Art & Heart at Grogan’s Castle Lounge, Dublin

Grogan’s is near several speciality shopping centres; including the Westbury Mall

The Literary Pied Piper

The sign outside notes Grogan’s – or more officially, ‘J.Grogan’ / ‘The Castle Lounge’ to have been established in 1899, but in fact it is much more recent history that has been pivotal in shaping the unique atmosphere for which Grogan’s has become renowned. In 1972, the well-known barman Paddy O’Brien came to work in Grogan’s, having left his role in nearby McDaid’s pub. Paddy had tried to purchase McDaid’s and on being unsuccessful, severed all ties, in due course joining the team at Grogan’s. Paddy was quite a legend within the Dublin pub scene, serving and regaling a host of McDaid’s regulars and genius literary types including Patrick Kavanagh, Brendan Behan, Flann O’Brien, J.P. Dunleavy and Liam O’Flaherty.

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Waterside Drinks at The Bulman, Kinsale

‘The Bulman’ is so named in honour of a sunken merchant ship of the same name

Pier-side Pints

There can be few sweeter, simpler pleasures than to sit perched outside ‘The Bulman’ pub sipping a crisp pint on a sunny day. Located by the pier at gorgeous Summercove Bay, The Bulman affords you great views across to the picturesque town of Kinsale, County Cork. Such was our good fortune on this particular Spring day earlier this year, when we found ourselves in just such an enviable position. We parked up by nearby Charles Fort and sauntered back down the hill towards the inviting sight of the pub’s colourful exterior. The sun was out and accordingly there was a lively crowd gathered out front, lapping up both the sunshine and the free-flowing drinks.

Worship a Pint at McDaid’s Chapel-Pub

A glowing Guinness sign hangs high above McDaid’s front door, flanked by tall chapel-like windows (Photo by Angelika Appelqvist)

A Great Friend or A Great Find

Even though McDaid’s has prime of place in Dublin’s city centre – just off Grafton Street, the city’s showcase shopping boulevard – it still feels like a trade secret when you slip into it for a sneaky late afternoon pint. This is how McDaid’s is best enjoyed; on the off-chance, ‘on the Q.T.’, with a drinking buddy, or without one, for a pint and a few moments of peace but most importantly, when it is not jam-packed, which it regularly is on weekend nights or during a big match. During these off-peak moments, the pub’s cavernous charm, smaller crowds and view to the street through its huge windows make it the perfect place