17 Gorgeous Pubs You'll Encounter Across Ireland (Photos)

When it comes to a great pub, Ireland wrote the book. After all, we’ve been churning out public houses at a silly rate since around 900 AD.

As you adventure around Ireland, you’ll find it next to impossible to avoid stumbling across a pub or ten.

In search of a great pub? Here’s a map with HUNDREDS of the best pubs across Ireland’s 32 counties!

Some will be great. Some will be alright. And some will be here-lets-grab-the-coats-and-get-out-of-this-kip awful.

They range from pokey little one-man shows where you’ll feel like you’re sitting down with a pint in someone’s living room to enormous gastropubs that you’d encounter in any city in the world.

Although the majority of pubs you’ll ramble on by (or into) will be pretty unextraordinary, every once and a while you’ll uncover a gem that’ll make you want to tear open the doors and take a gander inside at what’s.

Here’s a handful of some of the wonderful pubs you’ll encounter on your journey across Ireland.

1 – An Teach Beag, Connolly St, Clonakilty, Co. Cork

A post shared by instaireland (@instaireland) on Aug 2, 2018 at 1:00pm PDT

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2 – The Thatch Crinkill, Offaly

Photo via the Thatch Crinkill

3 – Dan Foleys – closed, but still beautiful – Kerry

Even though it’s shut, there’s something a little bit deadly about this place. ☘☘☘☘☘☘ ☘☘☘☘☘ ☘☘☘ ☘☘ ☘ #beautifuldestinations #earthpics #nature #instagram #ireland #discoverearth #earthpix #bestvacations #exploringtheglobe #naturelovers #igtravel #wildatlanticway

A post shared by Keith O’Hara ?? (@keith_ohara) on Jun 15, 2017 at 3:53am PDT

4 – Hargadons Pub, O’Connell St, Sligo

Photo by Peter McCabe via Tourism Ireland

5 – Seans Bar, Athlone, Co. Westmeath

If you’ve never heard of Sean’s Bar, it’s the oldest pub in Ireland.

Find out more about Sean’s Bar here!

Via Sean’s Bar on Facebook

6 – Mulligan’s Pub, Stoneybatter, Dublin

Photo by Gareth Byrne via Tourism Ireland

7 – Lowry’s Irish Music and Whiskey Bar, Galway

Music seven nights a week and twice on a Sunday now that’s craic Ceol agus ol xx #clifden #connemara #clifdenartsweek #bikeelectric #wildatlanticway #clifdenbars #lowrysbar #allthingsconnemara #wildatlanticwayconnemara ???

A post shared by Lowry’s Bar (@lowrysbar) on Sep 16, 2016 at 1:00am PDT

9 – O’Neill’s , Allihies, Beara, Co. Cork

Photo by Chris Hill via Tourism Ireland

11 – The Palace Bar, Dublin

#Dublin City Scenes.

A post shared by Keith O’Hara ?? (@keith_ohara) on May 21, 2017 at 2:56pm PDT

13 – The Crosskeys Inn, Antrim

Please Share: We have just been nominated for the BBC Countryfile “Country Pub of The Year Award”. This is the first time a pub from Northern Ireland has been nominated for this award. We would really appreciate your vote. TO VOTE follow the link below. http://www.countryfile.com/article/pub-year

A post shared by The Crosskeys Inn (@crosskeys_inn) on Feb 24, 2017 at 2:04pm PST

And that's a wrap!

Have you stumbled upon a pub in Ireland that was only feckin’ gorgeous? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll add it to the list!

Keith O'Hara

Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.