Follow the music around Ireland’s traditional pubs
‘Gig-tripping’ is the latest holiday trend and the island of Ireland is the perfect place to follow the music.
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Belfast Traditional Music Trail, Belfast.
Lonely Planet has identified a hot new travel trend for 2025 that puts music at the heart of holiday plans. Known as ‘gig-tripping’, it sees entertainment seekers travelling to see their favourite musicians perform in different countries or heading to iconic music venues.
For lovers of traditional music, the island of Ireland offers great live music experiences in pubs up and down the country. Whether you want to head for a particular venue or fancy creating your own music trail, here are some suggestions for top spots that deliver authentic Irish traditional music experiences.
De Barra’s is considered to be one of the best independent music venues in Ireland and was listed as a top spot in Lonely Planet’s Follow the Music category. De Barra’s hosts almost daily music gigs and has welcomed folk greats such as Christy Moore and Mary Coughlan as well as top contemporary artists including Damien Dempsey. The venue is over 100 years old and its walls are covered with music and history memorabilia creating the perfect traditional music setting.
Another iconic Irish music venue is Matt Molloy’s in gorgeous Westport on the Wild Atlantic Way, which was founded by flautist Matt Molloy from trad royalty, The Chieftains. The intimate venue is a magnet for music lovers and is generally overflowing with visitors keen to experience the nightly sessions which occasionally feature Matt himself. When he was US Vice President, Joe Biden dropped into Molloy’s to enjoy a session and meet the locals.
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Musicians performing at Maddens Bar.
One of Belfast’s top session bars, Madden’s is part of Belfast’s history and also boasts the best pint of Guinness in the city. As well as regular trad sessions the bar showcases local original music. Madden’s is also the starting point for the award-winning Belfast Traditional Music Trail which combines performances with a fascinating insight into Irish traditional instruments and the history of Belfast’s trad scene.
Given its compact size but huge popularity with locals and visitors alike, the nightly music in this popular Derry~Londonderry pub often spills out onto the street creating a great party atmosphere. The music is a mix of trad, folk and singalong sessions and it’s not unusual to see people dancing in the street.
With its wood panelling and open fire, Buckleys Bar in the Arbutus Hotel exudes a warm Irish welcome. Its nightly trad sessions are often impromptu with some of the county’s finest musicians dropping in to join in the music and everyone who can play encouraged to join in.
The Cobblestone, Dublin City.
There is no shortage of trad sessions in Dublin city but The Cobblestone, a family-run pub in Smithfield, has been singled out for its authenticity. Smithfield was named by Time Out as the second coolest neighbourhood in the world and the number one in Europe and the magazine called out The Cobblestone as being the heart of traditional Irish music in Dublin.
This small traditional pub In Donegal town with outside space overlooking the river and Donegal Castle encapsulates everything needed for an afternoon or evening of music and craic. With sessions and performances by folk and trad singers and musicians seven days a week, it’s literally wall-to-wall music.