If you want to hear traditional Irish music in a pub, the hard part is knowing which pubs to pick and when to turn up. We chose eight places across Dublin, Clare, Mayo, Galway, Donegal, Cork and Westmeath. For each one we checked the pub’s own website or an official tourism listing where one exists, and we say when a detail comes from a guide that may be out of date.
We left out pubs where we could not confirm that sessions actually run. Session nights change, so use the table below to shortlist and then check before you travel.
| Pub | County | Why go | Key fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| O’Donoghue’s | Dublin | Where The Dubliners first played together (1962) | Sessions nightly (guides) |
| Gus O’Connor’s | Clare | Doolin’s best-known music pub, est. 1832 | Music nightly; food served |
| Matt Molloy’s | Mayo | Owned by The Chieftains’ flautist | Up to 7 nights a week |
| The Cobblestone | Dublin | Published weekly session times | Daily from mid-afternoon; no food |
| Tig Cóilí | Galway | Latin Quarter session pub | Times on pub website |
| Teach Hiúdaí Beag | Donegal | Gaeltacht pub with Altan connections | Monday night session |
| De Barra’s | Cork | Folk pub in Clonakilty | Trad Mondays; acoustic Tuesdays |
| Sean’s Bar | Westmeath | Claims to be Ireland’s oldest pub | Mon–Thu and Sun nights |
1. O’Donoghue’s, Merrion Row, Dublin
O’Donoghue’s is the pub where The Dubliners are said to have first performed together in 1962, and it has kept its reputation for music ever since. Several guides describe sessions here as a nightly fixture, which makes it the easiest place on this list to hear trad on a short city break. It sits a few minutes from St Stephen’s Green, so it fits neatly into a day of sightseeing. Expect a busy, mixed crowd of locals, visitors and musicians who drop in to play.
Know before you go
- Where: 15 Merrion Row, Dublin 2
- Sessions: nightly according to the Rough Guides and local walking-tour listings; no fixed start time is published, so arrive early for a seat
- Tip: the Dubliners connection dates from the early 1960s folk revival in Dublin
Official tourism listing: Discover Ireland – O’Donoghue’s. Our own guide: more trad in Dublin at The Cobblestone.
2. Gus O’Connor’s, Doolin, County Clare
Doolin is often called the traditional music capital of Ireland, and Gus O’Connor’s on Fisher Street is its best-known pub; the sign over the door says it was established in 1832. The pub itself says traditional music is played nightly, and it serves food from a full menu, so you can settle in for dinner and stay for the session. Doolin is also where the boats to the Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher cruises leave from, which makes the village a natural base for a day out in County Clare.
Know before you go
- Where: Fisher Street, Doolin, Co. Clare
- Sessions: traditional music nightly (per the pub); times are not listed on its homepage
- Food and hours: menu available; open daily from 10am to late
- Note: large group events are not available in summer
Official site: gusoconnorsdoolin.com. Our own page: Gus O’Connor’s Pub on Love Ireland.
3. Matt Molloy’s, Westport, County Mayo
The pub belongs to Matt Molloy, the flautist of The Chieftains, and the window on Bridge Street gives away what goes on inside: posters for upcoming concerts and a handwritten “Music tonight” sign. Discover Ireland says the pub keeps live music going up to seven nights a week, and visiting musicians are a regular part of the mix. Guides advise getting there early, as the room fills quickly once the music starts after dinner.
Know before you go
- Where: Bridge Street, Westport, Co. Mayo
- Sessions: up to seven nights a week, according to Discover Ireland; confirm the night you plan to visit
- Contact: 098 26655 (number shown on the pub’s own posters)
- Tip: arrive early for a seat near the musicians
Official tourism listing: Discover Ireland – Matt Molloy’s. Our own guide: why the craic matters in an Irish pub.
4. The Cobblestone, Smithfield, Dublin
The Cobblestone on the north side of Smithfield Square describes its own sessions as Irish traditional music, and it is the one pub here that publishes a full weekly timetable. It does not serve food, and the focus is firmly on the music and the pint. The Rough Guides lists it as one of the country’s best places for trad. If you only have one evening in Dublin and want a session away from the tourist centre, this is the one to pick.
Know before you go
- Where: 77 King St North, Dublin 7 (corner of Red Cow Lane, north side of Smithfield Square)
- Sessions: Monday from 6.30pm; Tuesday to Thursday from 4.30pm; Friday from 2pm; Saturday and Sunday from 2.30pm
- Opening hours (summer 2026): Mon–Thu 2pm–11.30pm; Fri–Sat 1pm–12.30am; Sun 1pm–11pm
- Food: none served
Official site: cobblestonepub.ie. Our own page: The Cobblestone on Love Ireland.
5. Tig Cóilí, Galway City
Tig Cóilí calls itself the home of traditional Irish music in the heart of Galway’s Latin Quarter, and its sign promises “Ceol agus Craic”, music and fun. The Rough Guides names it among the best places in Galway for trad sessions. It is small, so you may be standing at busy times. It is easy to combine with a walk around the Latin Quarter and the Spanish Arch.
Know before you go
- Where: Mainguard Street, Galway City centre
- Sessions: the pub lists its session times on the Sessions page of its website
- Description: a “country pub in the heart of the city”, in the pub’s own words
Official site: tigchoiligalway.com.
6. Teach Hiúdaí Beag, Bunbeg, County Donegal
This is the pub to visit if you want a session in a Gaeltacht community. Teach Hiúdaí Beag in Bunbeg is a long-standing Donegal music house; Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan has described it as the pub where she and her siblings started out, and it has celebrated its 50th anniversary. A Monday night session is the regular draw, and the pub also runs ticketed shows, some of which start at 7.30pm.
Know before you go
- Where: Bunbeg, Co. Donegal, in the Donegal Gaeltacht
- Sessions: a regular Monday night session; ticketed shows are announced separately
- Tip: these details come from local press, so call ahead to confirm the night, particularly out of season
Further reading: Donegal News on Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and the pub. Our own guide: the best pubs in County Donegal.
7. De Barra’s, Clonakilty, County Cork
De Barra’s is a folk pub on Pearse Street, and the shop-front window is a good clue to its character, with a model group of musicians in a session. The Rough Guides lists a traditional session on Mondays and an acoustic session on Tuesdays, with live music most evenings. It is a good base for a trip along west Cork’s coast, and Clonakilty is a pleasant town to stay in.
Know before you go
- Where: Pearse Street, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
- Sessions: traditional on Mondays, acoustic on Tuesdays, live music most evenings (Rough Guides, last updated 2019)
- Tip: check the pub’s current listings before travelling, as the schedule may have changed since 2019
Official site: debarra.ie. Guide: Rough Guides – best pubs in Ireland for traditional music.
8. Sean’s Bar, Athlone, County Westmeath
Sean’s Bar is on Main Street in Athlone, and the sign outside reads “Ireland’s Oldest Bar, Luain’s Inn 900 AD” and “Live Music Nightly”. The pub says it is officially the oldest in Ireland and has been going for more than 1,100 years. The claim is disputed: some sources date the present building to the 17th or 18th century, and reports differ on whether Guinness World Records still keeps an oldest-pub category. Discover Ireland says live music runs Monday to Thursday nights and on Sunday night.
Know before you go
- Where: 13 Main Street, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, N37 V2C4
- Sessions: Monday to Thursday and Sunday nights (Discover Ireland); see the pub’s What’s On page
- Opening hours: Mon–Thu 10.30am–11.30pm; Fri–Sat 10.30am–12.30am; Sun 12.30pm–11pm
- Extra: visitors can pour their own pint behind the bar
Official site: seansbar.ie. Our own guide: is Sean’s Bar or the Brazen Head the oldest pub?. Also see the best pubs in County Westmeath.
How to enjoy a trad session
A session is a gathering of musicians playing together, not a concert, and the best ones are informal. Arrive early if you want a seat near the music, buy a drink, and keep conversation low while a tune is playing. Do not ask for requests, and only join in if you are invited. Phone calls are best taken outside.
Plan around the calendar as well as the pub: summer weekends are busiest in Doolin, Westport and Galway, while winter weekdays can be quieter but just as good. Phone ahead, or check the pub’s social media, for the night you are visiting. A well-known name on the door does not guarantee a session on any one night, and small rural pubs may cancel on quiet evenings.
Try the Guinness Timer ⏱️
A perfect pour takes 119.5 seconds — the rest, two minutes, gives the stout time to settle. Time your own pint and see if you wait long enough.
Which pub have we missed, and where did you hear your best session? Tell us in the comments.
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