Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
Famous for their traditional-music sessions, Doolin's three traditional pubs can squeeze in big crowds, which means compromising comfort on busy nights. All pubs are furnished simply with timber benches and well-worn bar stools, and they serve simple bar food from midday until 9 pm. As you might imagine, the word is out about Doolin's trad scene—the pubs regularly overflow with crowds (and the video cams can get really annoying). Purists often hightail it to East Clare for serious trad sessions, except at the end of February when the Micho Russell Festival draws the best talent to Doolin.
Popular with locals, McDermott's is a great spot for soul-warming live music and traditional fare. They have live music nightly early spring to late autumn, and weekends in winter. Note: it's sometimes closed during the day in low season.
