Traditional Irish Music in Dublin
What is a ‘ Trad Session ‘ and Where Did It Come From?
At its core, a seisiún (the Irish word for session) is an informal gathering of people to share traditional songs and tunes purely for the fun of it. The tradition is ancient – woven into the fabric of the island for centuries. Traditionally, sessions took place in family kitchens, with musicians playing for set dancers in homes known as céilí houses.
The pub or trad session specifically took hold in the twentieth century, boosted in no small part by the waves of Irish emigrants who carried the music with them abroad – and kept it alive in pubs from London to New York. It spread back to Ireland, deepened its roots, and never left. Today, you’ll find trad sessions in every corner of the country and in Irish pubs from Boston to Berlin.
The Instruments
Fiddle – the backbone of most sessions. Fast, expressive, ancient. The same instrument as a violin, but played with a completely different spirit.
Uilleann pipes – Ireland’s unique form of bagpipe, played sitting down and worked by the elbow rather than the mouth. One of the most complex instruments in the world, and one of the most hauntingly beautiful sounds you will ever hear.
Tin whistle – deceptively simple, endlessly expressive. Irish schoolchildren are generally taught the rudiments on the tin whistle, but in the right hands it is a serious instrument played at extraordinary speed.
Flute – a simple wooden concert flute, producing a warm, breathy tone that sits perfectly in the middle of a session.
Accordion & concertina – button-box instruments that bring body and rhythm to the music.
Bodhrán – the goatskin frame drum. At a good session, a skilled bodhrán player locks into the rhythm of the room, holding the beat without ever drowning the melody.
Guitar – the late arrival to Irish traditional music, and still a topic of debate in purist circles. When played with sensitivity, it adds depth and drive, weaving chords beneath the melody without overpowering it. In the wrong hands, though, it can feel heavy-handed, turning a lively session into something closer to a singalong.
Session Etiquette
There are no printed rules at a trad session. But there are rules. Spend enough time in Irish pubs and you’ll feel them.
Good session etiquette requires not playing if you don’t know the tune, or at least quietly playing an accompaniment part, and waiting until a tune you know comes along.
For listeners, the rules are much simpler. Listen. Don’t talk loudly over the music. If you applaud after every tune, you’ll mark yourself out as a visitor immediately – in a session, the music flows continuously, and stopping it with applause breaks the spell. A nod of appreciation, a smile, a raised glass are all welcomed.
And of course, sing and clap along when prompted by the musicians!
Experience It at The Brazen Head
There’s nothing more magical than experiencing your first proper trad session in Ireland’s oldest pub. These walls were built on Ireland’s greatest stories – and in every note, lyric and clap, you’ll hear those stories too. Join us every Sunday from 3.30pm for a proper pint, some hearty food and a good ol’ session!
