Songwriters Open Mic at Monroe's Live

What to Expect

Monroe’s Live runs a Songwriters Open Mic in its gig room on Dominick Street Upper, with sign up from 7:30 PM to 8:00 PM and the music starting once the list is closed. The next night on the venue’s published calendar is Tuesday 1 September 2026, and the venue has it down again for Tuesday 6 October and Tuesday 3 November, which puts it on the first Tuesday of each month rather than every week.

The format favours original material over covers, so it draws local writers testing new songs in front of a real audience alongside more established acts warming up before bigger dates. Slots are allocated on a first come basis from the sign-up sheet, and the length of each set depends on how many names go down on the night. Most of what gets played is acoustic guitar and voice, though the format does not rule out other instruments. Monroe’s Live is a proper gig room with a raised stage and house PA rather than a corner of a bar, which makes a considerable difference to how a quiet song lands. A fair share of acts who later play ticketed shows in the same room started on nights like this one.

Good to Know

• Next night: Tuesday 1 September 2026
• Recurs on the first Tuesday of the month, with 6 October and 3 November also confirmed on the venue calendar
• Sign up 7:30 PM to 8:00 PM, music follows
• Venue: Monroe’s Live, Dominick Street Upper, Galway city
• Free admission
• Original songs preferred, slots allocated on a first come basis
• Monroe’s Tavern next door serves food and drink beforehand

Getting There

Monroe’s is on Dominick Street Upper in Galway’s West End, ten to fifteen minutes on foot from Eyre Square and from Galway Ceannt railway and bus station, crossing the Wolfe Tone Bridge and heading up Dominick Street Lower. Irish Rail runs direct services from Dublin Heuston in around two hours fifteen minutes, and Bus Eireann and Citylink coaches run frequently from Dublin, Limerick and Cork. Drivers coming in on the N6 should use the Fairgreen or Jury’s Inn multi-storey car parks, since West End on-street parking is limited. City bus routes along Fr Griffin Road and Dominick Street stop within a minute of the door.