✧ Dublin CityDestinations
← All things to do Place · Temple Bar

Traditional Irish Music Session in Temple Bar

Fiddle, bodhrán and guitar in a warm back room — the pub session is Dublin’s most reliable free night out, if you pick the room carefully.

Where
Temple Bar
Tickets
Free (drinks extra)
Free entry
Free in
Traditional Irish Music Session in Temple Bar Traditional Irish Music Session in Temple Bar

What to expect at Traditional Irish Music Session in Temple Bar

A traditional Irish session is not a concert. It is a handful of musicians sitting in a corner of a pub, starting tunes together and letting others join when they know the key. In Temple Bar you will find them most nights, usually from around 9pm, in the upstairs or back rooms of several well-known pubs. The instruments are acoustic: fiddle, flute, tin whistle, bodhrán, sometimes a guitar or bouzouki for backing. There is no stage, no ticket, no set list — you buy a drink, find a seat, and the music happens a few metres away.

What a visit is like depends entirely on the room. Some sessions are tight and listening-focused, with the crowd quiet enough to hear the ornamentation on a fiddle tune. Others turn rowdy, with a stag group talking over the music. The difference is usually the pub and the time: earlier in the week is calmer, weekends are busier. Arrive around 8:30pm, order a drink, and sit close if you want to hear. It is normal to clap between sets of tunes, less normal to talk loudly through them — read the room.

The session is a living tradition, not a museum piece. Many of the tunes are centuries old and were carried through oral tradition, passed between players rather than written down. Temple Bar became the public face of this music in the late 20th century, when Dublin’s folk revival put fiddles and bodhráns into city pubs; it can feel touristy, but the players are often serious and the format is genuine. If you want a less staged setting, ask your host about sessions in The Liberties or Smithfield, where locals play for each other.

Plan for a two-hour slot and let the night run. Get there early, take a seat near the musicians, and stay for two or three sets rather than dipping in and out — sessions build as the evening goes on and more players arrive. There is no formal start or finish, so do not expect a programme. If the front bar is packed, check whether the session is upstairs or in a back room; the music is often hidden from street level.

Go midweek from Monday to Thursday for the best listening — the weekend crowd is heavier and louder, though Saturday sessions can be excellent musically. Aim to arrive by 20:30 to secure a seat before the room fills. If you dislike smoke-free but crowded pubs, choose a larger venue with a separate music room. In summer, Temple Bar is at its busiest; off-season winter nights are cosier and easier to enjoy.

Pubs serving sessions usually do bar food until around 9pm — soup, sandwiches, fish and chips — so eat before the music starts. Facilities are pub facilities: toilets, often upstairs, and limited space. Nearby, the Ha’penny Bridge and the Liffey quays are a short walk for a night view, and Grafton Street is about ten minutes south. If you want a quieter drink afterwards, head towards The Liberties or the streets off Dame Street.

Entry is free — you pay for your drinks, and a pint of stout typically runs roughly €6–7 (about USD 7–8). No ticket, no reservation, and no guaranteed seat. Venues vary in accessibility; older pubs often have steps and narrow stairs, so ask at the door if mobility is a concern. Bring ID for late bars, and cash or card both usually work. Earplugs are worth having if you want to stay close to the music for hours.

Plan your visit TicketsFree (drinks extra) Free entryFree in WhereTemple Bar Opening hours Mon-Thu 21:00-23:30 Fri-Sat 21:00-00:30 Sun 20:00-23:00 Hotels near Traditional Irish Music Session in Temple Bar

Questions about Traditional Irish Music Session in Temple Bar

Do I need a ticket for a traditional music session in Temple Bar?

No. Sessions are free to attend — you simply buy a drink at the bar and find a seat. There is no set list or start time beyond the usual evening slot. Some pubs may have a cover charge on special occasions, but that is unusual; ask at the door if you are unsure. Your only real cost is drinks and any food you order.

What time do the sessions start?

Most begin between 21:00 and 21:30, with Sundays sometimes earlier around 20:00. They are informal, so the exact start depends on when the players arrive. Weeknight sessions tend to be quieter and more focused; weekends are busier and can run later. Arriving half an hour early is the best way to get a good seat before the room fills.

Is it appropriate to talk during the music?

Keep conversation low and brief while a set of tunes is playing. Sessions are social, but the musicians and regulars expect some quiet so the music can be heard. Clapping between sets is fine. If you want to chat freely, sit further from the players or move to the front bar — the etiquette is about respecting the music, not silence.

Can I join in if I play an instrument?

Often yes, if you know the tunes and the session is open. Wait for a break, introduce yourself, and ask if you can sit in. Some sessions are closed groups of regulars; others welcome visitors. Knowing the common repertoire of jigs and reels helps. Do not assume you can play — always ask first, and accept a polite no.

Are children allowed at the sessions?

It depends on the pub and the hour. Many Dublin pubs allow children earlier in the evening but not after a certain time, often around 21:00. A late-night session in a crowded bar is not the best setting for young children. If you are travelling with family, ask your host about afternoon or early-evening music sessions instead.

How do I find a session that is not too touristy?

Ask your host or hotel staff for pubs where local players meet, and look beyond the main Temple Bar strip. The Liberties and Smithfield have smaller, more local sessions. Midweek nights are calmer. You can also ask at a music shop or a traditional music venue for recommendations — players usually know where the good sessions are.

Where to stay

Hotels near Traditional Irish Music Session in Temple Bar

Live prices · free cancellation
Browse

Every hotel we cover in Temple Bar

24 with a full page

More things to do

All things to do

From the journal

All posts