The Irish Pub Guide

The end of the inter-county GAA season has arrived and Dublin 3 is braced for their busiest two weekends of the year.

Fans from Kilkenny, Limerick, Kerry and of course Dublin will be descending on the area hoping for a good day, and in many cases, starting and finishing in a pub beside Croke Park.

Boozers in Drumcondra will be jammed on the next two Sundays with eager punters readying for the matches.

You won’t struggle to find a place with a crowd, but we’ve picked out some of the best pubs to go for both before and after the match.

Hogan Stand

A great pub on the North Circular Road with an outside area and often live music on matchdays to really get you excited for the afternoon ahead.

Brilliant atmosphere, great pints and just a quick walk away from Croke Park so it’s perfect – usually busy both before and after games.

The Big Tree

Always seen as one of Drumcondra’s most iconic pubs, The Big Tree was closed for four years up until 2022 as it underwent extensive refurbishments, but is now re-establishing itself as one of the best spots for a pre-match pint.

With plenty of space inside, loads of screens around you and a great match atmosphere – this is another top spot on All-Ireland final day.

Kennedy’s Pub

Another beautiful pub in Drumcondra that prides itself on catering for sports fans with a great matchday atmosphere and a fine selection of pints on tap for you.

It’s a small bit further away than the Big Tree lets say but if you’re heading to Croke Park from the northside it’s an ideal stopping point along the way.

Also an ideal location if you haven’t got yourself a ticket and just want to watch a game nearby.

James Gil’s Corner House

Is it the pub nearest to Croke Park? Very possibly, and that’s what they claim to be, so it’s perfect if you want to get yourself to the stadium and just have a quick drink outside before you head in.

Given its proximity to the stadium, it will of course be very busy, but that itself will lead to a great atmosphere – so definitely a good option for some.

The Bridge Tavern

A pub that really brands itself on being near to Croke Park with GAA themed art on display and likely attracting a lot of people in for that very reason.

It’ll be filled with GAA heads on a busy matchday, serves a fine pint of Guinness and has plenty of standing room so you might be able to squeeze in to whet the lips.