Kerry is leading the charge. With 72 votes cast across 52 pubs in the Best Pubs in Ireland 2026 poll, County Kerry has more votes than any other county — and one Dingle pub is running away with the national title.
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Welcome to Kerry’s pub trail, where the Guinness is cold, the trad sessions run late, and one small town on the Wild Atlantic Way is home to three of Ireland’s most-loved drinking establishments.
Dick Mack’s — The Nation’s Current Favourite
Sitting at number one in the entire national poll with 10 votes, Dick Mack’s on Green Street in Dingle is unlike any pub you’ve ever stepped into. Part pub, part leather workshop, part shrine to Irish pub culture — Dick Mack’s has been a fixture in Dingle since the 1800s and shows no signs of slowing down.
The front door opens into a narrow bar that feels as though time stopped sometime around 1950. Leather goods hang from the rafters alongside a gallery of photos, newspaper cuttings, and memorabilia that tell Dingle’s story better than any museum could. The pints are poured slowly and properly. Conversation flows easily. Stars from around the world — Robert Mitchum, Paul Simon, Julia Roberts — have all pulled up a stool here, and their names are marked on the pavement outside.
Dick Mack’s earns its place at the top of this poll. If you’re visiting Dingle, this is the one you can’t miss.
An Droichead Beag — Where the Music Never Stops
Just down the road on Lower Main Street, An Droichead Beag (The Small Bridge) has built a reputation as one of Ireland’s finest trad music venues. Every night of the week, musicians gather here to play — not as a performance for tourists, but as a genuine community session that locals and visitors share equally.
The pub itself is warmly lit and unpretentious, with a low ceiling and just enough space to squeeze in when the music’s going. If you visit Dingle and only make it to one trad session, make it this one.
Foxy John’s — The Hardware Store That Pours Pints
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There is no other pub quite like Foxy John’s. Set on Main Street in the heart of Dingle, it operates simultaneously as a hardware shop and a fully functioning pub. The front half stocks tools, paint, and supplies. The back half pours pints. It is gloriously, unapologetically Irish.
Foxy John’s has been in the Moriarty family for generations and has become something of a pilgrimage point for visitors who’ve heard the stories. You order your pint at the counter and find a spot among the locals. Simple, honest, brilliant.
The Kerry Pubs Beyond Dingle
Kerry’s representation in the poll stretches beyond Dingle. In Killarney, The Laurels on Main Street has long been a favourite for live music and a lively atmosphere — the perfect base after a day in the national park. And in Cahersiveen on the Ring of Kerry, O’Connor’s on High Street offers the kind of local welcome that reminds you why people fall in love with Kerry in the first place.
Neither has picked up votes yet in the poll, but the campaign is only just beginning. If you know these pubs, cast your vote — they deserve to be on the national map.
The Dingle Pub Trail
Dingle Town is small enough to walk end-to-end in twenty minutes, which makes it perfect for a pub crawl that doesn’t require a map. Dick Mack’s, An Droichead Beag, and Foxy John’s are all within easy walking distance of each other.
A suggested evening: start at Foxy John’s for the novelty and a first pint, move on to An Droichead Beag to catch the trad session, then finish at Dick Mack’s to understand why this place sits at the top of Ireland’s pub poll. Three pubs, one town, one unforgettable evening on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Vote for Your Favourite Kerry Pub
The Best Pubs in Ireland 2026 poll is open until 31st May 2026, and the results are announced on 1st June. With 52 pubs from 26 counties competing for the title, every vote matters.
If Dick Mack’s is your local, your favourite, or simply the best pub you’ve ever visited in Ireland — vote now and keep Kerry at the top. If another pub deserves the crown, this is your chance to say so.
Cast your vote in the Best Pubs in Ireland 2026 poll →
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