When I moved to Galway there was next to no outlet for original live music. Pub Landlords thought it would detract from the amount of drinking or at least be too much of a distraction.
Whereas cover bands would have music that punters were familiar with so were deemed permissable.
Took a couple of years to change but now there are several places that put on newer talent. Roisin Dubh puts on a lot of visiting acts.