The Lonely Planet has unveiled its 'Top 21 things to see and do in Ireland' with the Irish pub making the top three, described by the travel bible as the "social heart of the country".
Dublin finished top of the list followed by Connemara in second and the pub in third, while listening to traditional music in the pub came in at number four, with the guide encouraging visitors to go to the pub for "western Europe's most vibrant folk".
The new guide on Ireland also gave a nod to Ireland’s burgeoning craft beer sector, with a new and dedicated section to craft beer in the guide.
The Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, which represents pubs, restaurants, hotels, independent off-licences and drinks suppliers has welcomed the new guide, stating that it is a 'testament to the hard work and dedication of the 92,000 people who work in the drinks industry in Ireland'.
Donall O’Keeffe Secretary of Drinks Industry Group Ireland and Chief Executive of the Licenced Vintners Association said:
"The Lonely Planet Guide for Ireland confirms that tourists love our great pubs, our great music and our great beer. We should be proud of our pubs and pub culture, which continues to play its part in drawing tourists here. We know that the drinks industry makes a major contribution to domestic and international tourism, with overseas visitors spending 21% of their holiday expenditure on food and drink."
