A Week of Irish Music Sessions

As you ramp up for St. Patrick's Day this Friday, here are some pub events in Manhattan this week to experience some of the best Irish music sessions in town, best enjoyed with a few pints of Smithwicks or Guinness. Most are held every week, and most are FREE!

Sunday
5-8pm, Blaggard's Pub (8 West 38th St. at 5th Ave.) - Traditional Irish music session hosted by The Manhattan Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann. Great musicians and dancers in the heart of Manhattan with good food & drink. NO COVER and no amplification.

Also highly recommended is O'Neill's (see below)

Monday
11pm-3am, Mona's (Avenue B @ 14th St.) - This East Village dive-bar is highly regarded for its Guinness, its world-weary bartenders and the Monday night Irish music session. NO COVER.

Tuesday
9pm-1am, Swift (4th St. @ Bowery) - A "must see" in the East Village, this is a big beer hall that pipes its live music throughout the premises. Excellent selection of beers and whiskey. Their Midleton whiskey is guaranteed to increase your enjoyment of Irish music. They say if you drink enough Midleton, even 50 Cent raps with a brogue! A great traditional Irish music session Tuesday nights with NO COVER.

Wednesday
8pm-11pm, The Baggot Inn (W. 3rd St. @ Thompson) - Always jam-packed with supporters for the acts on stage. In NYU territory, it is long and dark with an excellent stage at the back. The Baggot is one of the most refreshing live music venues in town. Subway: W 4 st, ACEBDV trains.

Thursday
10pm-1am, Paddy Reilly's Music Bar (2nd Ave. @ 29th St.) - This session features the talents of Tony DeMarco & Eamon O'Leary, two of the finest traditional musicians working in the city. Paddy's is a good venue - dark & atmospheric and the Guinness is good. Subway: 28st @ Lex - 6 train.

Friday - This is the big day, folks!
3pm - ??, Hurley's Saloon (232 W. 48th St.) - Starting at 3pm, One of New York's Best new Irish Rock Bands, "Sullivan's Jack" will be performing at Hurley's Saloon just outside of Times Square.

The Chieftains are playing Carnegie Hall and Celtic Woman is at Radio City, but they're expensive, and wouldn't you rather be at a pub having a few pints on St. Paddy's Day anyway?

Saturday
9pm-1am, O'Neill's (3rd Ave. @ 45th St.) - O'Neill's plays host to some of the top traditional Irish musicians in NYC. You never know who will play in O'Neill's but you know it will always be good. An excellent venue where you can have dinner or relax with a pint of Guinness. They also have a session on Sunday nights starting at 7:30pm. Highly recommended. NO COVER and no amplification.