The next best thing to a pitch-side seat? Save your money on stadium tickets and instead visit these pubs and bars showing live sports in Ireland. With huge sharing platters to keep the whole gang full, Guinness on demand and games to play after the match, you won't go home disappointed (even if you support the losing team).
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It's no surprise that Dublin's monument to craft beer is also one of the country's best sports bars. BrewDog knows how to attract the crowds, with offerings involving free rounds of their signature stout, special zones for spectators wanting to catch all the action on screen, and unbeatable grub including piles of wings and hearty burgers.
What makes Wigwam one of the best sports bars in Dublin city centre? Because not only can you watch your favourite game while sipping on rum cocktails, but you can also continue the fun after the match by making your way to the ping pong table or karaoke room, and there's even an option to stick around for their weekend club nights.
Ditch the rowdy bar crowds and settle in somewhere a little more swanky with The Sin Bin. Out of all the pubs showing football in Dublin, this is where to seek the star treatment; think hand-crafted cocktails, award-winning gins, luxe leather booths and wood-fired pizzas.
Beloved Dublin boozer Searsons is one of the only places you can get oysters with a side of Guinness, mixing traditional Irish charm with high-end dining. There are also cocktails and a dedicated whiskey bar, so there's no chance of getting thirsty even if the game goes into extra time.
You can't beat a good ol' Irish pub, especially on game day. The Palace Bar in Dublin is a boozer made for everything from casual catch-ups to buzzing sports screenings. Skip the bells and whistles by keeping it simple with a few pints at this local landmark.
Ulster Sports Club has everything you need for the ultimate match day. Cold pints and feast-worthy eats are the stars of the show, and there's pool tables for those who want to make their team proud. It's also the best sports bar in Belfast for people that like to party, with a line-up of DJ-led events that will make you want to stay past the final whistle.
Lavery's isn't just Belfast's oldest family-owned boozer, it's also one of the best outdoor sports bars in Ireland. With over 20 screens, you'll be able to keep up with the scores whether you're indoors playing pool or feasting on a giant sharing platter in the beer garden.
Franklins Sports Bar knows that TVs, great food and fresh pints are all that fans ask for when it comes to game day. But this spot goes the extra mile with the addition of comfy booth seating, pool tables, dart boards and one mega 6.5-metre screen, making it one of the best sports bars in Northern Ireland for many Belfast locals.
Home to the city's largest indoor video wall, it's hard to claim that Buskers On The Ball isn't the best sports bar in Dublin city centre. With deals on food throughout the week and a cocktail menu featuring a selection of old fashioneds, plus interactive games from pool to ping pong, you'll want to stay long after the final score is announced.
