No trip to Ireland is complete without a visit to one of its legendary pubs! But with so many to choose from, where do you start? From lively cities to charming coastal towns, Ireland is packed with places to go for a pint.
We’ve rounded up 5 destinations that truly deliver the spirit of an Irish night out!
1. Kilkenny City
At the heart of this medieval you will find some fantastic traditional music and some of the best pubs in Ireland! Kilkenny is known for its many annual festivals including the Kilkenny Arts Festival in August and the Cat Laughs Festival in June. It’s always packed with Stag and Hen Parties so the cobblestone streets are always lively. Be sure to call to Kyteler’s Inn, Langtons, Biddy Early’s and also The Hole in the Wall, which is housed in the oldest townhouse in Ireland.
2. Galway City
Nicknamed Ireland’s Festival Capital, there’s always something going on in Galway! This makes it the perfect spot for those looking to find some friendly Irish hospitality! Tigh Neachtain, at the corner of Cross and Quay Street, has been in business since 1894! Other iconic pubs include Tig Coili, The Quays and the Roisin Dubh. The Crane Bar and Monroe’s both have live music on most nights.
3. Temple Bar, Dublin
You will find some of the liveliest pubs in Ireland in the Temple Bar district located between Dame Street, Westmoreland Street and Fishamble Street. We always recommend stopping by Temple Bar on your vacation to Ireland, even if you are not into the Irish pub scene. It’s a nice place to walk around during the day or to grab a good lunch. At night, this area comes alive with tourists and locals alike. There are some great pubs to check out including The Porterhouse, The Turk’s Head, The Palace Bar and The Auld Dubliner.
4. Dingle, Co. Kerry
The best part about Dingle pubs is how they’ve managed to keep the traditional character and essence that other pubs in Ireland might have lost. Many of the local pubs once served as a general store, watering hole, meeting place and anything else under the sun! Dingle pubs are famous for their quirky nature – Foxy John’s for example, is a hardware store/pub, Dick Mack’s pub has a small leather shop and in Curran’s Bar you can buy a cap and a shirt! For some fantastic traditional music try An Droichead Beag, John Benny’s or MacCarthy’s Pub. Another famous pub near Dingle is the South Pole Inn in Annascaul. This was the home of our very own arctic explorer and famous Kerryman, Tom Crean.
5. Doolin, Co. Clare
If you are looking for great traditional Irish music then Doolin should definitely be on your list! The town has been renowned for traditional music for years with four pubs at the core – McDermott’s, McGann’s, Gus O’Connor’s and Fitzpatrick’s pub at Hotel Doolin. There are two fantastic music festivals in the town every year, the Russell Memorial weekend in February and the Doolin Folk Fest in June. Make sure to try the towns own brew, Dooliner Beer!
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The best way to learn about Ireland is to visit yourself. Contact us today for a quotation including some or all of these locations today –
