Kealy's

Just what Dublin needed - another airport-adjacent pub trying to serve both weary travelers and locals. Kealy's sits there, smugly convenient to Terminal 2, beckoning with promises of that holy trinity of Irish hospitality: decent pints, hearty food, and a place to rest your jet-lagged bones. I wanted to hate it. I really did.

But here's the thing about Kealy's Dublin that gets under your skin - it's actually good. Not "good for an airport pub" good, but legitimately, irritatingly good. The kind of place that makes you question your carefully cultivated cynicism about establishments within a stone's throw of baggage claim.

Let's talk about the Guinness first, because we must. It's proper. Perfectly poured, properly settled, with that creamy head that makes you forget you're mere minutes from watching someone's oversized duty-free shopping bag knock over a small child. The pub itself strikes that elusive balance between "traditional Irish" and "we've updated our facilities since 1973." The dark wood gleams without looking artificially aged, and someone clearly understands the importance of clean bathrooms - a detail that shouldn't be remarkable but somehow is.

The food menu reads like a greatest hits of pub fare, which initially made me roll my eyes so hard I nearly saw my own brain. But then the seafood chowder arrived, and damn it all if it wasn't better than half the bowls I've had in Howth. Thick without being gluey, loaded with actual seafood rather than just the suggestion of it, and seasoned by someone who understands salt is a ingredient, not a personality trait.

The fish and chips deserve their own paragraph, if only because they've managed to make me begrudgingly complimentary. The batter shatters like proper fish and chips should, revealing flaky white fish that's clearly seen a ocean more recently than I've seen my gym membership card. The chips - sorry, "fries" for our American friends - are proper chip-shop style, not those anemic frozen things that plague lesser establishments.

What's particularly irksome is how they've managed to keep prices reasonable despite their captive-audience location. Sure, you're not getting Dublin city center bargain-basement prices, but neither are you being charged the "we know you're desperate and have nowhere else to go" airport premium. The portions are generous enough that even my brother-in-law, who apparently has a tapeworm named Steve, manages to leave satisfied.

The staff operate with that particularly Irish blend of efficiency and charm that makes you feel simultaneously well-taken-care-of and gently mocked. They'll remember your drink order, direct you to the best table for watching the match, and somehow make it all seem effortless. During busy periods - and there are many - they orchestrate the chaos with the kind of skill that makes you wonder if they've got military training.

The venue itself is bigger than it looks from outside, with different areas catering to different needs - proper dining spaces for those wanting a meal, high tables for casual drinks, and that covered outdoor area for smokers and optimistic believers in the Irish weather. There's even a function room upstairs, complete with lift access, though why anyone would plan a function near an airport is beyond my comprehension.

But perhaps Kealy's greatest achievement is how it serves both locals and travelers without making either feel like they're in the wrong place. The regulars chat at the bar while families fresh off flights tuck into breakfast, and somehow it all works. The sports are always on, but never dominate. The music is present but doesn't require sign language to conduct a conversation.

Look, I didn't want to like Kealy's Dublin. I wanted to write a scathing review about overpriced airport food and tired travelers being taken advantage of. Instead, I'm sitting here recommending you actually plan to arrive at Dublin Airport early enough to stop in, or make the trip even if you're not flying anywhere. Book ahead during peak times - yes, this airport-adjacent pub actually needs booking - and prepare to be annoyingly pleased with your decision. Just don't tell them I sent you. I have a reputation to maintain.