Trad and Folk Sessions at The Corner House, Lurgan

What to Expect

The Corner House Bar on Derrymacash Road, Lurgan is listed on thesession.org as a traditional Irish music session venue and has hosted trad and folk sessions for many years. Sessions feature a mix of traditional Irish music and bluegrass, typically on Monday evenings from around 9:30pm. The bar also features live music on Saturdays and Sundays covering trad, folk and bluegrass. Contact the pub directly to confirm current session nights before travelling, since pub session nights can shift around bank holidays and quieter summer weeks.

The Corner House is a community pub rather than a tourist venue, so the crowd is mostly regulars and local musicians who know the session well. Newcomers and visiting musicians are generally welcome to join in on a Monday night, in keeping with the informal, open-session tradition found in pubs across County Armagh. There is no cover charge and no need to book a table in advance.

Good to Know

• Session night typically Monday from 9:30pm; also live music weekends - confirm with the pub

• Free entry, no booking required

• Address: 1 Derrymacash Road, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, BT66 6LH; phone: 028 3834 5187

• Recurring weekly session, listed on thesession.org’s Lurgan area sessions

Getting There

The Corner House is on the Derrymacash Road, approximately 2km from Lurgan town centre. Lurgan itself sits on the western edge of County Armagh, close to Lough Neagh and within the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area. It is around 25 miles south-west of Belfast, reachable via the M1 motorway, and Translink trains and buses connect Lurgan to Belfast, Portadown and Craigavon on a regular timetable. Lurgan train station is about a 15-minute walk or short taxi ride from the bar.

While You’re in Lurgan

Lurgan Park, one of the largest urban parks in Northern Ireland, is a short drive or taxi ride from the Corner House and worth a visit if you are making a day of it before the evening session. The town also has a busy weekly market and a compact centre with a handful of other pubs worth a look on session nights.