On a recent trip to Ireland, we took in "Trad" at Dingle and Doolin and were looking forward to checking it out in Galway. We stayed on a Saturday night and on the tour of the town's noted spots, learned that all but one does not host them on Saturday nights. The bartenders and doormen explained that the patrons are all about drinking and talking and the musicians find the crowds overwhelming, so they don't like to come out on Saturday evenings. You can likely get your fill of Trad in Dingle and Doolin, but if you're not going there, just plan your stay in Galway avoiding Saturday night!.
Posted by
1593 posts
I still say that the absolute best music we heard in Ireland was the buskers on the streets of Galway!
Posted by
Upstate NY
124 posts
I believe the Crane in Galway has excellent music every night they’re open, including Saturday.
Posted by
OP
NJ
19 posts
I’d just recommend calling the ones in Rick’s book before heading out.
Posted by
Upstate NY
124 posts
OP - Stating that there’s “no trad music on Saturday nights” seems less than accurate.
Posted by
London
2159 posts
I believe the Crane in Galway has excellent music every night they’re open, including Saturday
Looking at their Google entry, quite possibly not trad sessions at the weekend. They host live rock and blues etc too. Pubs that are entirely music focussed, or are tourist focussed, may have trad music at the weekend. The trad session scene, not that I'm an expert, is mainly a midweek thing, as are quiz nights and darts tournaments. All fall into the category of pub entertainments that aren't as common at the weekend. I thought the OP explained it well, with anecdotes from people on the ground. "No trad music on a Saturday night" is a fairly accurate statement, just about accurate enough to be useful I'd think.
My experience is mainly of Glasgow pubs, but the same would be true in Irish towns and cities I'd imagine. I had a colleague at work many years ago who was an enthusiastic fiddle player on the session scene in Glasgow. He'd be staring blankly at his monitor, sweating out last night's booze, any day of the working week you'd care to mention.
Posted by
Upstate NY
124 posts
I feel no need to ride this horse into the ground but the Crane’s website clearly states “Live Traditional Irish Music Every Night…”
I’ve been there. On a Saturday. Music was grand!
Posted by
London
2159 posts
Crane’s website clearly states “Live Traditional Irish Music Every Night…”
Ah fair enough it does. Google states:
Traditional watering hole known for its varied nightly blues, country & roots acts across 2 stages.
Whatever roots is. I doubt they mean Augustus Pablo.
I think the OP's point and the point I made still stands though. Generally trad music sessions don't happen on a Saturday night, for the reasons the doorstaff and barstaff explained to the OP. Also, any pub that's in the business of making money wants people to concentrate on drinking on a Saturday. Round after round, as quickly as possible. I'm not sure everyone reading knows that trad music sessions aren't a concert. They're only for the musicians involved, just the same way a quiz night isn't really a spectator sport.
Reading again the OP did mention one exception, which I assume was The Crane, which looks to be a predominantly tourist crowd.
Not having a go at you. Just the OP's point made sense to me, and is worth mentioning as a wider cultural pointer.