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The 5 Best Pubs in Ireland to Visit

Traditional music and dance with the local friendly atmosphere, I loved these pubs and hope you do too. 

Here’s what you will get from this post

  • 5 Great Pubs to Enjoy the Irish Culture

  • A few short videos we captured 

  • Our honest opinion about our visit

A trip to the Emerald Isle would not be complete without a visit to an Irish Pub. The pubs of Ireland are famous for their hospitality and are still set deep in tradition, filled with authenticity.  Walk in, grab a stool, get a pint of Guinness and it won’t be long before the locals strike up a conversation. On my 2-week self-drive tour of Ireland , I had the chance to visit a number of them, here are the 5 best pubs to visit in Ireland.

#1 The Brazen Head / Dublin 

Marquestra Travel destinations Ireland Best Pubs to visit
Officially the oldest pub in Ireland, this institution dates back to 1198! This is seriously old. Don’t be alarmed, the place is well maintained and very cozy. One can imagine, back in the day, the courtyard filled with local sailors and merchants. Serving good pub food at reasonable prices, the pub was packed with locals and tourists mingling together, while grabbing supper there. Situated just a short distance from Christchurch Cathedral and the Guinness Storehouse, it’s definitely worth a visit. The venue also has live traditional music on occasions, when in Dublin, don’t skip this place.

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#2 O’Connors Famous Pub / Galway

Marquestra Travel destinations Ireland Best Pubs to visit

On the outskirts of old town Galway in Salthill, this quirky pub was a recommendation from our local host and it didn’t disappoint. Established in the 1940s the decor alone can keep you busy for hours with vintage items and antiques adorning every inch of the walls. They have a very large selection of whiskey and drinks, the place is quite big and roomy with a relaxed atmosphere. The already Famous O’Connors became even more so after the Ed Sheeran Galway Girl video was partly filmed in it. A guaranteed fun time.

#3 Kenny’s / Lahinch  

Marquestra Travel destinations Ireland Best Pubs to visit

Lahinch is the surfing capital of the Irish West Coast (yes surfing in Ireland is big) and known particularly for its famous wave called the White Horse. An essential landmark in town is Kenny’s, a fourth-generation establishment who’s origins date back to 1830. Above the friendly staff and wonderful food, this gastropub also offers fabulous entertainment, visit The White Horse Sessions for upcoming artists. Frequented by both locals and visitors, you’re sure to have a memorable time at Kenny’s. 

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#4 The Grand Hotel  / Killarney

ENJOY A TRADITIONAL IRISH JIG >>

Right at the top of Main Street, don’t let the unpretentious facade fool you as to what you can expect inside. If you’re looking for traditional Irish music with authentic folks, this is the place to be. Chances are, you’ll hear traditional music while strolling by, so don’t be shy and go on in. We had such a good time at this pub that we could still hear the fiddle in our heads, many days afterwards. The fiddlers and jig dancers give way to a party and nightclub atmosphere after 10h30pm. Make sure to watch the short video we captured during our visit (see above)… Enjoy!!

#5 Lanigans Bar / Kilkenny 

Marquestra Traditional Irish Pub
This venue has a full floor, The Legend’s Bar, dedicated to Hurling, Ireland Official’s Sport. But on the main floor, get ready for Hooly nights with traditional Irish music and dance. Visitors can view the gigantic screen while listening to live music. We enjoyed a performance from The World renowned Irish Dancer Ger Hayes from Lord of the Dance who performs there from Monday to Thursday. A unique opportunity to see his captivating dance steps up close. View a 1 min. video of him right here. 
 
Enjoying an fun evening in an traditional Irish Pub with local folks was something we always wanted to do, we were thrilled we got to experience this in Ireland.  No trip in Ireland would be complete without visiting one.  Sláinte!
Looking for more inspiration, here are 10 more Traditional Irish Pubs to add to your list. 

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Have you been to a traditional Irish Pub?
Please share your experiences with us, comments or questions below…

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