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Irish CulturePublished 18 November 20254 min read

Irish Music: From Traditional Sessions to U2

Irish Music: From Traditional Sessions to U2

Irish music rests on two pillars: the centuries-old tradition of folk sessions in pubs, and world-class rock from names like U2 and The Cranberries. What connects them is the pub, the place where music in Ireland has always been played live.

What is an Irish session?

A session (in Irish, "seisiun") is an informal gathering of musicians in a pub. Nobody has sheet music, nobody gets paid; they play for the joy of it, while the punters listen, tap along and join in the singing. The typical instruments:

  • Fiddle - carries the melody in lively jigs and reels
  • Tin whistle - the cheapest and most widespread Irish instrument
  • Uilleann pipes - Irish bagpipes inflated with the elbow, the most technically demanding of the lot
  • Bodhran - a frame drum played with a beater
  • Guitar and banjo - accompaniment that only arrived in Ireland in the 20th century

How did Ireland conquer the world's stages?

Out of the pub tradition grew bands like The Dubliners (1962) and The Chieftains, who carried Irish folk around the globe. Then came rock: U2 formed in Dublin in 1976 and have sold more than 150 million records. The Cranberries, Thin Lizzy, Sinead O'Connor, The Pogues with their punk take on folk, and in 1994 the Riverdance phenomenon, which took Irish step dancing to the world's great stages.

Why does live music belong in a pub?

In Ireland it is understood that a pub without music is just a taproom. Live music turns drinking a pint into a social occasion; people chat, sing and stay longer. That is exactly why we built the programme at Little Island in Frydek-Mistek around live performances.

When does live music play at Little Island?

  • Fridays and Saturdays from 8pm - bands and musicians playing live
  • The Irish function room, with space for a DJ or a band, can also be booked for private events of up to 40 guests
  • We are open on Fridays from 2pm to 4am and Saturdays from 4pm to 4am, so the evening doesn't end when the music does

Come and hear live music where it belongs: in an Irish pub. Little Island, tr. T. G. Masaryka 1129, Frydek-Mistek.

Further reading

St. Patrick's Day: What We Celebrate on 17 MarchWhat St. Patrick's Day is, why it falls on 17 March, and how we celebrate the feast of Ireland's patron saint at Little Island Irish Pub in Frydek-Mistek.Why Irish Pubs Are Named After Families and IslandsIrish pubs traditionally carry the names of owners, places and islands. Read where the tradition comes from and the story behind the name Little Island.Irish Toasts: What Slainte Means and How to Raise a GlassSlainte is Irish for "health" and the best-known Irish toast. Learn how to pronounce it properly and discover more toasts from Irish pubs.