Ireland’s best bars for live sports

Offering some of the best pub food in Dublin, McGowans prides itself on cooking amazing dishes, sharing platters and dinners to help tickle the taste buds; whether you’re after a few bar bites with mates (check out the signature platter for four) or need a full-on meal to curb your hunger. With ingredients sourced locally and all food clearly labelled to help anyone with specific food allergies, the team here goes above and beyond the usual bar food Dublin has to offer. From the famous chicken wings to the hand-stretched 12” pizzas, these guys have you covered when you and your friends need a bite quickly. And when it comes to live sporting action, McGowans is the place to be, seven days a week. From football and rugby to the NFL and basketball, all sports are covered here at McGowans.

Whether it’s Premier League football you’re after or Six Nations rugby, live sport is always high on the agenda at Dwyers of Cork. This place shows all rugby, GAA, soccer and racing fixtures that are broadcast, and boasts plenty of screens spread around the entire venue. Do you want to watch a match in relative quiet and comfort? Enquire about booking a booth that has its own TV, and then sit back and enjoy with a pint, cocktail or snack. It’s no secret that fans of the mighty Reds from Liverpool gather here for key games, but all supporters all welcome – with plenty of good banter guaranteed!

Knox’s Pub has something for everyone, which makes it the number one destination for visitors to Ennis and locals alike. Whether you’re looking for delicious food, live music and sports, a party venue or just some good old fashion Irish craic, make sure to put Knox‘s pub at the top of the list. This is one of the oldest pubs in Ennis and is legendary when it comes to tasty food, cracking music, live sport and great people.

The Dropping Well has been extensively refurbished to incorporate a range of dining and function room areas, and to make the most of the panoramic views of the Dodder. There are also lots of High Definition LCD TV screens, so you can book in to cheer on your favourite team, horse or master golfer in great comfort with an incomparable atmosphere! At the front of the pub, Boxer Maher’s public bar offers old-fashioned drinking surroundings with wood and bric-a-brac recreating the style of a Victorian watering hole. This well loved bar has a roaring fire for those cold winter evenings, all the biggest sporting occasions are shown on HD TV’s and there’s fantastic traditional music sessions every other weekend.

Home to sport in Galway, An Púcán is equipped with HD sports channels so you’ll never miss out on a sporting event venue. This is a traditional Irish bar located on Forster Street just off Eyre Square in the heart of Galway’s East Village. An Púcán offers remarkable whiskeys, locally produced craft beers, cocktails and an extensive locally inspired food menu by head chef Tom Joyce. The Galway hooker (Irish: húicéir) is a traditional fishing boat used in Galway Bay off the west coast of Ireland. An Púcán, the smallest of the Galway Hooker boats, is where this bar takes its name from. There are still a few of the traditional boats in use in Galway Bay today.

After reopening in September 2023 with all the sporting action, an all-new food offering and lots more, Tucker Reilly’s Pub has become one of the latest go-to destinations for live sports in Dublin. Tucker Reilly, although not explicitly mentioned in Ireland’s rich literary history, embodies the essence of all Dublin characters from times past. His name has become synonymous with mystery and intrigue, often used to conceal the true identity of a story’s protagonist and grant a sense of immunity while telling stories within the realm of pub circles. After some time away to freshen up this space and explore a new concept, the team is proud to return to Camden Street.