23/10/16 - Dublin Pub Crawl

Distance - 5 Miles (includes sightseeing and geocaching)
Geocaches - 7
Pubs - 5


Our investigations reveal that the easiest way to Galway is to fly to Dublin and train it across the centre of the Country.

We overnight in Dublin armed with a GPS full of caches, a list of the Top 10 Pubs in Dublin and plenty of Euros.

For a night out here, only the final part of that equation is strictly required.  Especially if you get a taxi from the airport.

Slatterys, 129 Capel Street, Smithwicks Pale Ale

We've walked the bridges, found some caches, looked at the Castle and are in need of somewhere to relax and catch our breath.  This pub isn't on my top 10 list but does have a sign promising the finest pint in Dublin.

Surely Irish advertising standards wouldn't allow this if its wasn't true?

Pub #1 on the great Irish Tour

It's a perfect introduction to Irish Pubs.  Friendly at seat service - which is useful, as you are never going to get past the old boys who seem to sit at the bars all day long.

I'm determined to be contrary and not go for the obvious by trying a Smithwicks Pale Ale.  One business idea that came on our visit was the introduction of proper hand pulled real ales.  I'd make a killing.

The One and Only

McDaids, Henry Street, Guinness

It's Guinness all the way in from now.  5m Irish folk cannot be wrong and I may as well stop detailing the pint.

McDaids interested me as soon as I saw it on the list.  We're massive fans of Still Game, so seeing a pub sharing the name with the main character had to be investigated.

House of Victor

We stumbled on it by chance, dodging the living statues in the main shopping area.

Instantly taken by the architecture, research shows that this wasn't always a pub but started life as the City Morgue.  Various literary patrons have either frequented it or used it for inspiration for their works.

Rather disappointingly, the handful of regulars were all fixated by the Premiership football on the TV. Spotting a couple of tourists coming in, it was quickly turned over.

To the rugby.

Looks like a Weather Intermission

Est 1779 Outside and 1873 Inside

The Brazen Head, Lower Bridge Street

Ireland's oldest pub had to be investigated.  As soon as we arrived at the cobbled courtyard, we quickly realised we had been here before.

It really is a must visit.  Which is why its packed to the rafters with tourists.

Instant Memory Jogger

A Tourist

Great fun exploring the rooms and looking for a seat.  We eventually get a table outside and Mrs Mappiman makes friends by using her cider to extinguish smoldering cigarettes that she feels have been left too long.

Worried that we haven't booked anywhere for food, we eat here.  I have to say that the staff do a wonderful job of keeping the Ireland's busiest pub ticking over beautifully.

Great food, drink and service.

The Auld Dubliner, Temple Bar

We were looking for Farringtons, down Eustace Street.  Disappointment that this is now a Nepalese restaurant was tempered by a decent sounding band thumping out classic 90s Indie hits from this place.

The La's "There She Goes" lured us in

Packed to the rafters, with Hen Do's where the chief bridesmaid has lost her handbag and attempts to relocate it by shining a powerful torch between the legs of men stood at the bar.  At least that was what she said she was doing.  Although I did wonder where the torch had come from if she had lost her bag.

The Palace Bar, Temple Bar

Another on the list and another that I have been to before.

If you want refinement, in a beautifully decorated pub, with a bar divided by privacy screens, then this is the place for you.

The Palace Bar - Ornate and worthy of seeking out

Subliminal Advertising Works

Entertainment is not all conversation based.

You can have a good laugh at the look on Spanish Ladies faces when they have accidentally descended the perilous steps to the Gents Loos.