Where Shall We Find the Best Live Music?

baja · Veteran Member

Where Shall We Find the Best Live Music?

Mark D · Senior Member

I found that the Quays Bar in Galway had great traditional music, but I am not sure of the schedule.
It's too bad you wont be near Westport, Matt Molloys ( as everyone here knows) is my favorite !
Cheers !
Mark

CowboyCraic · Guru

Bill,

In Galway, head for Eyre Square and An Pucan. You could also try Monroe's Tavern on Dominick Street. Both of these have music nightly starting at half past 9. You would be wise to get there early, eat dinner and stake your claim to a table. Taffee's might be another spot to check out, as well. It is located on Shop Street. Oh! Tig Cóilí, on Mainguard Street, definitely a must visit. In Killarney, There is Dunloe's on Plunkett street. In Kenmare, we found excellent Trad music in Spillane's.

Those would be my recommendations. Your trip is getting close! Have a most excellent adventure!

Slan Beo,

Bit

Auld Sod · Veteran Member

Hey All!

Same question but for Ballyvaughan, Doolin and Dingle.

32 days and counting!!!

Thanks!

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

In Killarney, check out what's on offer at the Granary (Next to the Tesco, opposite the Tourist Office. Also drop into O'Riain's on High Street and inquire if they have anyone scheduled.
Molly Darcy's in the Hotel across from the entrance to Muckross House usually has someone.
Some web sites:

Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny & Limerick:
www.whazon.com/

Limerick:
www.dolanspub.com/

All Ireland:
www.online.ie/Entertainment/Music/Trad/Default.aspx

Clonakilty:
www.debarra.ie

Galway:
www.galway.net/galwayguide/pub/music/trad/

Second the recommendation for the Quay Pub (pronounced - KEY - or KAY depending on if talking to someone young (KEY) or old (KAY). Taaffes Pub is meant to be quite good, also, but I've never been.

Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur at 20:33, 2007-04-17

baja · Veteran Member

Thanks, Bit, Mark, and Bob -- I knew we could count on you guys to help! We'll put these in our travel notes and will be glad to make a report when we get back.

Six days and a wake-up! (not counting today -- you never count today, do ya?)

Bill

Sidz · Guru

There are several places in Killarney that have ballad-type Irish music, but if you want the good ol' traditional version, you can't go wrong with the Dunloe Lodge. That place was tremendous. biggrin

baja · Veteran Member

Noted!! Thanks much, sidz.

Andi · Senior Member

I notice The Crane Bar in Galway City doesn't get mentioned alot. A year ago, they had awesome traditional music upstairs. The downstairs tended to be country music.

CowboyCraic · Guru

Bill,

Every moment counts in the big picture but when you ar planning for Ireland, tomorrow is what counts until you arrive!

Andi,

I haven't been in the Crane and I think that was because we heard the modern music and kept walking.

Sidz,

Yes, Dunloe's is the best of the best IMHO. They are usually very welcoming to traveling musicians, which made for a most memorable night. Though I will admit to those memories being tinged a Jameson hue! wink

Slan Beo,

Bit

Sidz · Guru

Now that you mention it, Dunloe was really friendly, and that certainly added to the traditional music enjoyment that evening. And now that you mention it, I think the Jameson nipped at my heels that evening just a little! wink

baja · Veteran Member

CowboyCraic wrote:

Bill,

Every moment counts in the big picture but when you ar planning for Ireland, tomorrow is what counts until you arrive!

Ain't it the truth! Thanks, Bit!

-- Edited by baja at 16:30, 2007-04-18

baja · Veteran Member

You guys are the best!

These places (and those great websites, Bob) are in our Travelin' Notes -- hope we can hit them all!

Thanks,
Bill

-- Edited by baja at 16:41, 2007-04-18

Andi · Senior Member

Actually, the best trad music we heard in Ireland was in Miltown Malbay. We arrived there by coincidence about 1 week before the Willie Clancy festival, and happened to choose a B&B where the proprietress was a musician and had several musicians staying with her. The B&B wsa probably the dumpiest of our trip, so just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover. She told us to go to Cleary's pub. My friends were a little intimidated because it looked sort of quiet and downtrodden, but we went in. It was one of those tiny family pubs where you can see the living quarters behind. It was fantastic, with players from all over Europe who don't get to see each other very often sitting around a big table.

A very memorable experience for my 4 friends, who had never been to Ireland before.

baja · Veteran Member

Thanks, Andi -- what town, please?

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

From Andi's post, she's talking about Miltown Malbay, which is in Co. Clare, somewhat near Doolin...Closer, actually to Lahinch...
Willy Clancey's Summer School (7-15 July)web site:
www.setdancingnews.net/wcss/

In Dingle: The Small Bridge (though the sign is printed in Irish).
Website listing several Dingle Pubs/Music venues:

homepage.eircom.net/~oac/livemusic.htm

Bob

baja · Veteran Member

Thanks for clarifying, Bob -- we thought Andi was talking about a venue instead of a town.

The Dingle site is a treasure. Highly recommend it to other forum readers.

Thanks again,
Bill

Auld Sod · Veteran Member

Thanks, Bob! That link is great!

I had forgotten that I had seen good reviews on John Benny's in Dingle.

YaYa · Guru

I stayed outside Miltown Malbay for 4 nights at Spanish Point. It was an Irish mile into town and 2 miles by my feet. I loved Miltown Malbay because it was a really nice small town and within a day everybody knew us. There seemed to be a lot of Pubs.

Joan

wojazz3 · Guru

The Small Bridge in Dingle is fabulous. There are fun sessions on the other side of the peninsula at Ned Natterjack's (wed & sun in season).

The three pubs in Doolin are the venerable Gus O'Connor's (RIP) McGann's and McDermott's. It's really hard to say who will have the best trad and Gus will have it every night year around. I suspect the players just circle around the three. O'Connor's tens to get very loud and if you aren't sittingf next to the band, you can't hear them. McGann's is similar. McDermott's is said to be the "local" but anywhere in Doolin during the high season is jammed with tourists.

Tig Coili and Taffe's in Galway do early sessions too. They can be hit or miss in quality, but we heard a very good one at Tig last time we were there.

Bill

baja · Veteran Member

Was hoping you would check in, Bill -- many thanks for the suggestions!

Bill

Dayna · Veteran Member

Thanks for all of the great info. We will be going to many of these places in just 2 more weeks. This was perfect info for us!
Once again, a reason why I read this site every day!

Mark D · Senior Member

This may be a bit off topic, but I believe there is a venue that not many people traveling to Ireland think about.
When our group went to Ireland in 2004, we played music in most of the hotels we stayed in. Many musicians stay in the larger hotels, and the hotel pubs/bars really get hopping in the evening ! We played in the Connemara Gateway Hotel in Oughterard, Yeats Country Hotel in Rosses Point, The Wyatt in Westport, and the Imperial in Galway. We met lots of sessions players who just wanted to relax, play some tunes, and enjoy a pint of two !
I would highly recommend calling, or dropping by to see what may be going on !
Cheers !
Mark D.