COUNTY CLARE - IRISH TRAD MUSIC

People come to Clare from all over the world to hear traditional Irish music, or trad for short. Of course it can be heard in most counties of Ireland but nowhere are the people more passionate about it than in Clare. And it shows. The quantity, quality and variety of pub sessions going on across the county throughout the year is simply unmatched anywhere else in Ireland. It would be a shame if you came to Clare and missed out!

So here`s our guide to the trad music pubs of West Clare. Not every pub has a session on every night, but ask and you will soon be pointed in the right direction. Ok, here we go working our way from Kilrush in the south to Ballyvaughan in the north. We`ve also included our top restaurant picks in case you get hungry.

Kilrush
Crotty`s Pub - every Tuesday. festival mid-August
The Way Inn - nightly during the summer

Carrigaholt
The Long Dock - Wed, Friday to Sunday during the summer
Morrissey`s Village Pub - trad music and set dancing at the weekends
Eat here: Fennell`s - top notch seafood

Kilbaha (near Loop Head)
The Lighthouse Inn - irregular sessions

Kilkee
O` Mara`s - irregular sessions

Doonbeg
Eat here: Morrissey`s Seafood Bar and Grill

Milltown Malbay
Home to the Willie Clancy Summer School, if you are here for the week commencing the first Sunday of July you will be treated to the best traditional music this country has to offer all week long in all bars and all free. Outside this week try:
Lynch`s Bar - Wed, Fri & Saturday
Hillery`s - Mon, Wed, Fri – Sunday
Eat here: Berry Lodge and Cookery School, south of Milltown, great restaurant (reservations essential)
Eat here: Black Oak, north of town, sea view location

Lahinch
The Cornerstone - Thursday
The Nineteenth - Saturday
The Claremount Hotel - Sunday
Eat here: Barrtra Seafood Restaurant. Excellent seafood 3 miles north of Lahinch
Eat here: Atlantic Hotel - great food and a friendly atmosphere

Ennistymon
Daly`s - Thur & Sunday
Cooley`s House - Wed & Friday

Liscannor
Eat here: Vaughan`s Anchor Inn - easily the best seafood in County Clare

Corofin
The Corofin Arms - Tuesday, Friday & Sunday
Campbell `s - Tuesday
The Inchiquinn Inn - Friday

Kilfenora
A little inland, but Kilfenora can rightly claim to be the capital of the trad music kingdom that is County Clare.
Linnane`s - sessions most nights, the Kilfenora Ceili Band (the ArcadeFire of trad music) play here on Wednesdays.
Vaughan `s Pub - set dancing in the barn (no kidding!) - Thurs & Sunday, session in the pub on Tuesdays
Nagle`s - Sunday

Doolin
McGann`s - 363 nights a year and weekend afternoons
McDermotts`s - 363 nights a year and weekend afternoons
O`Connor`s - 363 nights a year and weekend afternoons
Eat here: Cullinan`s Seafood Restaurant

Aran Islands
Tigh Jo Mac`s, Inishmore - sessions throughout the summer
Joe Whatty`s, Inishmore - live music all summer though not always trad
Tigh Ruairi – Inisheer - most nights during the summer
Tigh Ned`s – Inisheer - irregular nights during the summer
Eat here: Pier House, Kilronan

Lisdoonvarna
More famous for tangos and slow waltzes, however..
The Royal Spa Hotel - Thur to Saturday
Eat here: Sheedy`s Country House Hotel

Fanore
O`Donoghue`s Pub - middle of nowhere bar where anything can happen, Saturday night ballad sessions. Sunday afternoon Irish dances, be ready.

Ballyvaughan
Hyland`s Burren Hotel - Monday
O`Brien`s - Fri to Sunday