TOPIC:

You may recall throwing some suggestions my way ahead of my tour of Ireland, so thought you may be interested in my findings. I've also tried to update the Directories.

Great to see cask finally taking off, particularly in places like Dublin. Hopefully, when Wetherspoons get going it will make cask a lot easier to do.

[u:1hqrqobp][b:1hqrqobp]HIGHLIGHT[/b:1hqrqobp][/u:1hqrqobp]
Blair's Inn, Cloghroe - 2 cask ales from Dungarvan, both on excellent form. Also good range of other draft ales (keg) & bottles. Well worth the effort to visit. Great food as well.

[u:1hqrqobp][b:1hqrqobp]ALSO VERY GOOD[/b:1hqrqobp][/u:1hqrqobp]
In order of enjoyment (for choice, availability of cask, staff knowledge of Irish Craft Ale etc.)
Mulligans, Dublin (now home of the microbrewery Brown Paper Bag Project)
Black Sheep, Dublin.
Crafty Fox, Limerick.
Fionnabarra, Cork.
Folkhouse, Kinsale.
Blind Pig, Limerick.
Bierhaus, Cork.

[u:1hqrqobp][b:1hqrqobp]NOT SO GOOD[/b:1hqrqobp][/u:1hqrqobp]
No craft ale available (even in bottles) at Norris's Bar (Waterford); Gateway Bar (Cork). Suggest remove from Directory.

Porterhouse, Cork - poor quality beer & empty. I gathered from other local drinkers that Porterhouse had francised out the running of the new pub in Cork. Not going well.

[u:1hqrqobp][b:1hqrqobp]IN SUMMARY[/b:1hqrqobp][/u:1hqrqobp]
Very enjoyable trip. Great to see Irish brewing going from strength to strength. Can't wait for my next trip.

Hope all of the updates I tried to put through to the Directory were ok.

Graham

Cheers Graham! Shame about Porterhouse Cork -- it's a lovely setting.

Hi Graham.

I'm glad you enjoyed Blairs Inn, as it's probably one that is often overlooked, due to being located a bit outside of Cork City.

Best of luck, and hopefully next time you visit, there will be even more choice.

Heard great things about Blairs Inn, must stay in Blarney some time.

Glad you liked Crafty Fox and Blind Pig in Limerick - both nice and both very different from each other.