Weekly Traditional Irish Music Session at De Barra's Clonakilty

What to Expect

De Barra’s Folk Club in Clonakilty is one of the most storied traditional and folk music venues in Ireland, having hosted major national and international acts for decades on its main ticketed stage. Alongside that concert programme, the pub runs a regular free traditional Irish music session, giving locals and visiting musicians a more informal setting to play in the same room that has seen the likes of major folk and world music names pass through. The session draws on Clonakilty’s strong traditional music scene and West Cork’s wider trad community, and it’s a good option for anyone visiting the town who wants to hear live music without booking a ticket. De Barra’s itself is instantly recognisable, its walls covered in instruments, gig posters and memorabilia built up over years of hosting musicians. Because the venue also runs a busy calendar of paid concerts through the summer and into autumn, it’s worth checking the listings on the night in case the room is given over to a ticketed show instead of the open session.

Good to Know

• Weekly traditional session, free admission - check debarra.ie for the current night as the schedule can shift around ticketed concerts
• De Barra’s also runs a full programme of paid concerts and festivals, including the Clonakilty International Guitar Festival in September
• Intimate venue with a strong local following - arrive early for a good spot
• Instrument-covered walls and decades of gig history make it worth a look even outside session times

Getting There

De Barra’s is on Pearse Street in Clonakilty town centre, roughly 55km west of Cork city via the N71.