Now is a Good Time to… check out the Best Live Music Venues in Ireland

JOE along with Bulmers bring you a guide to the best live music venues on our island...

Ireland is renowned for it's music and it's live music in particular. We know how to put on a good show and we have plenty of great locations to host our brilliant musicians but we've decided to narrow it down and pick our five favourite gig venues in Ireland. Here's JOE and Bulmer's Best Live Music Venues in Ireland...

The Pavilion - Cork

The Pavilion has turned into one of the best loved music venues in Cork due to a number of reasons; The sound is great, the room is a beautiful tiered old cinema and the musical acts they book are the most eclectic you'll hear anywhere in the country. JOE has been there for a load of special nights - Kanye West's appearance a few years back, Hozier's sell-out just before Christmas last year, Franz Ferdinand, Mike Skinner, Onra and many more. The good thing about the venue is that it promotes loads of local talent with Young Wonder, The Careers, The Vincent(s) and Elastic Sleep among the new Cork bands we've seen in there so be sure to check it out if you're on Leeside... Picture credit Virginia Thomas via PavilionCork.com

Monroe's Live - Galway

Monroe's Live is one of the go-to places for music lovers in Galway. It's built up a huge reputation down through the years of being a brilliant live venue as well as bringing an eclectic mix of artists to the City of Tribes. The atmosphere the venue can generate is amazing and even though the venue is quite big, it still has that intimate feel to it. Picture credit to Darius Ivan via Monroe's Facebook page

Button Factory - Dublin

The Button Factory is one of the only purpose built music venue in Dublin. The sound in there is always amazing and because of its size, you always have a great view of the stage. It perfect for a smaller gig with a few hundred people and it tends to book up and coming bands so if you're a hound for new music, it is the place to be. Picture via ButtonFactory.ie

The Forum - Waterford

The Forum in Waterford is one of our favourite venues in the country because it is a place that can generate a special atmosphere that we haven't experience in many other venues. When the room is full, it can be electric. The Forum has also supported Irish artists in a big way *two thumbs up from JOE* and it also attracts some big acts from overseas so there's always a good blend there... Picture via ForumWaterford.ie

Dolans - Limerick

Dolans is one of the most famous live music venues in the country and the home of music in Limerick. JOE has been there a good few times with one of the highlights a few years back when we were bopping away to a little known Northern Irish band called Two Door Cinema Club, whatever happened to those guys? The main venue out the back is pretty cool because it's basically a warehouse so it has a real underground feel to it. If you love music and you're near Limerick City, be sure and check it out. Pic via the Dolans Facebook page.