Acoustic and Trad Music Night at McGourty's Bar, Castlerea

What to Expect

McGourty’s Bar in Castlerea runs Friday night acoustic sessions blending traditional Irish music with singalong and general “Irish craic,” according to the pub’s own events page. The bar also features live music on many weekends more broadly, spanning rock, acoustic and country, but the Friday night acoustic and trad slot is the most consistent weekly fixture. It is a relaxed, walk-in night rather than a ticketed show, and the venue welcomes spontaneous musicians who want to join in alongside the regular players.

Castlerea is one of the bigger towns in west Roscommon and doubles as a base for exploring nearby Clonalis House and the Rose of Castlerea Festival grounds. McGourty’s positions itself as a genuine community bar with a big screen for sport as well as its music nights, so the Friday acoustic session sits alongside a wider mix of activities through the week, including pool competitions and seasonal parties. The mix of genres on offer, from rock to acoustic to country, means the exact style of a given Friday night can vary depending on who is playing.

Good to Know

• Cadence: Friday nights, weekly, with additional live music most weekends more generally.
• Venue and town: McGourty’s Bar, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon.
• Price: free to attend, no cover charge.
• Contact: +353 94 962 2200 or mcgourtysbar@gmail.com for the latest schedule, since exact timings can shift week to week.
• McGourty’s also ramps up live music during the Rose of Castlerea Festival in August, so expect extra nights around that week.
• Check the pub’s Facebook page in the days before for the specific performer or band billed for that Friday.

Getting There

Castlerea is on the N60, roughly 20 minutes from Roscommon town and close to the Galway and Mayo borders, with the bar in the town centre and parking available nearby.