The sound of traditional Irish music is part of everyday life here in Galway City and there are countless ways to experience it. From lively pub sessions in the heart of the Latin Quarter to traditional Irish pub experiences in Salthill or an impromptu céilí in Eyre Square. The Galway City Traditional Music Trail invites visitors to explore the city one session, performance and neighbourhood at a time. Follow the trail to discover the musicians, venues, events and experiences that make Galway’s traditional music scene so vibrant, while exploring five distinct areas of the city along the way.
Renowned for its vibrant trad music scene, Galway is home to pub sessions, concerts, festivals, céilís and cultural experiences throughout the year, making it one of the best places in Ireland to experience traditional music.
above: A lively Trad Session at 13 on the Green, photo by Ciarán MacChoncarraige
Firstly, what is an Irish Traditional Music Session?
An Irish traditional music session is a gathering where musicians come together to play tunes, share songs and enjoy the company of fellow musicians and listeners. Traditionally sessions are associated with pubs and during one you might hear lively jigs and reels alongside slower ballads and traditional songs, with instruments such as the fiddle, flute, tin whistle, accordion, concertina, banjo, bodhrán and guitar filling the room.
Part of the charm of a session is its spontaneity. Musicians of different ages and abilities can play alongside one another, while visitors and locals can simply sit back and listen. Every session has its own character, shaped by the musicians who turn up, the tunes they know and the atmosphere of the venue.
Traditional Irish music is a living part of Ireland’s cultural heritage, connecting generations through music, song and dance. Galway has played a particularly important role in that tradition and continues to be home to an extraordinary community of musicians and performers. It has produced some of Ireland’s best-known traditional musicians, including Frankie Gavin, Larry Reynolds, Dolores Keane and Máirtín O’Connor, while legendary traditional group De Danann was formed in Galway. The city and county’s musical heritage is still audible on the streets of Galway today. From inside the long-established traditional music pubs into newer venues and cultural spaces, year-round the city offers plenty of opportunities to hear live traditional Irish music.
above: Get your Dancing Shoes on with The Irish Dance Experience, photo by Ciarán MacChoncarraige
An Irish trad experience in Galway doesn’t have to begin and end with a pub session. The city offers a wide range of ways to discover traditional Irish music, song and dance, whether that’s by watching a performance, learning a few steps or even by exploring the stories and traditions behind the music itself! Stroll to the Stout offers visitors a chance to experience Galway through the city’s famous pub culture. It consists of a short walk, a proper pint, and a story you'll bring home. They’ve got three Galway tours built around Guinness, food, trad music, and the people who keep them going.
Both The Irish Dance Experience and Galway Céilí Club provide an opportunity to experience Irish social dancing and music up close and well, on the dance floor! Galway Céilí Club runs weekly drop-in céilí and Irish set dancing classes in Kennedy's Bar every Monday and Tuesday night. These classes focus on the fun and community of dancing in groups and they invite everyone to give it a go and participate in a living culture. Attend The Irish Dance Experience and you’ll learn Irish dancing from an actual Riverdance performer! Ideal for groups, families and even hen & stag parties, their workshops are authentic, fun, and interactive and will leave you with a deeper connection to Ireland’s rich musical and dance heritage.
For a spectacular evening of music and dance, the seasonal Trad on the Prom brings together some of Ireland’s finest traditional performers in a large-scale show celebrating Irish music, song and dance. It’s Ireland’s number one Irish music, song and dance experience with a contemporary kick and a must for every Irish holiday adventure. Featuring the energy and creative dance improvisation of world champion Irish dancers, Trad on the Prom is really two hours of pure excitement.
above: Galway Tradfest brings tons of merriment to Galway City
There are also opportunities to discover Galway’s musical heritage through cultural attractions, workshops, festivals and other visitor experiences taking place throughout the year, including at Fleadh na Bealtaine and Galway TradFest.
Across the May Bank Holiday weekend, Fleadh na Bealtaine celebrates four days of traditional Irish music, theatre, dance, storytelling, food and drink. Inspired by the ancient Celtic festival of Bealtaine, which marks the beginning of summer, events take place throughout the city, bringing the festival atmosphere onto its streets and into its venues. With many events free of charge, the festival offers both locals and visitors an opportunity to experience Galway’s cultural and musical heritage in a new way.
Every November, Galway TradFest, an initiative by Music Generation Galway County, celebrates Irish traditional music, song and dance through a programme of concerts, masterclasses, music sessions, instrument taster sessions, theatre and showcase opportunities. The festival gives children and young people access to high-level traditional music opportunities while also bringing performances and events to audiences across Galway. Although Galway has long been recognised internationally for its contribution to traditional music, song and dance, Galway TradFest was the first dedicated festival platform for celebrating this rich musical heritage across the county.
Follow the Galway City Traditional Music Trail
Ready to attend an Irish trad session? The Galway City Traditional Music Trail takes you across five neighbourhoods, showcasing the breadth of traditional music experiences available throughout Galway City. From Woodquay to Galway’s Westend, Salthill, the Latin Quarter and Eyre Square, each area has its own character and musical highlights.
Use the map to explore participating venues, plan your route and discover somewhere new! Stay for one tune or make a day of it, either way the trail is a chance to experience more of Galway while supporting the musicians and venues that keep the city’s music scene thriving.
Woodquay
With an array of fantastic independent shops as well as theatres and affordable accommodation options, the waterside Woodquay offers an ideal blend of scenic views and metropolitan magic. Its pubs provide a chance to step away from the busiest tourist streets and discover another side of Galway’s music scene.
Follow the trail to:
Galway’s Westend
Moving to a different beat to the rest of Galway, the Westend is the bohemian heart of the city. It is home to a collection of award-winning restaurants, fabulous bars and lovely walking trails, making it a great area to explore as part of the traditional music trail.
Follow the trail to:
- The Crane Bar
- The Blue Note
- Carroll’s on Dominick Street
- Monroe’s Tavern
- Cooke’s Thatch Bar
- Bierhaus
- The Salt House
Salthill
A short journey from Galway city centre, Salthill offers something a little different. Combine your trad trail with a walk along the famous promenade, take in views across Galway Bay and then settle into one of the area’s traditional pubs for an evening of music.
Follow the trail to:
Latin Quarter
With its colourful streets, historic pubs and lively atmosphere, Galway’s Latin Quarter is one of the city’s best-known destinations for music and nightlife. It is also home to a wealth of venues where visitors can experience traditional Irish music. With so many options within walking distance of one another, it’s the perfect area for music lovers to wander, explore and follow the sound of the next session.
Follow the trail to:
- Taaffes
- M. Fitzgerald’s
- Tig Cóilí
- Tigh Neachtain
- The Kings Head
- The Dew Drop Inn
- The Dáil Bar
- Seven
- Busker Brownes
Eyre Square
At the heart of Galway city, Eyre Square is an ideal starting point for exploring the traditional music trail. The area is surrounded by pubs and venues, with many of the city’s attractions, restaurants and shopping streets close by. Spend the afternoon exploring the city before following the music into one of the neighbourhood’s traditional pubs in the evening.
Follow the trail to:
- The Skeff Late Bar & Kitchen
- Murty Rabbitt’s
- 13 on the Green
- Jack J. Foleys
- O’Connell’s Bar
- Darcy’s Bar
- Screene’s on the Square
- Mary Mullens
- The Cellar
- An Púcán
- The Western Hotel
- MacNeill’s Pub
Main image of an afternoon trad session in Tig Cóilí, photo by Ciarán MacChoncarraige
This article is brought to you as part of Fáilte Ireland’s Galway City Traditional Music Trail.
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