There is lots of music in Dublin but very few places to listen to acoustic Traditional Irish Music. An Irish music session is always acoustic and while two or three musicinas will be getting paid you often get a lot more musicians showing up to play. Sessions are a huge part of the traditional music scene and vital for people sharing and learning new tunes and songs. The sessions will comprise 90% of instrumental music, mostly lots of jigs and reels. You will get some great singing but you wont find singing at every session. Sometimes members of audience will sing un-accompanied.

These differ greatly to amplified gigs you find in pubs which are much more performances/gigs. With a good session the audience can become one with the musicians and the atmosphere can be electric. The absence of a PA allows the audience to feel part of the gig and with good music there should be no barriers between the audience and musicians. You will find a huge array of instruments played, fiddle, concertina, banjo , box and in Dublin in particular you will see a lot of uileann pipers.

1. The Cobblestones of Smithfield – 7 days a week, the best in Dublin,  session start early, It gets vey busy
2. Mc Neills of Capel Street – Most nights
3. O’Donoghues of Merrion Row – 7 nights per week.
4. The Pipers Corner of Marlborough St – Most Nights

The bars are often very small so I advise getting there early. I’d really only recommend the Cobblestones in Smithfield. There are sessions 7 nights and all day at weekends. Sessions start early during the week and I would advise getting there early as it is a small pub.

Other sessions happen in Devitts on Camden Street, The Flowing Tide on Marlborough street and the Ha'penny Bridge Inn

There are other sporadic local sessions around the town so keep an eye out when you’re here.