My 10 Favorite Pubs in Ireland Where You Can Enjoy the Craic
In honor of St Patrick’s Day let’s take a look at some of my favorite pubs in Ireland.
I’m not saying these are the best.
But these are certainly some of my favorite pubs and ones I definitely recommend for your trip to Ireland.
I’m not sure there is really a bad pub in Ireland — at least I haven’t been to one.
So let’s get this St Patrick’s Day party started — a wee bit early!
By the way, craic loosely means fun or good time.
It’s really hard to explain as it’s a feeling.
If you’ve been to Ireland and been in a pub and had an awesome time, then you get it!
And if you haven’t, then I highly recommend a trip to Ireland and some pub time.
Hackett’s — Schull, County Cork
I fell in love with this wee pub in the heart of the wee village of Schull in County Cork.
The Murphy’s is very tasty at Hackett’s.
Murphy’s is one of the Cork stouts.
The other is Beamish.
I prefer Murphy’s 😋
You’ll often find live music in Hackett’s despite it being small.
In fact, every Sunday from 5-8pm you are guaranteed music.
It’s a great way to end your weekend — or kick off your upcoming week.
And the music is awesome!
It’s truly one of my all time favorite pubs in Ireland.
Hackett’s is also open for lunch.
I hear the food is excellent!
The Coachman’s — Kenmare, County Kerry
Every time I’ve been to Kenmare (3 times now), I’ve ended up in the Coachman’s Pub.
Ok, let’s get this straight.
The Coachman’s is a restaurant, guesthouse and pub.
The rooms look nice, but I’ve never stayed here nor seen the rooms in person.
I have eaten here.
The food at The Coachman’s is delicious so you may want to come for dinner and then stay for the craic.
I have always heard amazing music here.
And met some interesting locals.
The Coachman’s has a spectacular selection of Irish whiskies as well.
I can’t wait to visit this pub and restaurant again soon!
It may be at the top of my favorite pubs in Ireland list.
PF McCarthy’s — Kenmare, County Kerry
Another of my favorite pubs in Ireland that is also in Kenmare is PF McCarthy’s.
Again, you can eat here.
The food is good for sure, though more pub-like so different from The Coachman’s which is a step up.
What I like is that the music sessions start early here so you can eat dinner at 7pm and listen to some fabulous music.
From traditional Irish music to talented singer-songwriters, you can hear a bit of everything at PF’s.
And this pub has a wonderful selection of craft beer.
Dick Mack’s — Dingle Town, County Kerry
Oh, the Wall of Whiskey at Dick Mack’s.
It’s my favorite thing about this pub.
But it also makes my head spin with all the magnificent choices.
This is a true Irish pub that looks like it probably had a shop of sorts in the front at one time and the pub in the back.
There’s no food here, just tasty drinks and good craic with locals and tourists alike.
They have added a Brewhouse/Taproom in the back and are now making their own beer.
And they have food trucks coming in to supply some grub.
Sounds a bit American but we’ll go with it!
For me…it’s that Wall of Whiskey that makes Dick Mack’s one of my favorite pubs in Ireland.
And it has me wanting to go back.
Gus O’Connor’s — Doolin, County Clare
My first County Clare pub and maybe my first true pub with music was Gus O’Connor’s.
Located in the Fisher Street area of Doolin in County Clare, this is an old pub that also serves food — breakfast, lunch and dinner.
What Gus O’Connor’s is best known for is great traditional Irish music — 7 days a week from February to November.
This is definitely the pub to go to if you want a guarantee of good traditional Irish music.
It’s definitely one of my favorite pubs in Ireland.
There’s also a good array of beer, whiskey and gin to go along with the superb music.
McGann’s — Doolin, County Clare
On my recent visit to Doolin I popped into McGann’s to try something different.
McGann’s is located in the Roadford area of Doolin.
I had a delicious dinner (fish and chips) and then stayed for a wee while as the music began.
The music was fab, as it always seems to be in County Clare, and the crowd was lively.
Oh, and the Guinness is delicious!
Another great choice for pub time in Doolin.
Tigh Chóilí — Galway City, County Galway
Galway City is a university town so there are a plethora of pubs.
I’m quite sure you can’t go wrong with any of them, but I had a pint in Tigh Chóilí a few years back and loved the atmosphere.
Locals and tourists mix it up as the traditional music plays.
There is no food served here (at least I don’t think so), but the Guinness is some of the best in Galway City.
It’s definitely one of the best pubs for drinks and music in town!
Lowry’s — Clifden, County Galway
One of my favorite pubs in Ireland is Lowry’s in Clifden.
I love that it’s an old, traditional pub with dark wood and that it just has that old pub feel to it.
While they do serve food, the menu is limited.
I’d recommend eating elsewhere in Clifden.
However, the music at Lowry’s is some of the best in Clifden.
I was treated to an amazing duo of 2 young men on my recent visit to the area.
Blown away by their talent!
Lowry’s has an amazing whiskey selection as well as a good array of gins.
Add to that some tasty beer and a wonderful mix of locals and tourists and Lowry’s is THE pub in Clifden.
Be sure to check out the Wander Your Way e-guide on Clifden & Connemara!
Matt Molloy’s — Westport, County Mayo
I have such fond memories of Matt Molloy’s as I spent a fun evening here with my parents.
It was their first true pub experience in Ireland and we had a blast!
Westport has no shortage of good pubs, but Matt Molloy’s is one of the best for music.
Not only is it one of my favorite pubs in Ireland but it also pops up on lists of best pubs in Ireland.
This is purely a pub with drinks and music — and it does both well.
Matt Molloy is actually a person who was part of the Irish group, the Chieftains.
And he owns this pub that brings in all kinds of musicians — from the well-known to the recreational.
When my parents and I were there, people were dancing.
So much good craic!
Patsy Dan’s — Dunfanaghy, County Donegal
When you walk into Patsy Dan’s it’s like walking back in time.
It really feels like the epitome of an old time Irish pub.
The pub is small with all the little nooks.
There’s a cozy fireplace with chairs around it.
And every Monday and Friday evening you will be treated to traditional Irish music.
Patsy Dan’s also brings in musical acts on other nights.
But Monday and Friday are the evenings for a traditional “session”.
Since I stayed in Dunfanaghy for 2 weeks, I had the opportunity to visit Patsy Dan’s a few times and it really was my favorite pub in Dunfanaghy.
Heck, it’s one of my all time favorite pubs in Ireland.
The locals are friendly, the Guinness is tasty and the atmosphere is pure fun.
And if you get a bit hungry, the Rusty Oven offers up some pizza as it’s just next door.
So there you have my 10 favorite Irish pubs.
There are so many wonderful pubs in Ireland.
As I said, I don’t think I’ve been in one that I haven’t enjoyed.
These 10 just stand out to me for various reasons.
I’d love to hear about your favorite pubs in Ireland.
Put them in the comments below.
I’m always looking for new pubs to experience!
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