchens. Some pubs will allow you to bring outside food over as long as you are ordering drinks. Ask if you aren't sure.
Don't be afraid to share a table. Pubs are generally pretty small and often quaint. On a busy night with live music, a chair and table might be hard to come by. Don't be afraid to ask if you can join someone with an empty seat or two. We had the most delightful conversations with locals when we did just that!
Finally, be patient! In the smaller pubs, sometimes the only staff is the bartender. Like one. They likely won't come to you! You pony yourself up to the bar and ask for what you want. Sometimes they are busy, so be patient.
With these tips in hand, you are ready to find Ireland's best pubs with live music! Whether it's a lively city pub or a quaint village spot, each pub has its own character, and the music will bring it to life. There's no better way to feel the heartbeat of Ireland than by settling in with a pint, meeting new friends, and letting the music take you away!
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Looking for the perfect self-driving itinerary for Ireland? Look no further! This post is broken up into three parts with lots of tips and ideas so that you can make it your own!
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