Traditional Music
Traditional Music lovers will have no problem finding suitable venues along the Shannon and Erne to listen to (and occasionally join in with) Irish music.
Ireland is renowned for the Traditional Music which is played in hundreds of pubs and bars up and down the country.
And along the Shannon and Erne there is no shortage of pubs where you can tie up for the night and head into town for a memorable night of music.
If you are wondering what you will hear, the fiddle is the mainstay of the band, likely with a flute and whistle and the traditional Irish percussion, the Bodhrán. If you're lucky you will also hear a harp and maybe the Uilleann Pipes. Other instruments in the larger bands may be the guitar, banjo and accordion. Many of the pubs encourage you to sing along, so you'll need to have a pint of Guinness ready to keep you going through the evening. Remember that if it suits you better, you can start your Shannon or Erne cruise on any day (except Sundays).
Most pubs only have music on a few nights a week, so you will need to plan your journey to be in the right place at the right time. As a rough guide, the following bars along the Shannon and Erne offer music:
| Belleek | Black Cat Cove | (+44) 2868 658942 | Every Thursday |
| Belleek | (Moohan’s) Fiddlestone Pub | (+44) 2868 658942 | Saturdays, every 2-3 weeks |
| Enniskillen | Crow’s Nest | (+44) 28 6632 5252 | Tuesdays |
| Belturbet | Widow’s Bar | (+353) 49 952 2274 | Tuesdays and Sundays |
| Kilclare | Sheemore Inn (Lock 14) | (+353) 7196 41814 | Contact for details |
| Leitrim | Donnellan’s | (+353)1796 20828 | first Sunday in month from 5.30pm |
| Battlebridge | Beirne’s | (+353)7196 50824 | Most Fridays |
| Drumshanbo | The Millrace | (+353) 86 351 7726 | Tuesdays |
| Carrick-on-Shannon | Cryan’s Bar | (+353) 7196 72066 | Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday |
| Carrick-on-Shannon | Anderson’s Thatched Pub | (+353) 87 2283 288 | Wednesday, Friday, Saturday |
| Lecarrow | Coffey’s | (+353) 90 666 1118 | Contact for details |
| Athlone | Gertie Brownes | (+353) 90 6474848 | Mondays |
| Athlone | Flannery’s | Sunday sessions | |
| Athlone | Sean’s Bar | (+353) 90 649 2358 | Sunday afternoon |
| Shannonbridge | Killeen’s Village Tavern | (+353) 90 9674112 | Tuesdays |
| Ballinasloe | Maud Millars | (+353) 90 964 4641 | Thursdays open session |
| Banagher | Hough’s Singing Pub | (+353) 57 915 1873 | Most nights |
| Terryglass | The Derg Inn | (+353) 67 22037 | Sunday evening sessions |
| Terryglass | Paddy’s Bar | (+353) 67 22147 | Contact for details |
| Dromineer | The Whiskey Still | (+353) 67 24129 | Friday nights |
| Garrykennedy | Larkin’s | (+353) 67 23232 | Wednesday and Sunday |
| Garrykennedy | Ciss Ryan’s | (+353) 67 23364 | contact for details |
| Mountshannon | The Village Inn | (+353) 61 927162 | Friday nights. |
| Most other pubs in Mountshannon have regular traditional music nights. | |||
| Killaloe | The Anchor Inn | (+353) 61 376108 | Set Dancing Wednesday |
| Traditional music Fridays | |||
| Killaloe | Molly’s | (+353) 61 376632 | Contact for details |
