Munster — hurling country
The most atmospheric championship in the country. Arrive an hour before throw-in — these pubs fill fast.
The Locke Bar — Limerick
at The Locke Bar · 3 George's Quay, Limerick
Riverside, large outdoor terrace, kitchen open late. Limerick hurling crowd’s first choice for championship screenings. Packed 90 minutes before throw-in on any Munster match day. Seven nights trad the rest of the week.
The Long Valley — Cork since 1842
at The Long Valley · 10 Winthrop St, Cork
Cork’s oldest pub on its original site. Every Munster and All-Ireland match on the big screen, famous for its doorstep sandwiches. The Cork hurling crowd’s default. Also strong for Cork football.
The Reg — Waterford’s Déise pub
at The Reg · The Mall, Waterford
The match pub for Déise hurling fans. Fills early for Waterford v Kilkenny or Waterford v Tipperary days. Post-match session runs long if Waterford win — and longer if they don’t.
Larkin’s — Lough Derg shore
at Larkin’s · Garrykennedy, Co. Tipperary
Shore-of-Lough-Derg pub drawing Tipperary and Clare hurling crowds on championship days. Trad sessions Fri–Sat the rest of the year. Worth the drive from Nenagh or Killaloe for a Munster semi-final day.
Leinster — Kilkenny hurling & Dublin football
Two different games, two different pub cultures.
The Back Page — Dublin northside
at The Back Page · 10 Phibsborough Rd, Dublin
Best GAA pub on Dublin’s northside. Every Leinster and All-Ireland match on big screens. Seating reserved if you call ahead on match days. Strong Dublin football following — this is its pub.
Cleere’s — Kilkenny
at Cleere’s · Parliament St, Kilkenny
The standard Kilkenny hurling pub. Monday night trad the rest of the year; match days the pub becomes an extension of the county. Kilkenny hurling crowds treat the championship with the seriousness it deserves.
Hartigan’s — no-nonsense viewing
at Hartigan’s · 100 Lower Leeson St, Dublin 2
Small, serious, no frills. No music competing with commentary. The daytime crowd treats the GAA with respect. Best neutral viewing pub in Dublin city centre. UCD and southside locals.
Connacht — Galway and the west
Galway football and hurling both have serious championship runs in 2026.
The Quays — Galway
at The Quays · Quay Street, Galway
Big screen, large capacity, kitchen open late. Get there by 14:00 for an afternoon throw-in — by 15:00 on a Connacht final day it’s standing room. One of the best match-day atmospheres in Connacht.
O’Connell’s — Eyre Square
at O’Connell’s · Eyre Square, Galway
Better than The Quays for following the game if you get a seat — smaller, more local, commentary not competing with background music. The quieter option when The Quays is already at capacity.
All-Ireland finals — August & September
Hurling Final: Sunday 2 August. Football Final: September. These are the pubs for the biggest days.
The Cobblestone — the after-match session
at The Cobblestone · 77 King St North, Smithfield, Dublin
The trad session starts regardless of the result. On All-Ireland final weekends the Cobblestone becomes the post-match venue for every county — grief and celebration in the same room, both expressed through music. Sessions from 14:00 on final days.
Dolan’s — Munster’s pub
at Dolan’s · Dock Rd, Limerick
For All-Ireland hurling final weekends, Dolan’s becomes the Munster supporters’ rally point. Post-match the pub fills from 20:00. If Limerick are in the final it runs until close — if they’re not, it runs almost as long.
How we pick GAA pubs
Three criteria: big screen, multiple angles (a 32-inch behind the bar doesn’t cut it for a Connacht final); food served past full time (kitchen closing at 21:30 with a 19:30 throw-in is a problem); and the crowd shows up for the team (a pub where your county’s jerseys cluster is the proper sesh). Know a GAA pub worth adding? Tell us →