The highest, the oldest and the one with the longest continuous bar: Ireland’s best pubs revealed (so which would YOU head to for a tipple?)
- Sean’s Bar in Athlone holds the official Guinness World Record title of being the oldest pub in all of Ireland
- The Hole in the Wall in Dublin claims to be the longest pub in Europe, and the one with the longest bar counter
- Johnnie Fox’s in the Dublin Mountains, which dates back to 1798, claims to be Ireland’s highest pub
No trip to Ireland would be complete without savouring a Guinness. Or an Irish whiskey. Or a Bulmers cider. Or indeed a Baileys.
Thankfully the Emerald Isle has no shortage of places to stop off at to enjoy a tipple or three of these fine beverages.
But which one to choose? Easy. Any of the pubs MailOnline Travel has gathered together here.
These are Ireland’s best pubs – the oldest, the one with the longest bar in Europe and one that doubles as a leather belt shop all make the list.
As does one that’s been tagged over 520,000 times on Instagram in the past year.
Scroll down to discover legendary places to drink some of the world’s most legendary drinks…
The Brazen Head is a lively pub in the Merchant’s Quay area of Dublin. It was built as a coaching inn in 1754 but it is thought that an alehouse has occupied this site since 1198
Every night from 9.30pm there is live music at The Brazen Head. The pub also offers special storytelling evenings, where guests learn about Irish folklore
Irish author James Joyce references The Brazen Head in his classic novel Ulysses. The writer Jonathan Swift, best known for writing Gulliver’s Travels, also mentions the pub in one of his many letters
Situated in the village of Glencullen in the Dublin mountains, Johnnie Fox’s claims to be the highest pub in Ireland. It was established in 1798 and is now known for its traditional Irish dancing shows
The iconic Temple Bar is located in the heart of Dublin and was established in 1840. Recent research has revealed that is the most Instagrammed pub in Ireland, having been tagged in over 520,000 posts
The Bernard Shaw in Dublin is best known for its live music, graffiti battles and outdoor food market. It is the third most Instagrammed pub in Ireland, with mentions in 25,000 posts
Located in Athlone, County Westmeath, Sean’s Bar holds the official Guinness World Record title of being the oldest pub in Ireland – it dates back to 900 AD
A picture of the genuinely olde worlde interior of Sean’s Bar. This image was posted to its Instagram profile
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The Hole in the Wall in Dublin claims to be the longest pub in Europe – and the pub with the longest continuous bar counter. The pub dates back to 1651 when it opened as a coaching house and tavern. The unusual name of the pub comes from a practice where bar staff would serve drinks through a hole in the wall. This allowed British soldiers stationed nearby to still be able to get a glass of beer – even though they were forbidden to venture outside Phoenix Park, located next to the pub
The Hole in the Wall dressed up for Yuletide. The pub is known for its Christmas decorations and the owners say around 1,000 people per day make a pilgrimage to visit it during the festive season
The Oliver Plunkett in Cork is not only a place to stop for a drink but also a place to learn about the history of the city of Cork. There are historical artefacts dotted around the building, as well as a number of fascinating images, ranging from pictures of JFK’s visit to Cork in the 1960s to photos of Johnny Rotten, whose mother is from the city
The South Pole Inn in Annascaul, County Kerry, is best known for honouring its former owner Tom Crean. Crean was a seaman and Antarctic explorer, who joined expeditions to the South Pole with the likes of Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton. A purpose-built gallery exhibiting his work was opened at the pub in April 2014
Guinness might be the tipple that Ireland is best known for but at the Gin Palace in Dublin it’s all about… you guessed it – gin. It claims to have the largest selection of gin in Dublin, boasting gins from every corner of the globe
Dick Mack’s pub in Dingle, County Kerry, has been serving up liquid refreshments since 1899. In one half of the pub, customers will find a traditional bar serving up the likes of Guinness and Irish whiskey. But in the other half is a shop selling traditional leather belts
Dick Mack’s has a huge selection of Irish whiskeys on offer and has won several awards for it
A traditional Irish thatched pub perched on the Atlantic coast, the Beach Bar in Aughris, County Sligo, is situated amid stunning scenery, a wave-lashed Atlantic coastline and the majestic peaks of Knocknarea and Benbulben
Just a stone’s throw from the Cliffs of Moher, Gus O’Connor’s Pub in Doolin, County Clare, first opened in 1832. The pub allowed musicians to play to customers long before it became the norm. Musicians from far and wide flock to Gus O’Connor’s, which has even hosted recording sessions for radio
Hargadon’s Pub is a former greengrocer and beer wholesaler in County Sligo. It is now a gastropub and Sligo’s only entry in the Michelin Eating Out in Pubs Guide 2016. In 2016, to honour the 150th birthday of the Irish poet Yeats, who was a regular visitor to County Sligo, staff and guests at the pub read one of his poems every day at 1pm for a year
The range of whiskeys on offer at the L. Mulligan Grocer pub in the Stoneybatter area of Dublin. The pub is known for its food and only uses locally sourced Irish produce
The Long Hall pub in Dublin was established in 1766 and got its name from the long narrow hallway snug that ran parallel to the back bar. The interior dates from 1881, when it was completely refurbished by the owners. It remains intact to this day
Once the city morgue and then a chapel, McDaids in Dublin still retains its high ceilings and Gothic-style windows. One of its most famous regulars was the Irish writer Brendan Behan, who is said to have often entertained drinkers in the pub. In fact, it is believed that he based many characters from his famous work Borstal Boys on people he met in McDaids
As its name suggests, The Old Thatch has an old thatch. In fact, it is Ireland’s oldest pub with a thatched roof. The pub is located in Killeagh, East Cork, and the building dates back to the 1600s
- Thanks to all the pub owners and Tourism Ireland for supplying MailOnline Travel with lots of pub pictures.
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