Brews with a view: The best bars around Ireland for a sunny day pint
weather
isn't just great for drying clothes – it's also prime beer garden weather. But not all outdoor spots are created equal. We've all followed signs to a 'terrace' that's really a bin store or a scruffy car park with pallet chairs. No thanks. These are the cream of old-school pubs around the country perched in stunning coastal spots with plenty of seating and great views.
The Glyde Inn
Annagassan, Co Louth;
theglydeinn.ie
This gorgeous redbrick pub and restaurant has unbeatable beachside views over Dundalk Bay, the Cooley and Mourne Mountains.
The Harbour Bar
Downings Co Donegal;
instagram.com/the_harbour_bar_downings
The Harbour Bar, Downings. Photograph: Ali Dunworth
Inside, a cosy, memorabilia-filled traditional pub; outside, the views are the scene-stealer, with a terrace overlooking long stretches of beach.
The Blue Light
Barnacullia, Sandyford, Dublin 18;
thebluelight.ie
A buzzing beer garden in the foothills of the Dublin mountains with an unparalleled panorama of the city and sea.
READ MORE
Helen's Bar
Kilmackillogue, Co Kerry;
helensbarkilmacalougue.weebly.com
Sitting on a pier overlooking Kilmackillogue Harbour, this remote pub on the Beara Peninsula has bench seats stretching along the water.
Murphy's Bar
Brandon, Co Kerry, V92 T680;
murphysbarbrandon.com
This well-loved Kerry institution, perched on Brandon pier and at the foot of Mount Brandon, offers mountain and sea views of the Dingle Peninsula.
Tigh TP
Baile na nGall, Murreagh, Co Kerry, V92 EE39;
tightpdingle.com
Tigh TP, Baile na nGall. Photograph: Ali Dunworth
Located by a small sandy beach near the Ballydavid Cliff Walk, Tigh TP is a basic pub, but the views, out over the last edge of land to the Atlantic, rival anywhere in Ireland.
The Tin Pub
Ahakista, Co Cork;
instagram.com/thetinpub
The Tin Pub, Ahakista. Photograph: Ali Dunworth
Through this unassuming pub lies possibly the best beer garden in the country – a well-kept lawn slopes to a stone wall, then a beach, with beautiful views across Dunmanus Bay.
The Jolly Roger
Sherkin Island, Co Cork;
instagram.com/thejollyrogerpub
Hop on a ferry from Baltimore to enjoy a pint at this cheery island pub, where the beer garden looks back over the craggy Cork coastline.
O'Sullivans Bar
The Pier, Crookhaven, Co Cork, P81 CF78;
osullivanscrookhaven.ie
O'Sullivan's bar, Crookhaven. Photograph: Ellie O'Byrne
Known as 'The Most Southerly
Pint
in Ireland,' the busy waterside outdoor seats here are sought after for pier views and a pint with a crab sandwich.
Bushe's Bar
bushesbar.com/about-baltimore
Baltimore, Co Cork
Prime seats in picturesque Baltimore village for watching sunsets over the harbour and soaking up maritime vibes.
The Strand Inn
thestrandinn.com
Dunmore East, Co Waterford
Dunmore East, Co Waterford. Photograph: Getty
Hear waves lap the wall as you enjoy a drink on the terrace of this Dunmore East institution by the beach with views across to Hook Head.
Tigh Uí Mhuirithe/Murrays Pub
Helvick, Co Waterford;
instagram.com/tighuimhuirithe_
Tigh Uí Mhuirithe, Heilbhic
Nestled in the coastal Gaeltacht of An Rinn, Tigh Uí Mhuirithe boasts a beloved beer garden with stunning views over Dungarvan Harbour that truly comes alive in the sunshine.
Tigh Ned
Inis Oírr, Co Galway;
tighned.com
Tigh Ned, Inis Oírr. Photograph: Ali Dunworth
Arguably one of the finest spots for a pint in Ireland, Tigh Ned is the local pub on Inis Oírr, with a beer garden stretching down to the sea and the stunning landscape of Galway Bay.
Sweeney's Strand Bar and Shop
Claddaghduff, Co Galway;
instagram.com/sweeneysbarcladdaghduff
Sweeney's is a pub, shop and post office offering fresh seafood and sweeping views of Omey Island – watch the tidal road appear while sipping a creamy pint.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
7 hours ago
- Irish Times
The Irish Caminos: stunning St Finbarr's Path is the result of ‘volunteers scraping, working, sweating together'
Standing at the beginning of St Finbarr's Path overlooking Drimoleague in west Cork , David Ross thinks of the countless numbers who have stood there before him over more than 1,000 years to begin the pilgrimage to Gougane Barra. The tradition of St Finbarr has deep roots throughout Cork, but especially in west Cork: 'He stood here at the top of the rock in the fifth century and called on the people to return to Christ,' says Ross. Each September 25th, or the days before, the faithful from both sides of the Cork and Kerry border – 'from Macroom, from Kilgarvan, from Bantry, from Kilnamartyra' – made, and still make, their way over the mountains to the little church at the lake. Since 2008 walkers – some religious, many unaware of the connection with the saint – have travelled St Finbarr's path, beginning just metres away from the farm where Ross and his wife, Elizabeth, run a popular glamping and tenting business. READ MORE The ancient path was brought back to life in 2008, with the co-operation of local landowners, dedicated volunteers, and some modest State funding, though it began with a thought from Denis 'Dinny' Leary. In 1996 O'Leary, who was reared beside Ross before moving to Skibbereen, told the latter of his desire to make his way to Gougane 'on a white horse in the manner in which my parents did before me'. 'We didn't have an awful lot of knowledge growing up about pilgrimages, or anything like that, but he was a lovely friend of the family, and he asked to be started on his journey with a prayer,' says Ross, who is from a Protestant background and is now a Pentecostal preacher. David Ross The path begins on a military track used to hurry British soldiers to Bantry in the 1790s as fears grew in London of a French invasion, before cutting into a hedge and tree-lined path, passing an acre put aside by Ross for wild chicory beloved by finches. Within minutes walkers reach the joining of the Ilen and Clodagh rivers, the former just a fraction of the size it will be by the time it reaches Skibbereen farther south, passing over the water on stepping stones. Often walkers call into the well-known Glenilen yoghurt business, run by Alan and Glen Kingson and nearly 90 staff, before making their way across fields towards the long-abandoned 16th Castle Donovan. St Finbarr's Pilgrim Way. Photograph: Valerie O'Sullivan The castle, a tower house, served as the seat of the O'Donovans until it was attacked by Cromwellian forces, although the family moved to the coast after they won back some of their lands after King Charles II was restored to the English throne. Telling the story of the castle, a descendant, Donal O'Sullivan recounts the life of Donal of the Skins, so named because he survived an attack on the castle when he slept soundly beneath animal skins, where he had been hidden by his mother. Today the castle has been saved from further deterioration by the Office of Public Works , which was given the building in trust some 25 years ago by today's head of the clan, a lawyer living in London. From there walkers turn left, taking the old bog road to Glanacholy, the Glen of the Stones, appropriately capped, as it were, by the largest stone of all, which leans precipitously over walkers as they pass by. On a sunny day – and it is the sunniest of days – the extraordinary landscape of west Cork opens up, with everything from Galley Head on the Clonakilty side to Cape Clear, Fastnet, even Mizen. The bench at 'Owen's Kitchen' Lunch beckons, with nowhere more fitting than the wooden bench at Owen's Kitchen, built to honour the memory of a local man, Owen O'Sullivan, who helped create the walking route 'and who loved this spot'. A long, steady, tiring climb follows as the path wends a circuitous route to the top, before falling away again as it descends into the Mealagh Valley, once one of the most remote parts of the island, even though it is just 10km from Bantry. Blessed with a succession of standing stones, the valley is flanked by the Maughanaclea Hills to the north and the slopes of Mullaghmesha to the south, the latter bringing walkers down to the valley's floor. From there walkers progress for several kilometres, passing the local community centre, where Dublin-born Eleanor Fitzgerald, who has lived in the valley since the late 1980s, is there to offer greetings. Fiercely proud of her adopted place, Fitzgerald has been involved with the community centre since it began in the 1990s, when it was housed in a lorry container before it got a permanent home in 2012. Even then, locals had thought ahead, ensuring that the toilets and showers could be accessed directly from outside: 'The hope is that it can be used by hillwalkers as they pass by,' says Fitzgerald. So far neither the toilets nor showers are required for walkers, since the numbers – despite its extraordinary beauty and welcoming locals – are not there, largely down to a lack of promotion of long-distance walking by State authorities. The Mealach Valley, or honey in English, has welcomed outsiders for generations, says Fitzgerald, pointing to the South African-born Melanie O'Sullivan, who 'married a local lad' and is now principal of the valley's national school. 'She went back to college and did university-standard Irish,' says Fitzgerald. 'They were happy to let her sub without it, but she had to have Irish for a full-time job. And she feckin' did it. I have huge respect for her.' With a jar of home-produced honey accepted, the journey to Kealkill begins, finishing after a few kilometres on quiet country roads marked with frequent signs protesting against plans to build wind farms. Just outside Kealkill, walkers usually leave the path to cross a field to view the Bronze Age axial five-stone circles, which were excavated in 1938 but are still the subject of archaeologists' debate. John and Mary McCarthy In the village below, a conversation is quickly organised with local community stalwarts John and Mary McCarthy ('she's one of the Kelleher McCarthys', says local publican Mags Collins as she searches for a mobile number). The work led by the local community, helped by Cork County Council, is a source of pride: 'We're finished with the tracks. We have all the walking loops, and we're okay that way at this stage. 'All of these walks were started by volunteers, scraping, working, sweating together to make it work,' says John, offering a polite signal that such communities need to be respected by national authorities. The second day opened with light rain that became progressively heavier. If the weather is harder, so too is the journey over the Shehy mountains. It's not for solo inexperienced walkers or poorly equipped ones of any type. Passing Carrignass Castle, the home of the O'Sullivan Bearas, walkers follow the slowly ascending road and on to Knockbrettin, offering views across Bantry Bay on a clear day. But not today. In the heavy rain it is difficult even to spot the well-identified waymarkers that have each received a fresh daub of yellow paint from committee members at the beginning of the walking season. A long straight track to Maugha follows, surrounded on both sides by bogs, before reaching the halfway point on the second day at the Sos Barra shelter, before taking the sharp ascent into Lackabhaun. Several hours later the brow of the mountain is finally passed and the land below opens up to offer a rainbow-tinted sight of Gougane Barra and the pub, and later the hotel, which has been there for a century. Neil Lucey, the fifth generation to be in charge of the business, is fiercely proud of the community, but voices the frustration felt by many that State agencies are seeking to control rather than co-operate with motivated volunteers. 'We get what the agencies need to do, and what they have to be careful about, but they don't recognise that volunteerism and the community aspect are important parts of the structure, and how we do things,' he says. Local farmers have stayed committed to the project, he says, even when State grants collapsed after the economic crash: 'They were doing all of that, without getting a bob for it,' he says. Payments have resumed, but they will make no one rich. 'They are getting so much per metre, but they are doing it because they believe in it, because they're working with their neighbours trying to create something. 'They're great,' he says. 'They respected what we've been trying to achieve over the years on the land, on bringing people to see places like this. And they see the benefit of it. They really love it.'
Irish Times
7 hours ago
- Irish Times
Walking the Boyne Valley Camino: Sunburn, sore legs and a sprint across the N51
When I first considered walking the Irish camino, I never imagined sprinting across the busy N51 Slane Road, dodging trucks and cars. But it is just a small section of the earlier part of the route; most of the camino involves beautiful hikes through fairytale woods and beside streams through Co Louth. The Boyne Valley Camino, a Celtic camino, is part of Ireland's answer to the famous Spanish pilgrimage. Though considerably shorter at just 25km, it still earns you a camino credential. Complete it, and you can go on to finish 75km of the Spanish camino from A Coruña to the grand cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, thereby qualifying for the official Compostela certificate. A Coruña itself has deep historical ties to Ireland, having served as the port of disembarkation for Irish pilgrims since the 12th century. In medieval times, thousands would travel from inland Ireland to Drogheda before sailing to Spain. READ MORE In 2019, the Camino Society Ireland officially recognised the Boyne Valley Camino, a route created by a team of dedicated local volunteers. The route now forms part of a network of nine authentic pilgrim paths across Ireland, each ranging from one to five days in duration. Fáilte Ireland tour guide Dusty Flanagan outside St Peter's Church in Drogheda. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times Despite living the first nine years of my life just a stone's throw away from Drogheda in the neighbouring village of Collon, moving to Dublin changed me: I am a city girl through and through. Long-distance walks along rivers, through forests and around monasteries have never been on my radar, so this was set to be a challenge. Outside St Peter's Church in Drogheda, the starting point of the route, stands Dusty Flanagan, local tour guide and founding member of the Boyne Valley Camino. He is armed with leaflets, maps and the all-important pilgrim passport, which can be used to collect stamps designed by local artists throughout the journey. Tell anyone in Drogheda you're doing the camino, and they'll ask you if you've spoken to Dusty. St Peter's is best known for housing the preserved head of St Oliver Plunkett, who was executed in the 17th century for promoting Catholicism. Dusty jokes that many Irish people have vivid memories of the church, not for religious reasons, but for the terror of seeing a mummified head on a school tour. As his finger traces the route on a map located just outside the church, the reality begins to sink in: the next six to seven hours would be dedicated to walking alone along country roads. Voluntarily. Waymarkers along the early stages of the camino were knitted by volunteer Áine Walsh, in a bid to reduce plastic use. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times The route, clearly signposted, with waymarkers displaying a yellow scallop shell on a blue background, forms a figure-of-eight loop through parts of counties Louth and Meath. It's virtually impossible to get lost, though Google Maps was on standby. Some of these waymarkers along the earlier stages of the route were knitted by another camino volunteer, Áine Walsh, in a bid to reduce plastic use. The dedication of the local volunteers shines through in every detail, from the well-designed map to the knitted signposts, to their thorough knowledge of the area's local history. Dusty leads the way to Drogheda's tourist office, where one of its workers, Deirdre Tyrrell, stamps my passport and offers encouraging words before the long journey ahead. She snaps a photo of me grinning like a child, clutching the pilgrim passport. Kate Byrne receives a stamp from tourist adviser Deirdre Tyrrell at the start of the Boyne Valley Camino walk. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times We then head towards Horse Lane, ending up at a walkway by the Boyne river. Dusty bids goodbye and I am left to my own devices. Operation Do Not Get Lost is now in full swing. The earlier part of the route involved some road walking, which Dusty had pointed out on the map. Twelfth-century pilgrims would not have got the same confused looks from drivers, who were probably wondering why a lone woman was walking along the N51 on a Tuesday morning. Wear bright clothes, keep an ear out for oncoming traffic, and you will soon find yourself at Townley Hall Woods, where a designated walking trail makes for a much more enjoyable experience. [ Walking the Bray Celtic Camino: a Famous Five adventure for adults Opens in new window ] It is in these fairytale woods where the realisation settles in that I may not meet any other walkers along my journey. You could hear a pin drop along the trail, apart from the occasional dog walker or parent walking with their children. A group of three women walking in the opposite direction tell me they 'don't envy me' taking on the full loop in 24-degree heat with the sun directly overhead. They are surprised to hear I've taken on the journey alone. Walking onwards to the lonely stretch of Lynch's Cross, dehydration and direct sunlight start to take a toll. Motivation drops, and there is no one around except cows in the neighbouring fields, and the odd car or tractor. It is a weekday, after all, with most people opting to do the camino in groups on the weekend. Growing delirious from the heat, I begin to sing to myself, out loud. Enter the cheesy 1980s playlist, perhaps the only thing that could boost my spirits as the journey continued. The Proclaimers are up first. 'I would walk 500 miles' is perhaps too corny and on the nose at this point. Would I walk 500 miles? I was already struggling with 15½ miles (25km). Hunger strikes hard, but there are no cafes in sight. In fact, there are none for the first 17km of the walk. The solution is a quick picnic across from a field of cows, with a bag of Tayto cheese-and-onion crisps becoming the unlikely pilgrim lunch. It's hard to say if medieval pilgrims would have approved, but it hits the spot. Eventually, salvation appears in the form of Old Mellifont Abbey. Head guide Nichola takes one look at me and identifies me as a camino walker. Is it the sunburn beginning to form across my cheeks? The slightly delirious look in my eyes? It's difficult to tell. She issues the second stamp in my passport, and I take in the sights of the 12th-century Cisterian monastery. Managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW), it was the first of its kind in Ireland, and is perhaps one of the most beautiful sites on the trail. It also offers a place to rest, eat some lunch and use public toilets, a much-needed respite along the otherwise sparse trail. [ The Irish caminos: Climbing the 'passage of the birds' - a Connemara rival to Croagh Patrick Opens in new window ] Back on the road, the trail loops towards the village of Tullyallen, where Aggie's coffee truck, outside the Morning Star lounge, offers the next stamp of the day. The pub proudly displays its Stelar award, which is given to businesses that go above and beyond to welcome camino walkers. It's the first business outside of Spain to receive the honour. Siobhán Carolan, who runs both the truck and the pub with her husband Stuart, makes a point of welcoming each walker. 'When I know the caminos are coming, I go out and speak to as many people as I can,' she says. Seeing my flushed face and sweat-drenched clothes, she assures that once walkers make it to the Morning Star, 'the hardest part is over'. That remains to be seen. One final stop at the local Centra, located just across the road from the Morning Star, provides another stamp, and a well-deserved ice cream, which begins to melt immediately. My journey continues towards King William's Glen, another lonely trek, this time along a narrow path leading towards the main site of the Battle of the Boyne, where a detour can be taken. Though it adds an extra 2km to the journey, it is well worth the visit, especially if another break is in order. The site is run by the OPW, and has exceptionally clean public toilets, a luxury when you have seen nothing but woodland for the last few kilometres. The final stamp of the day is collected just 15 minutes before the visitor centre closes. Guides Noel and Megan say many walkers commit to the extra 2km journey to soak up the history that surrounds the site. The visitor centre stands on the battleground where, in 1690, King William III clashed with his father-in-law, King James II, commanding more than 60,000 troops between them. Even if you're not a history buff, the visitor centre has a coffee shop and stunning gardens, making it the ideal spot for a break before tackling the last few kilometres of the route. After this highly educational detour, it's back on the road, walking opposite the Boyne walking trail where the journey began, and passing under the Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge. Though the end is in sight, energy has long since evaporated. An encouraging phone call from my partner helps to keep things moving. Crossing St Dominic's Bridge, the final stretch leads uphill. This last push almost breaks the spirit, but victory is in sight as St Peter's Church comes back into view. The pilgrimage is complete. The legs ache, the sunburn has set in and the step count reads 43,450, but there's quite a sense of triumph in it all. The certificate of completion now sits proudly on my mantelpiece, and a trip to A Coruña to complete the journey may be on the cards for next summer.
Irish Times
13 hours ago
- Irish Times
Ryanair most complained-about company to consumer watchdog in first half of 2025
Ryanair , Eir and Sky were the companies most complained about in the first half of 2025 while Ticketmaster saw its ranking with Ireland's consumer watchdog improve as concerns over high-priced Oasis tickets last September faded away. Faulty goods, poor online shopping experiences and botched home improvements topped the list of issues raised with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) , with the average amount of money at stake put at well in excess of €6,000, a report published on Tuesday suggests. A total of 20,526 people contacted the CCPC between January and the end of June, mostly by phone, email and web. Vehicles and transport led the list of sectors complained about. The average spend on the products and services people had issues with was put at €6,400. READ MORE Ryanair finished at the top of the contact chart with 319 complaints, followed by Eir on 241 and Sky on 219. Other firms in the top 10 were Currys, Harvey Norman, Aer Lingus , Vodafone , Lidl , Ticketmaster, DID Electrical and Love Holidays. The commission's last report, published in January, put Ticketmaster far ahead of the chasing pack with over 600 complaints recorded over the course of 2024. This was largely related to anger at the dynamic ticket pricing model used for last weekend's Oasis concerts in Croke Park. By contrast, the operator only attracted 117 complaints in the first six months of this year. Consumers contacted the CCPC helpline about goods and services with a reported total value of €56 million. The highest average spend was on vehicles and transport, at €18,716, followed by home building and improvements where the average spend was €13,443. Just under 4,500 consumers contacted the helpline about an online purchase, with 17 per cent of purchases coming from businesses outside of the EU – an increase of 9 per cent compared with the same period in 2024. 'Consumer contacts to our helpline are vital in directing our work, particularly in enforcement,' said the CCPC's director of communication Grainne Griffin. 'The information provided by consumers helps us to identify rogue traders, patterns of potential law breaking and means we can target our resources for maximum impact.' She noted that 'unannounced inspections by CCPC officers, often backed by intelligence gathered from our helpline, have uncovered consumer law breaches in shops, pubs, restaurants and car dealerships around Ireland'. Ms Griffin pointed out that buying a car or a home 'are two of life's most significant financial decisions [and] making the wrong choice can be very expensive.' She reiterated the CCPC's call for the establishment of a State-backed online car history portal. 'This would allow consumers to check important information about a car's mileage, past accidents, safety recalls and import status before buying a used car. She added: 'Recently, we also called for more transparency in the home-buying process. Our home-buyers report called for the necessary information about a property to be made more accessible and be made available earlier in the home-buying process.' Ms Griffin noted an uptick in consumers contacting the CCPC about online purchases from outside the EU. 'We recommend buying from businesses based in Ireland or other EU countries, where your consumer rights are strong,' she said. She stressed that bargains displayed on websites can often end up being illusory. 'If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Consumers should be very cautious of exclusively five-star reviews or amazing deals that are out of step with other suppliers. Always do your research and if you spot a red flag, better to spend your money elsewhere.'
