Pubs

Ahhh…Irish Pubs! No Trip to Ireland is Complete Without Enjoying Her Colorful
Public Houses

On your trip to Ireland, you probably couldn’t avoid Irish pubs even if you wanted to…but who would want to? They are everywhere and Mick’s Custom Irish Tours can guide you to all the best of them.

From the quaint little out of the way places, to old historic pubs, and hoppin’ happenin’ pubs in the cities, Irish pubs always have been an integral part of Irish life and culture.There are so many pubs in number, type, style and size, that knowing where the best ones are and which ones you’d like best can be quite a challenge!

That’s where Mick’s Custom Irish Tours can help. We have the knowledge and experience to provide you with the best information about the pubs, tailored to your tastes, travel plans and preferred locations. Mick’s Custom Irish Tours knows the historic places, the popular places, the well-known places the and “hidden secret”places to experience Irish pubs.

And, don’t forget the “quaint and the quirky” pubs!

“Drinking consultants”

Sean’s claims to be Ireland’s oldest pub

Market, Pub, and stove

Oscar Madison’s-Kinsale

Want to visit the pub(s) where the likes of James Joyce, Patrick Cavanaugh or Brendan Francis Behan frequented?

PUB  FARE
How ‘bout the best pub grub, or Ireland’s oldest pub…? Mick’s can show you where.   

We have created “Top Ten” lists for pubs in overall Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as by county and by region. And we continually update them.

Mick’s:

• Top 10 Irish Pubs
• Ten Irish Pubs You MUST Visit
• Top 10 pubs in Dublin
• Top Ten Galway Pubs
• Irish Pub Crawl

What’s So Special About an Irish Pub?

Renowned across the world for their friendly atmosphere and as a place where the “cräic is 90” (figure of speech for having laughs and great fun), there’s excellent Irish pub grub, and a place to meet someone from Ireland.There is a lot more to an Irish pub than just drink, music, and traditional food. Pubs in Ireland are friendly and welcoming to any stranger, with many of the locals more than happy to spin a yarn of local folklore or stories. You can be sure that if  there is an Irish pub, there’s an Irish person sitting in there enjoying a good drink.  And, if it’s good enough for an Irishman to drink there, then it’s good enough for anyone!

In Ireland, a pub is more than a place to park your rear and have a pint. It’s a stage for fiddlers and tin whistle players, a place to chow down on meat stew.

It’s a warming station by the fireplace and, of course, the hot spot for both some good cräic as well as neighborhood gossip.

Irish Pub Culture and Etiquette

Do you know whether or not you should tip in a pub…what to order (and what not to order)…and standard Pub “etiquette?” Mick’s Custom Irish Tours knows and will share the inside scoop and tales of pubs you’d most enjoy.

For decades, the Irish public house (‘pub’) has been a social and community hub for the people of Ireland. It functions as both a place to have a drink at leisure, as well as a place in which to meet and greet the people of a locality.

Pub “Etiquette”

The etiquette in Irish pubs varies from place to place. Generally speaking, however, it is usually not necessary to ‘tip’ bar staff. The only exception to this rule might be in a pub that has waiters serving food, or for staff at a hotel bar, or on special occasions or events when the bar staff show particular skill, hard work or good humour.

In many cases, Irish people will have one (or more) pubs that are referred to as “the local,” which they frequent most often.

There is generally a very close and mutual understanding and informality between the customer and the bar staff and, in many cases, particularly in country pubs,virtually all of the regular customers will know each other very well.

Ireland is full of pubs with so many to choose from you are really spoilt for choice. Deciding on where to drink, grab a bite, socialize, and listen to some music can really leave one muddled. Sometimes an Irish pub crawl is needed when this happens…or even if it doesn’t!

*Just remember: the Irish take their beer, their whiskey, and the place they drink it , very seriously. So before you venture out, beware of these simple drinking faux pas:

• Don’t forget to remove your hat when you enter a pub (it’s rude if you don’t).

• Don’t tip the bartenders (they make an ample salary).

• Sip your pint, don’t chug it (it’s not cool if you’re falling off the bar stool wasted).

• And please please don’t ask for an “Irish car bomb,” because in Ireland it’s not a proper phrase, and nobody drinks them.

Pub Music:

Many pubs in Ireland have live Irish music, almost all do on weekends. It’s a common occurrence that musicians gather for a live session in the pub even if they are not getting paid to do so. Most times landlords provide free drink to musicians as a way to say thanks for such entertainment.

The bar staff play a major role in creating a pub atmosphere that is good for drinking and socializing.

The staff needs to have the ability to pour a proper pint of Guinness which takes some skill, and also be able to chat about some of the local heritage, which most can and will do.

This is why no trip to the Emerald Isle is complete without ducking into a pub (or several) and ordering a pint. From bustling bars in Dublin, to quiet hole-in-the-wall taverns in coastal fishing villages, Ireland has hundreds of great places to have a pint.

Pubs in Northern Ireland

Pubs in Northern Ireland are largely identical to their counterparts in the Republic except for the lack of spirits grocers. Traditional pubs in Belfast include the Crown Liquor Saloon which is owned by the National Trust.

Northern Ireland pubs in the more touristed areas are also more likely to serve food to their customers, a recent phenomenon dating from the 1970s. Prior to this time, food (‘pub grub’) was not served in the vast majority of Irish pubs, as eating out was uncommon in Ireland until then.

Outside Belfast, pubs in Ballycastle and Donaghadee include former spirit grocery pubs retaining all the characteristics of the type, representative of the traditional country pub.

Again, the trick is finding non-touristy, traditional pubs where you’ll get a true taste of Irish pub culture, Irish beer, music, and people. Let Mick’s Custom Irish Tours be your guide, and ORDER UP .

                                                      Släinte!