TOPIC:

I am in Dublin soon for a few days and am trying to plan a few days out by train.
Looking for smallish towns with a few good pubs (craft beer not essential but proper pubs are).
I will be sticking to the Dublin Short Hop Zone so looking for places as far as Balbriggan, Kilcoole, Kilcock and Sallins/Naas.
I have already done all the obvious places - Howth, Bray, Maynooth, Malahide.
Thanks in advance!

Kildare Brewing Company at the Lock 13 pub in Sallins is well worth your while. I don't know anything about the other places, though I'm sure they have pubs. What makes a "good" one, if all-industrial beer isn't a problem for you?

Thanks for the Lock 13 recommendation - it looks good and is easy to get to.
Fair question about what I think of as a "good" pub. I like places that have a history, or at least a story, an individual appearance, rather than an off-the-shelf look, a nice atmosphere and friendly and competent staff.
I do like my beer, and here in Lancashire I can get good cask or craft almost wherever I go. What I can't get is a good Irish pub, by which I don't mean a pub that calls itself an Irish pub.
Thanks again for the Sallins recommendation.

Gotcha. I don't think you'll need to go out of your way for that. We don't really have chain pubs in Ireland like in Britain, and certainly not outside the big cities. There is a certain 1990s Irish Pub Company aesthetic that still exists, but you need a trained eye to spot it. By definition, every pub you go into in these towns will be an authentic Irish pub

Good point! I've been to Ireland maybe 20 or more times and always managed to find pubs I liked . I think for this trip I am going for Sallins/Naas and Skerries (plus Dublin city in the evenings).