In Killarney many pubs go for middle-of-the-road "easy listening" rather than genuine trad., and if your tour guide suggests a place it will probably be a bit stage Irish. But the town center is very compact and you can easily visit several places on foot within a couple of hours. Also, music has been cut back a bit and not everyplace will have a session every night.

Try Buckley's bar (in the Arbutus hotel), they do some nights and also a Sunday morning session which is usually good.(..advertised for 12.30, never starts before 1.30) also the Grand hotel...at present the Grand has a trad session every night from about 9 to 11pm,and might be the best place to start. You could also try the "Danny Mann" in New Street, this would be more "ballad group" rather than instumental, on a stage.

Also, there are very good free trad concerts from time to time in St. Mary's Church...ask in the Tourist Office. And there's a shop on College street called "Variety Sounds"...the people there might be able to steer you towards a good session.

There's an element of luck involved, sometimes the session comes together better than at other times...

Hope you enjoy your trip and take home good memories.