8 Best Nightlife in County Clare, Galway, and the Aran Islands, Ireland

Enter through a side alley door to this large landmark pub that has served and entertained locals for decades, right in the town center. Musicians appear to crawl out of the handsome woodwork nightly and perform impromptu to an appreciative audience. Bar food is available.

This Victorian-style bar, close to Ennis Friary, with a traditional plate-glass shop front with brick, timber, and bric-a-brac finishes, claims the title of the town's oldest pub. It serves bar food in its Storehouse Restaurant until 9 pm and offers live traditional music regularly from 9:30 pm.

Popular with locals, McDermott's is a great spot for soul-warming live music and traditional fare. They have live music nightly early spring to late autumn, and weekends in winter. Note: it's sometimes closed during the day in low season.

A large and handsome street-corner pub, Monroe's has free music nightly from 9 pm and regularly hosts impressive rock acts. Quality bar food and a friendly service add to the appeal.

Fans in the know say this is the place to head for the best in traditional music on the Aran Islands.

Behind the simple facade, this Gothic bar is a surprising labyrinth of rooms across three stories, kitted out with furnishings from a medieval church, including pews, a giant organ, and altar. There are regular rock and country sessions.

A legend in its own right and a serious venue for stand-up comics, silent discos, emerging rock and traditional bands, the Róisín Dubh often showcases big, if still-struggling, talents.

Known for its traditional-music sessions in a village famed for its céilí band, Vaughan's has been a local favorite for years. Its claim to fame is a cameo appearance in the television series Father Ted. Set-dancing sessions are held in the barn every Sunday at 9:30 pm.