I spent a bit of time in Dingle recently. Four pubs I'd recommend if you're visiting. 1. Foxy John's. A hardware store, bike shop and pub. Behind the bar you’ll find everything from a tile cutter to rat poison on sale. 2. Dick Mack's. Another dual function pub with a leather shop on one side and a bar the other. They've been making leather belts and serving Guinness here since 1899. 3. James Curran's. A locals favourite. Shop and bar opened in 1871. There's also an antique shop behind the pub that you have to ask behind the bar to see. Be warned, tough haggling goes on here. 4. O’Sullivan’s Courthouse. Brilliant trad session here every night at 9pm except for Sunday, when it's an early session starting at 6pm. There's too many great pubs in Dingle to mention. The majority of pubs in Dingle date back to the 1800's. Each with their own unique historical character about them. All the pubs in Dingle at one stage had a dual purpose, there was a butcher and a bar, a bakery and a bar, there was even a man making coffins out of the back of his pub. These pubs stand out not only for their historical value and the artefacts adorning their walls, but also because of the extent that they integrate into the fabric of everyday life. They function as gathering places where people conduct business. The majority of pubs in Dingle have designated snugs. In J. Currans a local showed me the three snugs there since 1871. The front snug was exclusively reserved for women, while an open snug beside the bar catered to men. The corner snug served as a hub for trade and had witnessed numerous instances of locals selling their land, livestock and other valuables before embarking on new chapters overseas.
