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Irish ballads

I see many suggestions for Irish music, but mostly for the pipes and fiddles and instruments. Is there a place where there are featured singers who sing the beautiful sad ballads of lost love or brave battles and such? We're planning at least 2 weeks in May or June 2024 and we don't really have an itinerary yet. We travel for music and food mostly now that we are in our mid 70s, and enjoy the sights around us wherever we are.

Posted by
8688 posts

My travel tip no matter which country I am in is to check church and library bulletin boards. By doing this over the years have enjoyed seeing and hearing soloists, string Quartets, jazz combos, duets, cellists, and saxophonists. Have also attended choral rehearsals.

Posted by
864 posts

I don’t think you will find a place that will have that sort of focus on the music as most people like to hear a mix of songs. But, if you are in Galway, check out the Crane Pub, they are known to bring in many of Ireland’s top artists. When I was there this occurred on Wednesday evening, but may have changed. If you are looking for an Irish artist who is known to do a lot of ballads then I would highly recommend Mary Black. I have several of her CDs, and one is all ballads.

Posted by
610 posts

I'm in the airport on the way home from Ireland, and we had great music on 16 out of 19 evenings. most music is either "sessions" of a large informal group or "bar music" with Whiskey in the Jar type favorites. we've had good luck for solo, often acapella sings at The Brazen Head on Sunday afternoon and Nelligans in Dingle. we had a tenor solo of Grace a few years ago at Brazen Head and everyone was crying throughout.

The Crane Bar is one of our favorites.