Top Live Music Venues in Ireland
When it comes to music, Ireland punches above its weight, boasting venues both big and small that are jam-packed with culture, spirit, storytelling, passion, harmony, and history. Many of these places have unique identities and backgrounds as interesting and diverse as the acts that play there. If you’re a music lover, you can’t go wrong with any of these spots.
Whelan’s of Wexford Street, Dublin
Perhaps one of the best-known music venues in the country, Whelan’s recently hosted Ed Sheeran’s VH1 Storytellers broadcast. A hot spot for tourists and locals alike, the venue’s main room welcomed countless Irish and international acts (Arcade Fire, Hozier, Jeff Buckley, and Arctic Monkeys to name a few), as well as a smaller venue upstairs for intimate shows and a front bar for cover bands and traditional acts. After hours, it transforms into a club for alternative music.
The Cobblestone in Smithfield, Dublin
While tourists may flock to Temple Bar for traditional music, a much less-known yet locally loved spot is The Cobblestone. Running trad sessions seven days a week, musicians sit around in a circle, sometimes side by side with patrons, and share their songs. Its Backroom Venue presents sessions, classes, and talks, alongside bluegrass, country, folk gigs, singer-songwriter nights, and sean-nós singing and dancing. The venue is located 15 minutes from the city centre and is beside a stop on the Luas tramline. For a tasty bite, indulge in a scotch egg and a craft beer at L. Mulligan Grocers beforehand.
The Olympia Theatre in Dublin
Originally called “Dan Lowrey’s Star of Erin Music Hall,” this iconic music venue first opened in 1879 and became The Olympia Theatre in 1923. Notable performers have graced its stage over the years, including Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, and Harry Lauder. Today, it is a premier theatre in the country for big-name touring acts like Kings of Leon, Radiohead, Florence & The Machine, and Foo Fighters. The tall, ornate Victorian roof and the rich red seats create an intimate, timeless atmosphere for any show.
Mike the Pies in Listowel, Kerry
This intimate, 100-capacity venue nestled in the back of a pub in the small town of Listowel tells a fascinating success story. The pub has been in the O’Connor family since 1907, and in 2015, it decided to open its doors for live music, uncertain of how it would go. Mike the Pies quickly built up a strong reputation with locals and has hosted over 100 acts since then, as well as special comedy nights. Recently, it was named Hot Press Magazine’s Overall Live Venue of the Year, and in 2017, the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) also recognized it as the country’s best.
Róisín Dubh in Galway
If you’re seeking music in Ireland, Galway City is the place to be. The city is rich with multi-talented performers from all over the world, many of whom can be seen busking on the streets, participating in trad sessions in pubs, or performing their own shows in venues like Monroes, the Black Box, or Róisín Dubh. The latter has established itself as one of the best venues in the country, drawing big names and unique emerging acts from around the globe, alongside hosting a club night every Thursday called Strange Brew.
Theatre Royal in Waterford
As one of Ireland’s oldest continually operating theatres, this lovingly restored Victorian gem is hidden inside a beautiful Georgian building that first opened in 1785. Its early years featured Oscar Wilde lecturing on America, and during the 1900s it served as a musical theatre and cinema, hosting performances by King Edward VII and Harold Pinter, along with many local shows. Today, it remains a stunning venue for live music, having staged acts such as Albert Hammond, Mercury Rev, Mick Flannery, and Phil Coulter.
The Bridge Bar in Ramelton, Donegal
Nestled on the slopes of the River Lennon Valley, the sleepy town of Ramelton in County Donegal is an artist’s paradise. Here, things move at a more relaxed pace, and pristine beaches and glorious scenery are never far from its beautiful Georgian houses. When it comes to music, The Bridge Bar always offers something good, whether it’s a touring blues group or a local rock ‘n’ roll cover band. For years, it was a favorite haunt of musician Henry McCullough (who played with Paul McCartney, Joe Cocker, and Donovan among others). Solid local acts include The Soberanos Kitchen Band, In Their Thousands, and The Chuckberries. For a nightcap, stop by the nearby McDaid’s wine bar, a charming and cozy stone-walled time capsule.
Coughlans in Cork
Known as “the little room with the big heart,” Coughlans Live is an intimate venue just outside the city centre that allows the audience to get up close and personal with performers. It has hosted a diverse range of artists from songwriters like Lisa Hannigan, John Blek, Jack O’Rourke, and Anna Mitchell to Irish hip-hop and soul acts such as The Rusangano Family and Shookrah, and it features its own Coughlans Live Festival every year. The venue has won numerous national awards, making it a favorite spot for touring Irish and international acts due to its incredible sound and warm spirit.
Levis in Ballydehob, West Cork
Arguably one of the country’s most unique music venues, Levis features musicians performing behind a shop counter, in front of antique shelves filled with trinkets, food items, and household products. The place has remained virtually unchanged from its days as a grocery and takes pride in its history. This beats at the heart of Ballydehob and has been in the same family for a century. Gigs began back in 2013, and today it attracts international acts from around the world, making it a focal point of the annual Ballydehob Jazz Festival.
DeBarras in Clonakilty, West Cork
There’s no denying that music and art pump through the veins of West Cork, and for over 30 years, DeBarra’s Folk Club has been captivating audiences in the picturesque town of Clonakilty with a rich array of performers and guests. Long-standing associations with Noel Redding (the Jimi Hendrix Experience), Paddy Keenan (The Bothy Band), and folk artists Christy Moore and Roy Harper have established this venue’s worldwide renown as one of the finest music houses in Ireland.
Connolly’s of Leap in West Cork
Established in 1958, performance truly came to the forefront when the current owner Sam McNicholl’s parents took ownership and changed its name to Connolly’s of Leap. It quickly garnered a loyal following, featuring names like John Martyn, The Pale, Something Happens, and Donal Lunny. The iconic hammers that serve as the stage’s backdrop once belonged to Pink Floyd; they were “borrowed” from their rehearsal space by Irish musician Glen Hansard, who gifted them to Leap. Today, Connolly’s still attracts big-name acts and talented local performers, now even expanding into gastronomy with a new wood-fired pizza oven.
The Duncairn Centre for Culture & Arts in Belfast
Located on the Antrim Road in the north of the city and just a ten-minute walk from the Cathedral Quarter, The Duncairn Centre for Culture & Arts is one of Belfast’s newest venues dedicated to performance, expression, and community. Musicians perform beneath stained glass windows, making this eye-catching space a vibrant hub for cultural enrichment. It also hosts workshops with an emphasis on traditional arts, including fiddle making, bog oak carving, painting, willow craft, and embroidery.
Ballykeefe Amphitheatre in Kilkenny
Resting at the foot of the old Ballykeeffe Quarry, this venue brings the atmosphere of an open-air Italian theatre to the beautiful Kilkenny countryside. The once-busy slate quarry had laid abandoned for years when, in the 1990s, a team of volunteers recognized the potential for a truly unique venue. Since hosting its first performance in 2000, it has become known for many stellar gigs. As the only amphitheatre in Ireland, this venue can comfortably seat 350 visitors on its tiered limestone benches, while the surrounding grass area accommodates another 400 people.
