Irish Traditional Singers' Sessions
Singers' sessions
(also known as singers' clubs or singers' circles) are slow variants of the
Irish traditional music session; however the dominant mode is not instrumental
music so much as the human voice in song. Each session is unique, with its own
rules and dynamics. Some charge a fee, others are free of charge. Some do not
allow musical instruments at all. Others do, provided they do not overpower the
songs. Some sessions insist only Irish traditional songs be sung. Others are
more lenient. If uncertain what the rules are for the session in your area,
feel free to attend and ask.
It is not possible for me to visit every session on this list. The information
below comes from various sources: websites; magazines; email; and personal
contact with attendees. Special thanks in particular go to Arnold
Fieldman, who has been dogged in running down various contacts, addresses,
phone numbers, etc. for me. I could not have had a list as full or as accurate
without him. This information is as accurate as I could
make it; still it is always advisable to confirm with the contact listed. All the information
is subject to change. I offer no guarantees of completeness. If you know of other
sessions that should be on this list but are not, feel free to contact me with the
particulars. If you attend any singers' sessions (whether or not they are on
this list), feel free to contact me and share your experiences.
Important dialing information for North Americans calling
the island of Ireland: for sessions in
Northern Ireland, calls from the western hemisphere should be dialed by
using the international access code (011), the country code for the United
Kingdom (44), the area code for Northern Ireland (028, omitting the initial
zero), then the local number. So, for the Traditional Singers’ Club in
Cushendall, Co. Antrim, Americans and Canadians would dial 011-44-28-21771610.
When calling within
The system works similarly when dialing the
All county designations below are
within the
The Traditional
Singers' Club
McCollam's Bar
Mill Street
Cushendall, Co. Antrim
Northern Ireland
Contact: Mick Quinn
27 Chapel Road
Cushendall, Antrim, BT44 0RS
Phone: 028 21771610
Email: glenstraditions@utvinternet.com
Website: http://www.glenstraditions.utvinternet.com/events.html
Singers' sessions are held on the second Friday of the month. No guitars please!
Co. Armagh
Ring of Gullion C.C.E.
The Welcome Inn
Forkhill, Co. Armagh
Northern Ireland
Contact: Martin Campbell
Email: ringofgullioncce@yahoo.co.uk (Session) OR m.campbell304@btinternet.com
Musicians and singers session meets each Tuesday night.
Co. Clare
Crusheen Singers' Session
Fogarty's Pub
Ennis Road
Crusheen, Co. Clare
Contact:
Mrs. Fogarty
Phone:
065 6827322 Held on
the second Wednesday of the month. It appears some of the same singers
patronize this session as attend the Ennis and/or the Spancil Hill clubs.
Doonbeg Singers Club
Comerford's Bar
Doonbeg, Co. Clare
Contact: Ita Comerford
Phone: 065 905 5271
Session is held October to May on the third Friday of the month.
Ennis
Singers' Club
Eire Og GAA Club
Clonmore Road
Ennis, Co. Clare
Contact: Peadar McNamara
Magowna, Inch, Co. Clare
Phone: 065 683 9139
Email: peadarmcnamara@eircom.net
Session meets around 9:00 PM the third Friday of each month. The club also has four sessions
during the Fleadh Nua music festival last weekend in May (http://www.fleadhnua.com)
Shanaglish Singers Club
Whalen's Bar
Shanaglish, Co. Galway
Contact: Joe Kearney
Phone: 091 633150
Session meets last Friday of the month. Shanaglish is between Crusheen (Clare)
and Gort (Co. Galway).
Shannon Singers Club
Old GAA Bar (Wolfe Tone's)
Shannon, Co. Clare
Contact: Ollie O'Malley
Phone: 086 1083445
Session meets first Wednesday of the month around 9:30 PM. Unaccompanied
singers and singer/guitarists welcome. This is an open session, so come on in
and sing a song. Listeners also welcome. Admission free.
Spancil Hill Singers' Club
Duggan's Bar
Spancil Hill, Co. Clare
Contact: Robbie McMahon
Phone: 065 682 9874
The Spancil Hill group meets the first Friday of the month. Duggan's is about
six miles east of Ennis on the road to Tulla.
Whitegate Singers Club
Lucas' Bar
Whitegate, Co. Clare
Contact: Penelope Chung.
Phone: 061 927318
Session meets last Thursday of the month.
In addition, there are many instrumental sessions in Clare in which singers are
welcome. For particulars, email me.
Co. Cork
Cork Singing Club
An Spailpin Fanach
28 South Main Street
Cork, Co., Cork
Phone: 021 427 7949
The Singing Club meets upstairs every Sunday.
Skibbereen
Singers' Club
O'Brien's Corner Bar
37 Bridge Street
Skibbereen, Co. Cork
Contact: Aine Meirbhic
Phone: 028 21522 or 028 22541
Email: spm@iol.ie
Singers' session held first Friday of the month throughout the year.
Co. Donegal
Inishowen Traditional Singers Circle
Contacts: Brian Doyle/Grace Toland [OR] Kevin Mc Gonigle
Phone: 1 2819091(Brian and Grace) [OR]
74 93 7896
(Kevin)
Email: inishowenseminar@eircom.net
Website: http://www.tradsongs.com/inishowenseminar.htm
The session meets the second Friday of the month at 9:30 PM.
The venues are The Square Bar in Clonmany and Hegartys Bar in Buncrana (in
alternate months). Visitors are always welcome and encouraged to sing. There is
no fee or charge associated with the monthly sessions.
The Session also organizes an annual weekend-long seminar
on the weekend following St. Patrick's weekend in March (see under Festivals). They charge a
registration fee for the weekend, but "There are no restrictions other
than your ability to go without sleep for a few days and consume copious
amounts of Arthur Guinness!"
Co. Down
Nightly Sing-Song
The Fiddler's Green
Portpatrick, Co. Down
Northern Ireland
Phone: 028 427 8383
As the name implies, this occurs every night. What happens depends on who shows
up.
Portadown Folk Song Club
Contact: Rodney Cordner
21 Tandaragee Road
Portadown, Co. Down
Northern Ireland BT63 2BQ
Phone 77 481 87776
Email: rodney_cordner@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.folksongclub.co.uk
This venue apparently has occasional singing sessions but primarily presents
professional (folk) singers in concert every Sunday at Joe Mac's Pub on
High Street.
Co. Dublin
An Goilin Traditional
Singers Club
Tom Maye's Pub
Junction of North Frederick Street and Upper Dorset Street
Dublin 1, Ireland
Contact: Antaine O'Farachain
Phone: 086 8150946
Email: angoilin@goilin.com
Web site: http://www.goilin.com
Begun in 1973, this is the daddy of all Irish singers'
sessions. Meets every Friday, September to June at 9:30 PM Irish Time (around 10:00
PM) except the weekend of the Inishowen Festival (see Festivals and
Workshops listings) and June Bank Holiday weekend. Cost: 2.00 Euros.
Fingal Singers' Club
O' Connor's,
Ballyboughal, Co. Dublin
Contact: Dave O' Connor, Ballyboughal, Co. Dublin
Phone: 01 8433691
Session meets every Tuesday.
Howth Singers' Club
Howth Sea
Angling Club
Howth, Co. Dublin
Contact: Francis Devine
Phone: 01-8393260
Email: fdevine@eircom.net
Meets first
Thursday of the month. No meeting in August. Sometimes have special events on
other evenings.
Co. Galway
Ballinasloe Singers Circle
Clarke’s Dunloe Tavern
Dunlo
Street
Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
Contact:
Damian Clarke, Prop.
Phone: 0905 43603
Session meets second Thursday of the month around 10 PM.
Kinvara
Singers
Circle
Greene’s Bar
Kinvara, Co. Galway
Contact: Caoilte
Breatlach
Phone: 091
627357 (Caoilte)
091 637110 (Greene’s
Bar)
Email: info@greensofkinvara.com
Session meets the first Monday of the month.
Na
Fonnadoiri Galway Traditional Singers Circle
Crane Bar
Sea Road
Galway, Co. Galway
Email: galwaysingers@eircom.net
Session meets the third Saturday of each month (except July and August). Normal
admission fee is two euros, although a higher fee may be charged for guest
singers (invited three to five times per year).
John
Benny Moriarty’s Pub
Strand Street
Dingle (An Daingean), Co. Kerry
Contact: John Benny & Eilis Moriarty
Phone: 066 915 1215
Email: jbenny@eircom.net
Website: http://www.johnbennyspub.com
John Benny's is managed by John Benny & Eilis Kennedy. Both are musicians
and singers themselves, ensuring that taking a part in the music session is
what it is all about. Singing Session is held Wednesday nights beginning about
9:30 PM.
Club an Dreoilin
Siar O'Thuaidh (Rear of Kane's Bar)
Ballyferriter (Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry)
Phone: 066 9156359
Email: siarothuaidh@eircom.net
Website: http://dinglearts.com
Club meets on the first Wednesday of the month around 9:30 PM.
Spillane’s Singing Session
Con Spillane’s Pub
Headford/Knockanes, Glenflesk
Session is held weekends
Co. Limerick
Castleconnell Folk Club
Bradshaw's Pub
Castleconnell, Co. Limerick
Contact: Larry de Clare
Phone: 061 340812
Cell Phone: 086 8370034
Email: larrydeclare@yahoo.com
Session meets weekly on Tuesday nights
Patrickswell Session
Punch's Bar
Main Street
Patrickswell, Co. Limerick
Contact:
Denis Collins
Phone: 061 355142
Cell Phone: 087-1378552
Email: collinsdenis@hotmail.com
Singing every Thursday at 10 PM with resident accordionist.
Thomond Singers Club
Dolan's Pub
Dock Road
Limerick, Co. Limerick
Contact: Noirin Lynch
Phone: 087 9068576
Session is on the second Sunday of the month.
West Limerick Singing Club
Ramble Inn Bar
Church St .
Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick
Phone: 068 31385
Meets the first Thursday of the month. All
singers and storytellers are welcome
Co. Mayo
Cooke's on the Hill
Tommy
Cooke's Pub
Ballina, Co. Mayo
Contact: Tommy Cooke
Phone: 096 72063
Sessions held Tuesdays. Bar owner himself sings. All varieties of songs permitted.
Co. Offaly
Ballyboy
Singers
Dan and Molly’s Pub
Ballyboy, Co. Offaly
Contact: Paddy Heaney [OR] Sean Brown
Phone: 057 91 37956 (Paddy) [OR] 057 91 37231 (Sean)
Session meets the last Monday of the month
Banagher
Singing Club
Willie Lyons Pub
Main Street
Banagher, Co. Offaly
Contact: Peter Keane
Phone: 057
91 51663
Singing Club meets the third Tuesday of the month. The contact, Peter
Keane, is
a knowledgeable, and willing, contact person for info on all singing sessions
in the vicinity--streching out at least as far as Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.
Bawler’s
Singers Club
Hiney’s Pub
Ferbane, Co. Offaly
Contact: Joe Hiney
Phone: 090 645 4344
Email: joe_hiney@hotmail.com
Session meets the second Tuesday of the month
Crinkle Singers' Circle
The Thatched Pub
Crinkle, Birr, Co. Offaly
Contact: Sean Cooke
Phone: 087 2621303 (Sean) OR 057 91 20682 (Pub)
Session meets first Monday of the month
Co. Roscommon
South Roscommon Singers Circle
Jimmy
Murray's Pub
Knockcroghery, Co. Roscommon
Contact: Declan Coyne
Phone: 090 662 2827
Cell Phone: 087 966 7029
Email: dhalon2@eircom.net
Website: http:// www.dhalonproductions.ie
Meets the first Saturday of the month September to June (inclusive).
No
formal sessions during July and August. Extra sessions are held in
February
and March (on the third Saturday of the month). Admission is free. Raffle is
held at each session to cover expenses. Special guest each night. The
Circle also sponsors a three-day singers festival in Knockcroghery over the
October Bank Holiday weekend.
Co. Sligo
Durkin's Pub
Ballinacarrow, Co. Sligo
Contact: Frank Finn
Phone: 087 648 9057
Email: tradsing@eircom.net
Web site: http://homepage.eircom.net/ %7Etradsing/home.htm Ballinacarrow is 10
miles south of Sligo town on the N17. It meets at least every month,
usually on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. But dates are flexible, so
phoning ahead, checking the website or emailing in advance is advised.
Killea Singers Club
Sullivan’s Pub
Killea, Templemore, Co. Tipperary
Contact: Moll Tracey
Phone: 0505 43209
Session held on the second Monday of the month.
Nenagh Singers' Circle
Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Contact: Frank McGrath
Ballintogher
Rd.,
Benedine, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Phone: 067-33633
Website: http://www.singerscircle.com
One of the
most famous singers’ sessions in Irish traditional music. Recently they
announced that with the mainstays of the club having conflicting commitments,
the Circle would be disbanded. Hopefully that will be a short-term decision.
Those passing through the vicinity for other reasons may want to be in touch
with Frank or check out the website. Please note, the web page comes highly
recommended. It is a remarkable source of information on singers clubs in
Ireland, not just their own.
Upperchurch Session
Jim O' the Mills' Pub
Upper Church, Co. Tipperary
Contact: Tom Joe Spillane
Phone: 0504 51591
Mixed session (tunes and songs) held every Thursday.
Sessions
in the United States:
Arizona
Tucson Irish Community Singing Session
Contact: Aine Ni Haralambie
Phone: (520) 327-6287
Email: aine@tusconirishcommunity.com
Website: http://www.tucsonirishcommunity.com
Session is held monthly at a private home in Tucson, Arizona.
One Saturday night per month at 7 p.m. For more specific information,
check the above web site or phone the listed contact. There are no cover
charges or restrictions on repertoire. Come and sing, bring an
instrument, or just listen.
California
San Francisco, California
Contact: Michael Duffy
Email: cosgrach@tsoft.com
Website: http://sf.ccewest.org/music/singing.html
Sponsored by the Cooley-Keegan Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri
Eireann (the branch for the San
Francisco
area), the session is generally held on the first Friday of the Month at 8 PM. Location and hosts vary. To provide security
telephone numbers and directions to host homes are not posted. The details for
any session are available by contacting the host via e-mail or by subscribing
to the listserv. Directions for subscribing are available on the web page.
District of Columbia (D.C.)
Frank Harte Memorial Singer's Circle
Contact: Jesse Winch
Phone: (301) 622-6582
Email: jessewinch@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.ccepotomac.org
Named for the renowned traditional singer from Dublin, the Circle is sponsored by the
O’Neill Malcom Branch of Comhaltas. The circle meets 3 to 4 times per year in
the metro Washington area, usually in a
private home. The web site is the best source of information on the circle for
those outside the area. There is also a listserv to receive notices of local
events. To subscribe, send an email to:
nova_cce_members-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or send an email to Jesse.
Massachusetts
Ag Teacht Le Cheile
200 New
Boston Drive
Canton, Massachusetts
Contact: Maureen McNally
Phone: (781) 821-8291 [or] (781)871-1247
Email: seisiun@irishculture.org
Website: http://www.irishculture.org
Singers gather in the Adare Room on the 2nd floor from 8:00 to 11:30 p.m. each Friday.
The focus is on traditional and ballad style singing, although instrumental
tunes and unsung poetry are also welcome. .
Hibernian Cultural Center
19 Temple
Street
Worcester, Massachusetts 01604
Contact: Helen Foley
Email: htfoley@charter.net
Website: http://www.aohworcester.com
Not strictly a singers’ session. This is a traditional instrumental session,
but singers are welcome! Meets second and fourth Sundays at 4 PM.
Mulligan's
Taverne
Westborough Country Club
121 West
Main Street
Westborough, Massachusetts
Contact: Katie O'Neill
Email: kate.oneill@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.mulliganstaverne.com
Not strictly a singers session. This is a traditional instrumental session, but
singers are very welcome! Meets Thursday evenings at 8 PM
Minnesota
Traditional Singers Club of the Twin Cities
Keegan's Irish Pub
16
University Ave NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
Phone: (612) 252-0880
Email: singersclub@gmail.com
Website: http://www.singclub.org
Monthly singing sessions are held the last Sunday of the month from 3 PM until 5-ish . Emphasis is on
Irish and Scottish traditions but can incorporate similar traditions (e.g.,
American Appalachian style singing). They tend to be informal affairs. In
addition the club hosts concerts and workshops with guest singers (the most
recent being Fintan Vallely). The time for them varies, so prior contact is advised.
New York
Buffalo Singers' Session
Shannon Pub
2250 Niagara Falls Blvd
Tonawanda, New York 14150
Phone: (716) 743-9348
Email: shannonpub@aol.com
An informal session held the first Sunday of each month, 4 to 7 PM.
Mostly singing, although some tunes may be thrown in.
Texas
Austin Singers Session
Things Celtic
1806 W. 35th
Street
Austin, Texas
Phone: 512-472-2358
Email: info@austinsongsession.com
Website: http://www.austinsongsession.com
Directions: just east of Mopac, on the north side of the street. The session is
held the first Sunday of the month from 2:30-5:00 p.m. Everyone who comes will have a chance
to sing. Any song that is Irish, Scottish, or otherwise Celtic will do. Songs
tend to be solo round-robin, but sing-alongs are great too. A cappella singing
is preferred in the old Irish Tradition. Just bring your voice. You may also
bring a guitar or other instrument if you prefer to accompany yourself. Please
bring a folding chair, as seating is limited. Also, bring some water or a
non-alcoholic beverage to wet your whistle. Please kindly observe the
no-smoking policy for the benefit of the singers.
Wisconsin
Irish Fest Song Circle
O'Donoghue's Irish Pub
13336 Waterford Plank Road
Elm Grove, Wisconsin
Contact: Dan Virck
Phone: (262) 691-2523
Email:
dvircks@msn.com
Meets on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. Focus is primarily on
ballad singing, and instruments are welcome. Singers are encouraged to bring a
song others can learn.
© 2007 Christopher Brennan
Frequently Asked Questions
Biographies of Famous Singers
Singing Festivals and Workshops
Singers' Sessions
What Makes Me Such an Expert?