Dingle in October

There is a shop in Roundstone, Co. Galway, that specializes in bodhrans - the Irish "drums" you often see at sessions. Everywhere in Ireland that I have been, there has always been music on the weekends, just not so much during the real off-season (October is still shoulder season), or during the week days. There is a lot more to see in Dingle than just music, anyway, and it's always worth having on your itinerary. The true seat of trad music in the west, though, has always been considered to be Doolin, near the Cliffs of Moher.

We'll be in Ireland October 17-25 and I was wondering the same thing. A few folks over at Tripadvisor discouraged us from attempting to stay in Dingle that late in the season as many places would be closed; they suggested Killarney instead.

We are traveling with our young daughter and going for the scenery and people, not particularly for the tourist infrastructure, as long as we can find a place to stay and something good to eat. I have had wonderful experiences visiting small towns off season, but also some holy-crap-they-really-roll-up-the-sidewalks experiences.

I don't know what to expect with Dingle. I was there many years ago and it was my favourite part of Ireland, but that was in August.

I was in Dingle in late April one year and had no trouble finding music. While not October, it was not summer.

Have been to Dingle five times in all seasons but summer. We were there last October, the last week from Tuesday through Friday and did not find out anything that was not open although the B&B we stayed at this time was closing on 11/01 for the winter. Had a great time for trad music at a tiny pub about two blocks from the car park, can't remember the name but had found it in Rick's Ireland book. It was lovely time to visit.

You could call the excellent Tourist Information office right in Dingle:
http://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/itb-offices.html