The Best Music in Ireland

Last March, I went to Ireland with four friends. It may not look like much, but the tiny town of Doolin is the center of Irish folk music. There are only three pubs, all of which host musicians from all over the country. On Friday and Saturday nights, these pubs fill up with tourists and locals alike. The musicians come from all over Ireland, which is hard to believe until you’re reminded that it only takes about 2 ½ hours to drive across the middle of the entire country.

These musicians rarely come as bands, it’s almost always individuals. They arrive, take a seat at the center most table, along with a few other musicians. The bartender places a microphone in the center of the table, and the musicians begin a short discussion on what they will play.

Because they play folk music that has changed little over decades (sometimes centuries), they all know the songs well. Depending on the makeup of the group, you may have a vocalist, one or two guitar players, a harpist, a flutist, or any combination of these, plus other instruments. Once they’ve picked their songs, they begin.

The crowd almost always knows the songs; this is a tourist destination for international travelers, but also for Irish people themselves. Some people begin to dance, others start signing along. During the particularly emotional songs, it can be a very moving experience.

Rumor has it that J R R Tolkien used Doolin as an inspiration for the Shire in his Lord of the Rings books. As a longtime reader of these books, I could feel the influence and it made our time in Doolin even more special. We only spent one night there, but I recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic Irish experience. 

Here's a picture of the main part of town. It really is that tiny. There are farms surrounding this small street.