Looking for Sessions in Ireland May 2017

My wife and I are traveling to Ireland May 18th -28th 2017. We will be in London for 5 nights prior, eliminating all jet lag from our Oklahoma City flight. Plans now are as follows:
Thursday 18th - Cork City
Friday - Ross Caslte in Killarney
Saturday- Dingle
Sunday - ? possibly Ennis area
Monday - Galway City center
Tuesday - Saturday night just south of Dublin
I am looking for sessions to listen in and play, if possible. If I am to play, I would like to find the sessions set of tunes so I can prepare. I will be traveling with mandolin. Any thoughts or suggestions on places to stay other than Dublin will be welcome too. I have no thoughts of being able to play all night but would love to join in on a tune or two.

First off, there won’t be a list of tunes.

You should make a point to be in Ennis for the Fleadh Nua--it happens mid-May, around the time you will be in the area. There are sessions all day (all levels), as well as concerts and CD releases. A fun week, and you’ll meet some great folks. Very welcoming, and gives you a chance to put your toe in the water and see how it’s done.

They make a point of playing standard tunes (see Dow’s 60) at the slower sessions, but you’ll hear more of what I think of as local tunes.

We ended up staying in town the whole week, and just blew off the tourist stuff. It was a great way to get over the jet lag, because we were up late and slept in. Stopped running into lamp posts by the third day or so.

Like Himself said, there likely won’t be a set list of tunes at most sessions you go to. Since you have a lot of time to prepare, you should be able to get a crop of standards under your belt.

The Dow’s 60 Michele referenced, a list of essential tunes for sessions written up by Dr. Dow 9 years ago, has been committed to PDF here: http://www.cheakamus.com/Ceilidh/Downloads/Dows_List.pdf . (Original thread here: https://thesession.org/sessions/1311#comment241459 ) These tunes are popular (and likely overplayed) on both sides of the Atlantic, so you’ll be well served learning the whole batch.

That said, you’re a guest in the sessions, so first courtesy is to listen to their tunes. Have a grand time, and learn the local favorites while you’re there.