Dublin has had a long association with its pubs. The city grew rapidly in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, becoming a major port for trade around the world, and the city boasted a wealth of taverns, inns, alehouses and public houses. An important part of the city's prosperity was also the Guinness brewery, founded in Dublin in 1759 and becoming a major employer. Many drinking establishments have survived from these days and have stories to tell, often involving historical figures or even fictional characters.

In Dublin Pubs, author Pat Dargan takes the reader on a fascinating journey through some of Dublin's most interesting, oldest or most famous watering holes. Many of the pubs have retained features and traditions of previous ages, and some are regarded as architectural gems. Pat reveals the variety of Dublin's pubs today and tells of the many characters that have frequented or run the public houses over the years, for which Dublin is justly renowned.