The traditional white-washed irish cottage exterior and river-side setting alone is reason enough…read moreto make this off-the-beaten-path journey. But take the time to go inside this wonderful cozy pub that is clearly loved by its locals. One visit and you'll understand why. Lucky for me, I get to visit Ireland every year and with each new adventure I seek country pubs steeped with history and charm. Serving the prerequisite perfect pint of Guinness, Fishermans was this years winner! Extensive selection of drinks, enough snacks/light food options to keep you nourished, and a friendly atmosphere that will make you want to linger.

Perhaps my most memorable stop in a wonderful trip to Ireland. I don't think that I'll ever forget…read morethe night my buddy and I went behind the bar and served locals pints of Guinness.

I cannot believe how large this pub is inside! We stopped by after seeing it on a "Traditional Pubs…read moreof Ireland" poster, and because my grandfather's name was James Griffin. The atmosphere was perfect! It was early Sunday morning, and there were already a few locals inside having their morning beer and reading the newspaper. I did some exploring because it looks so small on the outside, but you get in, and it just keeps going and going. Looks like they get large crowds during the evenings, and even offer lots of live music and DJs. The bartender was friendly.

What can I say besides fabulous! Trim is off the beaten path from Dublin, but definitely on the map…read morewhen it comes to historical must-sees while you're in Ireland! So when you pass thru Trim to see the Castle, call in to this gorgeous pub. When you walk in, it is old school classic pub with beautiful woodwork and bar. From there, you can go in the cozy fireplace room that feels and looks great and leads to another cozy area to meet and be with friends. If you like patios, you're at the right place! Step out back and find a covered & climate controlled patio that is huge! They have a large smoking patio area (you can't smoke inside in Ireland either). Thru the patio, you can see a big events room that you can host a reception, party, meeting, whatever. It's been a few months since my last visit, but I've heard they have a new beer garden too! Oh yes, the drinks...the Guinness is perfect. You can get almost any tasty beverage here from a nice bartender. The owner is hands-on and always working to keep this place top notch.

The best way to really get to know a town is to be taken out by a local. As we nipped through an…read morealleyway to the back street, he informed me that on this stretch lies a casino, a drug shop and a BROTHEL. I didn't even realise there was a pub back here! I think I showed a little too much interest but hey, all in the name of research... Suddenly, he told me to swing right. I pushed open the door of a place I hadn't even known existed to enter a busy pub with the ubiquitous "Rubber & Friends" belting out the tunes. People chatted animatedly, sang along and danced. Extremely lively for a Sunday night! I felt like I'd been given the password to a secret underworld. A guy who'd been strutting around like a peacock in a Man United jersey "entertained" the crowd from the table-tops. Just as the band were reaching the crescendo of their set, someone knocked over an entire table of drinks and nearly flooded the place. The barmaid muttered, "I'll kill them" before whipping out the mop, then pouring them another... Sunday is definitely the new Saturday!

Flanagan's is a fantastic pub found on the back street of Newbridge. Very friendly bar staff and a…read morereally good atmosphere especially on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night. great live music from the likes of Rubber Keogh and Lenny Cahill. The bar is divided into two parts with a good 20 somethings crowd most weekends in the lounge. Nice selection of beers also going beyond your usual Guinness, Heiniken and Corona.

This is a local bar and if you were here 50 years ago you are very likely to see some of the same…read morecustomers. The service is as good as it gets and the banter is what people come for. If you are new in town or passing through and on your own Paddy Dunne's will provide the chat you might need to pass your day or evening. Family run Bar & Lounge Located in Athy. Live Music for events, parties catered. Fresh beer, professionally poured, great service, attentive staff. Outstanding hot whiskey. Full service Bar, Lounge and Snug, Pool table, smoking area, excellent bar staff sports shown on TV live, e Horse racing, GAA, Soccer and Rugby. Are you partial to a putt yourself? Why not join the Paddy Dunne's Golf team? Bit of exercise, bit of craic, bit of banter with the lads followed by some great service at Paddy Dunne's. There's an off license onsite also.

Before my husband and I moved to Athy in 2007, when our house/home was being built, we saw Paddy…read moreDunnes and decided to try it for soup and sandwiches one day. We never tried anywhere else after than. We used to go into the Lounge, but we would hear great laughter in the bar. Being, Dubs, we asked one of the bar men, then, John, was the bar just for locals, we didn't want to intrude. John told us we were more than welcome to go in to the bar, so on that day Brian and I had our soup and toasted sandwiches and coffee in the Bar and with some of the locals watched "Last of the Summer Wine", and some. Whenever we went into Paddy Dunnes we only went into the Bar after that. Brian and I enjoyed going into Paddy Dunnes. It was not usual for us to go to a pub when we lived in Dublin. Sunday's after mass in the Dominican church, Paddy Dunnes's became for Brian and me a place to go, for an extension of the "Spirit". While still drinking coffee or a beer, the spirit of our hearts were lifted or we could just BE. No pun meant. We met genuine people, who welcomed each other and us and vice versa and we enjoyed each other's company and "genuine Irish Craic". We cared about each other, genuinly cared. Within a very short space of time of finding this 'Hub', there was a sudden serious illness and death of a woman, Mrs. Dunne, [we never had the privilage of meeting her]. We felt 'At Home' in Paddy Dunnes. It was never dull, the craic, the banter, winding each other up, the rows, god there were some mighty rows, difference of opinion, GAA, Athy, Castlemitchel, the ggs's ............We never came across so many men named John or Jo, but not young enough to have been called after JPII, but not old enough to have been called after John 23rd or John Kennedy. My Brian, my husband Brian, got cancer and died very suddenly in August 2012. Both Brians family and mine were around me. But we had another family, "The Paddy Dunne's Family". They were there at the church, they helped lift his coffin up the steps. Brian would have been chuffed. I was chuffed. Our families came back with me to Paddy Dunnes for Soup and sandwiches. Yeah did us proud. So for a Really Good Pint of Guinness or whatever you're having yourself!! Mega Craic, Extremely Good Staff and a huge mix and gatherum of all sort of people just GO to Paddy Dunnes no matter what the mood. F 'n' B.

On February 4, 2014, Judith and Susan Boyle crafted a great evening of stories and tastings as part…read moreof Feile Brid, the annual week-long Festival in Kildare to celebrate the Feast of St. Brigid and the coming of Spring. We enjoyed wine, honey mead, craft beer, poitin and Irish whiskey, along with tasty treats. The two sisters are continuing the fine tradition of their parents as publicans who support the community with warmth, welcome and fine brews. Boyle's is located in the heart of Kildare, be sure to stop in when you visit this beautiful heritage town, rich in history, folklore and inspiration. Kathleen Quinn

From the owner: We are a family run public house which was established in 1945 by John Boyle on his return from the…read moreUnited States. We offer a warm & friendly atmosphere with an excellent selection of Irish craft beers & ciders. We also serve commercial beers & a excellent selection of house wine.