Between the 14th and roughly 26th of July I’ll be traveling around Ireland with my motorbike, my tent and my flute and I was just wondering if there were any places or sessions that you would suggest visiting while I’m there.
Hi Tom
You could always come up and visit the festival that’s going on in Drumshanbo (16th - 24th July). I’ll be there. Or, you could do worse than get over to Kinvara. Or down to Kinsale. If you’re in Dublin, you might want to check out The Cobblestone or Hughes’s. Sligo town has some nice sessions, and there’s some nice ones around Athlone and Ballinasloe.
Basically, they’re all over. Other than the festivals, of which there are plenty, it might be good just to make it your own adventure. In the old days, I just used to turn up to places and, round about 1:00pm, I’d find the nearest priest and ask him where the decent sessions were. That was 30-odd years ago, mind. I’m not sure it works like that nowadays. But I’m pretty sure you’d find something wherever you are.
Nice to see you around here, in any case.
Yeah I was thinking of heading up to drumshanbo or tubbercurry; good to know you’re going. I’ll try and catch up with you if I’m there while you are.
Basically the plan was just to wander about camping and sessioning so long as I have some ideas of whereabouts to go, that’s all I need.
Cheers for the advice.
Right. I’ll look out for you in Drum.
The only other bit of advice for a vague trip like that (personal opinion only - YMMV 
) is to stay West, for the most part. If you haven’t been, you’ve got to get to the Burren, in any case. It’s one of the most extraordinary landscapes I’ve ever seen. Stop and have a look at the sub-tropical and, at times, tropical flora growing in the rocks. Amazing place. And while you’re in Clare, you obviously could visit the Cliffs of Moher, and also take a trip out to Doolin and have your tent blown away in the campsite there. Can’t remember which nowadays is the decent session pub in Doolin and which is the touristy one - they kind of swap about. Or they used to, in any case. It’s been a fair while since I’ve been there …
Head up to Galway City, one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Or, again, it used to be - it’s been a while …
you can’t do better than galway - you even get sessions during the afternoon at this time of year
I “second” the Galway suggestions. Assuming Sean Ryan still comes up from Tipp to host the Sunday afternoon Session at the Crane Bar, that was always one of my favs when I was living there summer of '07. But you can’t throw a stone in that town without hitting a great session. Tig Coili’s, Taaffe’s, Neachtain’s, Quays… all have great sessions and great craic, and it doesn’t stop there, even…