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The Moville Traditional Music Festival pubs

Posted Wednesday, February 6, 2008

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Moville Traditional Music Festival

The 3rd Moville Traditional Music Festival is taking place on February 15th to 17th.

Some of the best traditional musicians from all over Ireland will be playing. The four pubs will have four musicians each but others will almost certainly join in.

There will be four sessions I'm reliably informed, There will be one on Friday night, one early Saturday afternoon, one late Saturday afternoon and one on Saturday night.

It seems that the musicians will need early Saturday afternoon to recover from their afternoon sessions, to get fed and washed and get ready for their night time session.

The four pubs that have been specially selected for the Moville Traditional Music Festival are:-

1. Rosatos

Rosatos is one of those old fashioned pubs with parts of ploughs and harnesses hanging from the ceilings. there are a couple of pikestaffs on the walls. I've convinced my 9-year-old son Robbie that these are used on 'Fight Night' on a Friday night.

When I told him that some of the teachers in his school are involved in these Friday night sessions he was very excited and wanted me to smuggle him and hide him behind a curtain.

Rosatos is perfect for a Music Festival like this. It is not too bright and there is a great atmosphere.

It was actually voted the Best Pub in Ireland by the readers of www.RateMyPub.ie

They are used to musical nights as they have live music every Saturday night.

They do both lunchtime and evening food for those that like to have a bite to eat along with their music and their beer.

The staff are very friendly and accommodating. They are especially known for their pizzas.

They have a smoking area out the back and a covered smoking area upstairs out the back where you can also drink. They have outside heating.

The mural of Rosatos out the back upstairs is by popular local artist Cathal Cavanagh. The picture of a ship to the left as you go in the door is also by him.

2. Rawdons

Rawdons has been a great traditional music pub for years and years.

Every Friday night Paddy McLaughlin and the gang take out their fiddles, their guitars, their tin whistles, accordions and banjos and they join in the traditional session there.

There's also a session on a Saturday night with more international folk music of the Bob Dylan variety.

It is one of those old traditional pubs where you enter through the shop (although there is another entrance too).

It's the kind of place where a singsong is likely to break out.

They have a very popular smoking area out the back where there's usually a good crowd out there having a natter.

I'm not the only non-smoker who often sits out there just for the craic.

Have a look inside here - Inside Rawdons

3. Bar-A-Cuda (ex-Eggman)

This is handily placed on the main road of the town.

They have a great music room at the back.

Also look out for the great mural painted by local artist Cathal Cavanagh.

There's a lot of great craic in this bar any day of the week but I would expect it to be buzzing on the Friday night and Saturday of the Moville Traditional Music Festival.

Have a look around inside here Bar-A-Cuda

4. The Foyle Hotel

Many of those from outside town who will be visiting the festival will be staying at this hotel - so you know what this means.

Yes, that's right - great sessions by various musicians for as long as they'll let them go on.

The Foyle has great lunch and evening menus for those who want to eat as well.

There is the main bar which doubles as an upmarket restaurant.

Then there is a function room downstairs.

Have a look inside here - Foyle Hotel