King of the mountain: Johnnie Fox's Pub has been serving Ireland's revelers since the 1700s.
We don’t usually advocate touristy establishments, but for traditional Irish music and dancing, Johnny Fox’s is the best Dublin-area pub to visit on an Ireland golf vacation.
It’s located in the mountainous village of Glencullen, about 30 minutes outside of downtown Dublin, and is widely regarded as the “highest” pub in Ireland.
As you make your way up an extremely steep, winding and frighteningly narrow road, you start thinking there must be a good reason for this arduous journey. And there is.
Inside, the stone walls, low ceilings, weathered floor, mismatched wooden furniture and artifacts stuck to just about every available surface almost lampoon the pub’s 1798 origins, but they create a warm and friendly atmosphere just the same.
The layout is a tight maze of several rooms, but the Parlour or Hooley Room is where the party is. Long tables front the stage where you’re treated to some of the best traditional Irish music and Hooley dancing in the country. And, after the Guinness kicks in, don’t be surprised to find yourself holding hands with complete strangers belting out “Whiskey in the Jar” at the top of your lungs.
In addition to the entertainment (there’s live music seven nights per week) Johnny Fox’s serves some of the best food in the area. Seafood is the specialty, but the menu includes equally delicious steak and duck dishes.
If you go, be sure to designate a driver, because even one drink can make getting down the mountain an even more harrowing experience.
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