Tapping your feet to the fiddle’s rhythm at a summer festival, discovering raw musical talent at a local pub or singing along to the latest chart hits at an electrifying, tune-filled nightclub; Kerry can deliver variety on many different levels, and music is definitely one of them.

Whether the South-west County was your chosen destination to relax and enjoy some old traditional music charm or to dance to your favourite modern tunes until the early hours of the morning, one thing is for sure, Kerry won’t disappoint. The county is known for its friendly and welcoming nature and this is clear from their music and the atmosphere that comes with it.

After good food, a cold pint and sharing stories and photographs from the day, there is no better way to end the evening than with a live band playing from the corner of the pub.  You can sit back to watch the band, enjoy the songs and, before you know it, you’ll be whisked out for a quick dance on the floor. ‘Sean Óg’s’ bar in Tralee is renowned for its traditional music played live from Sunday to Thursday nights and ‘The Grape and Grain’ in Listowel, north of the county, is another famous spot for a great night’s entertainment. The ‘Danny Mann’ bar in Killarney is a well-known tourist spot, but the ‘craic’ is so mighty and guarantee of good music so good, it still plays host to the local crowd after seventy years of entertaining. They play live music seven nights a week and anything from a traditional jig to an alternative indie band is to be expected.  The Hillgrove nightclub in Dingle boasts the largest dance-floor in Kerry promises to play all the latest chart-topping hits and is a must-do if a night in Dingle is promised while the trendy ‘Blue Zone’, shadowed by the majestic St Mary’s Chapel, showcases live music every Tuesday and Thursday night.  

But sun-down is not the only time Kerry presents its passion for music. The beaches, parks and streets of the Kingdom county present their flair for festivals throughout the year, day and night, showcasing some of Kerry’s best talent for Irish and traditional music.

Grab a partner and join in the craic at Tralee’s Shindig Festival, held in April of each year, where traditional music and set-dancing create an unforgettable atmosphere. The Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival in Castleisland attracts both experts and novices each year to join in the fiddle-playing and traditional Sean Nos dancing and the Kerry Festival of Music in Kenmare is held every June with a great crowd, atmosphere and musical talent guaranteed.  
For an experience of rocking and rolling, dancing and jiving, ‘trad’ and modern music, it is safe to say that the boroughs, beaches and bars of Kerry are the best places to be. So get ready for the “days of the Kerry dancing and the ring of the piper’s tune” and enjoy!


Denise Calnan, My Destination Ireland
February 2012