Traditional Irish Music Pubs in County Clare
County Clare moves to the rhythm of traditional Irish music. Across our towns, villages, and coastal corners, the pulse of fiddles, flutes, concertinas, and bodhráns fills the air. Some sessions are well advertised, others unfold by chance — a few musicians gather, a melody begins, and soon the whole room joins in.
From the bustling pubs of Ennis to the sea-salted sessions of Doolin and the gentle airs of East Clare, these gatherings are more than performances — they are living, breathing expressions of community and connection.
Below you’ll find a selection of pubs across County Clare where traditional music continues to thrive — places where locals and visitors share tunes, stories, and good company. It’s not a definitive list, but a glimpse into the living tradition that plays out in countless corners of the county, from quiet village bars to lively town venues.
Poet’s Corner Bar
O’Connell Street, Ennis
Set within the historic Old Ground Hotel, Poet’s Corner Bar blends timeless Irish charm with a rich musical tradition. Sessions feature local and visiting musicians, filling the room with warmth and song.
Website: Poet’s Corner
Ciaran’s Bar
Francis Street, Ennis
An intimate, welcoming bar where traditional sessions unfold naturally. Locals and travellers share tunes and stories in a relaxed, genuine setting that captures the Ennis spirit.
Facebook: Ciaran’s Bar
Moroney’s Bar
Upper Market Street, Ennis
One of Ennis’s oldest pubs (since 1840), known for its spontaneous music sessions. The tunes rise naturally from conversation and laughter — the essence of Clare’s music life.
Website: Moroney’s Bar
Preachers Pub
Temple Gate Hotel, The Square, Ennis
At the heart of Ennis, Preachers Pub hosts lively sessions featuring some of Clare’s finest players. The sound of fiddles and flutes fills this friendly town-centre setting most evenings.
Website: Preacher’s Pub
Cruises Bar & Restaurant
Abbey Street, Ennis
A historic Ennis venue (built 1658) famed for its traditional sessions. Local and visiting musicians share tunes in a warm, stone-walled setting that celebrates Clare’s living musical heritage.
Website: Cruises Bar
Knox’s Bar & Storehouse
Abbey Street, Ennis
One of Ennis’s most enduring pubs since 1854 where traditional sessions meet modern energy. Music flows from cosy bar tunes to lively concerts in the adjoining Storehouse venue.
Website: Knox’s Bar
Gus O’Connor’s Pub
Fisher Street, Doolin, North Clare
Legendary worldwide, Gus O’Connor’s is the beating heart of Doolin’s music scene. Nightly sessions feature talented players from across Ireland, filling the pub with the unmistakable sound of Clare.
Website: Gus O’Connor’s
McGann’s Pub
Roadford, Doolin, North Clare
Known for its lively, down-to-earth atmosphere and superb music sessions. Musicians and visitors gather, keeping Doolin’s long tradition of community music alive and strong.
Website: McGann’s Pub
McDermott’s Pub
Roadford, Doolin, North Clare
Famed for relaxed but high-quality sessions, McDermott’s brings together local musicians and visitors in a true Clare welcome. Music, conversation and song merge seamlessly here.
Website: McDermott’s Pub
Fitz’s Pub (Hotel Doolin)
Doolin, North Clare
At Hotel Doolin, Fitz’s Pub carries the village’s rich musical heritage into a modern setting. Regular sessions and festival events create an open, easy-going space for musicians and audiences alike.
Website: Fitz’s Pub
Pepper’s Bar
Feakle, East Clare
Famed as the heart of East Clare’s music scene, Pepper’s hosts year-round sessions and the annual Feakle Festival. The atmosphere is open, warm and steeped in musical heritage.
Facebook: Pepper’s Bar
Shortt’s Bar
Feakle, East Clare
Shortt’s is a legendary East Clare musicians’ bar where impromptu sessions often spark without warning. A true local treasure where tunes and friendship flow freely.
Website: n/a
Friel’s Pub (Lynch’s)
Miltown Malbay, West Clare
A country pub steeped in heritage (since 1895), known for traditional sessions that bring together local musicians and visitors. Music, storytelling and warmth define this pub.
Website: Friel’s Pub
The Anchor Inn
Killaloe, East Clare
Overlooking the Shannon, The Anchor Inn hosts regular midweek traditional sessions. Its lively, friendly tone makes it a natural gathering point for local players and visitors alike.
Facebook: The Anchor Inn
Vaughan’s Kilfenora
Kilfenora, North Clare
Vaughan’s Pub is known for lively traditional music and céilí dancing. It’s a joyful meeting place where visitors and locals share tunes, steps, and stories — a true home of Clare’s musical heritage.
Website: Vaughan’s Pub
Durty Nelly’s
Bunratty, South Clare
Set beside the iconic castle, Durty Nelly’s is a Clare landmark renowned for its traditional music nights. History and melody intertwine here in one of Ireland’s most famous pubs.
Website: Durty Nelly’s
The Roadside Tavern
Lisdoonvarna, North Clare
A legendary pub (since 1865) blending local craft beer, fine food, and Clare’s musical spirit. Famous for welcoming Ireland’s top traditional players. The Roadside Tavern keeps the session tradition alive.
Website The Roadside Tavern
Know Your Traditional Music Instruments
The Voices of Clare’s Instruments
In County Clare, the music speaks through more than the musicians — it speaks through the instruments themselves. Each carries its own story, its own rhythm, and its own bond with the landscape. Together they tell the tale of a place where sound and soul are inseparable, where the tune belongs as much to the land as to the player.
Below, the instruments of a Clare seisiún introduce themselves — each with its own voice, its own spirit, and its own inspiration drawn from the county’s rivers, lakes, hills, winds, and wild Atlantic shores.
The Fiddle
“I’m the voice of Clare’s hills and kitchens, the echo of laughter and dance. In my strings lives the pulse of generations — joy and sorrow intertwined. I borrow my rhythm from footsteps on old wooden floors, my soul from the wild Atlantic wind. I speak best in company, when tunes ripple through a crowded room and hearts keep time together.”
The Irish Flute and Tin Whistle
“We share the breath of Clare — carried on soft winds and steady rivers. One of us whispers gently through quiet mornings, the other dances brightly through lanes and laughter. Our tunes are light and fleeting yet full of feeling, lifting the heart like the breeze that shaped them.”
The Celtic Harp
“I am the elder among them — a symbol of Ireland – proud and patient, shaped by centuries of song. My strings remember kings and poets, and I still find my peace in the quiet corners and castles of Clare. My voice rises with the wind, ancient and eternal, soft but strong. I carry the grace of old stories and the calm wisdom of still waters.”
The Uilleann Pipes
“I breathe through bellows, not lungs, and I sing with a longing that feels older than time. My sound curls through the air like smoke from a turf fire — haunting, human, unmistakably Irish. I draw my breath from the heart of Clare itself, echoing through valleys and over cliffs. Some say I don’t just play a tune — I tell a story.”
The Squeeze Box (Concertina / Accordion)
“I am the heartbeat of the kitchen and pub session — bold, bright, and full of life. My bellows rise and fall like the waves off Doolin Pier, keeping time with laughter and quick steps on the floor. Every push and pull tells a story, every note invites another tune. I was born for company, and I come alive when the room does too.”
The Bodhrán
“I am rhythm made flesh — the thunder beneath the melody. I follow no script, only the instinct of the moment. My skin hums with energy borrowed from the land — cliffs, bogs, and sea. I am the heartbeat of Clare’s music, fierce yet steady, grounding every tune in the pulse of home.”
