Ireland’s Perfect Pubs

RTÉ Player Original

Everyone thinks they know the best one… but stand-up comedian Anna Clifford is going to visit some of the most unique, picturesque and interesting public houses in the country as she searches for Ireland’s Perfect Pubs.

This four-part RTÉ Player Original series sees Anna hit the road on an epic Irish pub crawl. Taking viewers to some amazing pubs they may never have heard of or have always wanted to visit. Along the way she will be joined by some special guests to help her sample the ambience and have the craic. As well as visiting some of the country’s most spectacular tourist attractions and taking in what makes this beautiful island of ours so special.

Anna’s setting out to discover what it is about the truly authentic Irish pub that has made it such an important cultural institution.

Series Overview:

Episode 1: The Bar, Inis Mor.

The first episode sees Anna travel to Inis Mor, one of the beautiful Aran Islands, to visit ‘The Bar’. With only two pubs on the whole of Inis Mor, The Bar is a central meeting hub for locals and crucial to island life and community. Anna is joined by Tik Tok sensation Shanice Griffin as they embark on a scenic adventure to explore the island and meet the local residents of Inis Mor.

Episode 2: McCarthy’s Pub & Undertakers, Fethard.

In episode two Anna journeys to Tipperary to visit the charming town of Fethard. Things take a turn for the bizarre as she stops off in McCarthy’s, a pub and fully functioning undertakers. Unchanged since the 1840s it’s believed the spirits aren’t just behind the bar, with multiple ghost sightings reported in the pub. Anna is accompanied by comedian and content creator Simon Hennessy. They work up a thirst by going deep into Mitchelstown Cave, where they perform a stand-up gig ninety meters underground.

Episode 3: Walled City Brewery, Derry.

Episode three takes Anna north to the city of Derry / Londonderry to discover Walled City Brewery. An old army barracks that in 2015 was converted into a brewery and has since created over 500 different types of craft beers. Anna and her guest, fellow stand-up comedian Fiona Frawley, also sojourn to Antrim to explore Northern Ireland’s only world heritage site – The Giant’s Causeway.

Episode 4: Foxy John’s Pub & Hardware Store, Dingle.

In episode four Anna takes a trip to Dingle to visit the iconic Foxy John’s, a pub, a hardware store and a bicycle repair shop. Anna’s guest is a local himself, online farming superstar Séaghan Ó Súilleabháin, AKA The Kerry Cowboy. Together they seek to solve the mystery of the disappearance of Dingle most famous resident… Fungi the dolphin.