O'Donoghue Public House — Restaurant in Killarney Municipal District

O'Donoghue Public House was hands down one of the best dining experiences we had during our entire trip. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was inviting and full of life. With live traditional music playing in the background, it created the perfect Irish pub experience—especially for us visiting from America. The music really set the tone for a memorable night.

What truly stood out, beyond the incredible ambiance and delicious food, was the exceptional service. Our server, Helen, was an absolute standout. Out of all the restaurants we visited this week, her attentiveness, warmth, and professionalism were unmatched. She made our large group feel welcomed and well cared for, which can be a challenge for any restaurant.

Despite not calling ahead with our large party, the staff still went out of their way to accommodate us. Yes, there was a short 30-minute wait, but it was more than reasonable, especially considering how many other places had turned us away. O'Donoghue's opened their doors to us with genuine hospitality.

The food itself was outstanding—every dish was flavorful, well-prepared, and clearly made with care. From start to finish, this experience was a highlight of our trip. If you're looking for a place with fantastic food, a lively and authentic atmosphere, and exceptional service, O'Donoghue Public House should be at the top...

*Update: so I learned the next day or so that in Ireland in a pub, it's SOP to go up to the bar to order a drink. The waitstaff doesn't' usually take drink orders at the table.

I was by myself and looking for a place to enjoy a pint and some food. This place looked inviting and promising so I went in. The hostess was friendly and showed me a few tables, both very close to the band which wd play a bit later. I sat down and waited to be greeted by someone. I probably waited 15 minutes and finally the hostess saw that no one had taken my order so she took it. Another 15 minutes passed and I still hadn’t seen my pint. I asked one of the waiters to check on it and waited another 10 min and finally a glass was plopped down but it wasn’t the right beer, it took another several minutes to get the correct order, in the meantime my chowder arrived. It was a weird. watery consistency. Very disappointing. The pint was good once it arrived but I can’t recommend this place. It was very disorganized even though they weren’t that busy and there were lots of servers...

We arrived right before the music started and the poor girl at the front was all alone trying to manage everything but boy oh boy did she do an amazing job. Despite the crowd and the lack of seating we were able to find a small table and she served us promptly while tending to the door that never seemed to close with new customers. I can't speak highly enough of the service, our waitress was great; there when we needed her but also gave us space to relax and enjoy the music.

The food was excellent as well. We ordered a Scotch Egg because we couldn't find one in Scotland lol, and I also ordered the soup and sandwich (ham and cheese). It was all great, no issues and the tap list was decent as well.

Music was phenomenal, loved hearing Irish songs mixed with small doses of Classics.

Great place and not that pricey for what we got. Many people were frustrated having to wait and left, but we lucked out and were glad we got to enjoy the place. I highly...