There are pubs in Ireland, and then there are pubs that become part of the trip itself.

The best ones aren't necessarily the biggest or the fanciest. They are the places with worn wooden counters, tiny snugs, musicians squeezed into corners, stories built up over generations and the sort of atmosphere that's almost impossible to manufacture.

From a pub and leather shop in Dingle to an Athlone bar with more than 1,000 years of history, these are 10 Irish pubs worth building a road trip around.

1. Dick Mack's Pub – Dingle, County Kerry

Few pubs capture the character of Dingle quite like Dick Mack's.

The pub has been serving customers since 1899, and one of the things that makes it so unusual is that it traditionally operated as both a pub and a leather shop.

That unusual combination can still be seen today.

Walk through the door and you'll find old wooden fittings, little rooms and snugs that feel as though they've barely changed in generations.

Whiskey is another big part of Dick Mack's, while its newer brewhouse produces its own beers just behind the historic pub.

Outside you'll also find Dingle's own little "Walk of Fame", marking some of the famous visitors who have passed through over the years.

Why visit: History, whiskey, local beer and one of Ireland's most distinctive traditional pub interiors.

We have a full guide to Dick Mack's on our food and drink pages if you want to know more before you visit. – Westport, County Mayo

If traditional Irish music is the reason you're travelling around Ireland, Westport should be on your route.

And when you get there, Matt Molloy's is one of the places to know.

The pub is associated with Matt Molloy of The Chieftains and has become one of Ireland's most recognisable traditional music pubs.

It's not unusual to find musicians gathered for sessions, particularly when Westport is buzzing at weekends.

Despite its international reputation, the pub still has the atmosphere of a proper Irish town bar.

Why visit: Traditional music and an essential stop during a night out in Westport.

3. Tigh Neachtain – Galway City

You'll recognise this one before you even walk through the door.

The colourful blue-and-yellow frontage of Tigh Neachtain has become one of the most recognisable sights in Galway's Latin Quarter.

The pub was founded in 1894 and sits at the meeting point of Cross Street, High Street and Quay Street.

Inside you'll find wooden snugs, little corners, old photographs and the sort of cosy atmosphere that makes popping in for one drink slightly dangerous.

Before you know it, three hours have disappeared.

Music, conversation and Galway's arts scene have long been part of the pub's identity.

Why visit: One of the quintessential Galway pub experiences.

4. Thomas Connolly Bar – Sligo

There has been a pub on this site since 1780, while Thomas Connolly's itself was first licensed in 1861.

Inside you'll find old timber, traditional snugs and reminders of the days when one end of the premises operated as a grocery shop selling tea, sugar and bottled whiskey.

These days whiskey remains a big part of the attraction, alongside craft beer and regular live music.

It's the kind of place that feels historic without feeling like a museum.

Why visit: Heritage, whiskey, trad sessions and one of Sligo's great surviving old pubs.

We have a full guide to Thomas Connolly on our food and drink pages if you're planning a visit to Sligo.

5. DeBarra's Folk Club – Clonakilty, County Cork

Some pubs are known for Guinness. Some are known for history. DeBarra's is known for music.

This Clonakilty institution has been hosting live performances for decades and remains one of Ireland's best-known intimate folk venues.

It has built a huge reputation among musicians, while still maintaining the feel of a proper local pub.

The venue continues to host regular gigs, folk music and traditional sessions.

If there's something on while you're staying in West Cork, go.

Why visit: One of Ireland's great small live-music venues.

6. Johnnie Fox's Pub – Dublin Mountains

A trip to Johnnie Fox's feels very different from visiting a city-centre Dublin pub.

Located at Glencullen in the Dublin Mountains, the pub traces its history back more than two centuries and is widely known as one of Ireland's highest pubs.

The interior is packed with memorabilia, old tools, photographs and reminders of rural Irish life.

Traditional food and seafood feature heavily, while its famous Hooley evenings combine dinner with Irish music and dancing.

The location is a big part of the appeal too. You can spend the day exploring the Dublin or Wicklow mountains before finishing beside the fire with a pint.

Why visit: Mountain setting, Irish history, traditional food and music.

7. Sean's Bar – Athlone, County Westmeath

This isn't merely an old pub. It's very old.

Sean's Bar traces its history back to around 900 AD, when an inn was established beside an important crossing point on the River Shannon.

It has long been recognised as one of Ireland's oldest pubs.

Archaeological finds connected with the building include sections of old wattle walls and historic coins, some of which are displayed inside the pub.

Yet Sean's isn't somewhere you visit purely to tick a historical box. There's live music, plenty of atmosphere and a brilliant location only steps from the Shannon and Athlone Castle.

We have a full guide to Seán's Bar on our food and drink pages with everything you need to know before visiting.

Why visit: More than 1,000 years of pub history.

8. McGann's Pub – Doolin, County Clare

Doolin and traditional Irish music go together almost perfectly. And McGann's is one of the pubs where that tradition is still very much alive.

The family-run pub hosts regular traditional music sessions, bringing together local musicians, visitors and anyone lucky enough to find a seat.

There's food too, making it an easy place to settle into after exploring the Cliffs of Moher or the Burren.

The best thing you can do? Don't plan the evening too tightly. Find a corner, order something and stay for the music.

Why visit: Traditional Irish music in one of the country's most famous music villages.

9. Kyteler's Inn – Kilkenny

Few pubs come with a backstory quite like this one.

Kyteler's Inn traces its history to the 13th century and is associated with Dame Alice Kyteler, the wealthy medieval woman famously accused of witchcraft.

She escaped Ireland before she could be executed, but her story has remained connected with the building ever since.

Today, the old stone walls and medieval character make Kyteler's one of Kilkenny's most unusual drinking spots.

There is traditional Irish food, music and plenty of references to the inn's dramatic history. Considering you're already in one of Ireland's finest medieval cities, it fits the surroundings perfectly.

Why visit: Medieval history, music and one of Ireland's greatest pub stories.

10. The Cobblestone – Smithfield, Dublin

If your priority is authentic traditional Irish music rather than a polished tourist show, put The Cobblestone on your list.

The Mulligan family has been associated with Irish music for generations, and sessions take place at the pub throughout the week.

The emphasis here is very much on the music itself. Musicians gather close together around the bar while everyone else finds whatever bit of standing room remains.

There are also gigs, classes, singing, dancing and cultural events in its back room.

You're only a short distance from the centre of Dublin, but on the right evening it feels like you've stumbled into a completely different world.

We have a full guide to The Cobblestone on our food and drink pages with session times, tips and what to expect.

Why visit: One of Dublin's strongest traditional music experiences.

Which One Should You Visit?

The nice thing about this list is that they're not all offering the same experience.

For history, Sean's Bar and Kyteler's Inn are difficult to ignore.

For traditional music, The Cobblestone, Matt Molloy's, McGann's and DeBarra's are excellent places to experience Ireland's music culture.

For sheer old-fashioned pub character, Dick Mack's, Tigh Neachtain and Thomas Connolly's are exactly the sort of places we'd happily lose an afternoon in.

And Johnnie Fox's offers something completely different again with its location high in the Dublin Mountains.

A Few Pub Etiquette Tips for Visitors

You don't need to overthink visiting an Irish pub.

Walk in, find somewhere to sit or stand and order at the bar unless you're clearly told there is table service.

If a traditional music session is taking place, remember that the musicians aren't necessarily performing a formal concert.

Conversation is normal, although shouting over a quiet song or standing directly in front of the musicians filming the whole thing probably won't win you many friends.

And don't feel like you need to order Guinness simply because you're in Ireland.

Although...

You probably should have at least one.

Final Thoughts

Irish pubs are about far more than what's being poured behind the bar.

They're meeting places, music venues, restaurants, storytelling rooms and, in some cases, buildings that have been serving their communities for hundreds of years.

You could visit dozens during a road trip around Ireland and no two would feel quite the same.

But if you're looking for somewhere to begin, these 10 must-visit pubs in Ireland give you a bit of everything: ancient history, live traditional music, mountain scenery, medieval legends, tiny snugs and some seriously atmospheric places to enjoy a pint.

And we'd strongly recommend leaving room in the itinerary for the pub you discover completely by accident.

Sometimes that's the one you remember most.