Page 356 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

Greatman's
Bay
\ #
Gorumna Carraroe
Island
# \
Lettermullen
Lettermullen
Musical Island
26 Landscapes Sound
North
Pick the big bawdy get-togethers of Galway’s always- Inishmór# \ # Kilronan
8
#
23
on music scene, the atmospheric small pub sessions F G
in crossroad villages like Kilfenora or Kilronan on Inishmaan
the Aran Islands, where nonplaying patrons are a Aran Islands
minority, or the rollicking urban boozers in Ennis.
Whatever way you like it, this region is undeniably one
of Ireland’s hottest for traditional music.

nights. Or for something
1 Galway City more contemporary, A T L A N T I C
O C E A N
Galway (Gaillimh) has a Róisín Dubh (www.
young student popula- roisindubh.net; Upper Dominick
tion and largely creative St; h5pm-2am Sun-Thu,
till 2.30am Fri & Sat) is the
community that give a
palpable energy to the place to hear emerging
place. Walk its colourful international rock and
medieval streets, packed singer-songwriters. # e 0 10 km
with heritage shops, 54 p312, p361 0 5 miles
sidewalk cafes and pubs,
all ensuring there’s never The Drive » From Galway city
centre, follow either the coast
a dull moment. Galway’s road (R338) east out of town,
pub selection is second or the inner R446, signposted trad music. Brogan’s (24
to none, and some swing Dublin or Limerick, as far as the O’Connell St; h10.30am-
to tunes every night of N18 and then cruise south to 11.30pm Mon-Thu, to 12.30am
the week. Crane Bar Ennis, where your great musical Fri & Sat, 12.30-11pm Sun),
(www.thecranebar.com; 2 tour of Clare begins. on the corner of Cooke’s
Sea Rd; h10.30am-11.30pm Lane, sees a fine bunch of
Mon-Fri, 10.30am-12.30am TRIP HIGHLIGHT musicians rattling even
Sat, 12.30-11pm Sun), an the stone floors almost
atmospheric old pub west 2 Ennis every night in summer,
of the Corrib, is the best Ennis (Inis), a medieval and the plain-tile-fronted
spot in Galway to catch town in origin, is packed John O’Dea (66 O’Connell St;
an informal céilidh most with pubs featuring h10.30am-11.30pm Mon-Thu,

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