Best of Ireland 2024: Your essential guide to the country's top spots – featuring cover stars The 2 Johnnies

The essential guide to Ireland's top restaurants, shops, venues, pubs, talent and more is back – as we proudly present Best Of Ireland 2024, featuring cover stars The 2 Johnnies!

This unmissable annual publication covers all aspects of life on our beautiful island, with informative guides, handy listings, and insightful interviews with some of the many entertainers, writers, musicians, and chefs who keep Ireland punching above its weight right across the board.

Whether you're a born-and-bred local or a curious visitor to these shores, there's something for everyone to love in this captivating new Best of Ireland edition...

First up:

Having already conquered the worlds of podcasting, TV and live entertainment – and with their popular radio show now coming to an end – The 2 Johnnies are ready to officially embrace their musical side, with the release of their debut album, Small Town Heroes. Johnny B and Johnny Smacks tell us all about their musical roots, live hijinks, and the current 'culchie revival'.

The 2 Johnnies. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Throughout Best of Ireland, you'll also find fascinating interviews with lauded chef Jess Murphy; comedy icon Pat Shortt and his daughter Faye; and Soldier Sailor author Claire Kilroy.

Of course, Ireland can now count itself among Europe’s – if not the world’s! – finest food countries. For this year's Best of Ireland, we travelled from Mizen Head to Malin Head to bring you a bumper 'Irish Restaurants You Have To Try!' list – featuring both old favourites and new eateries on the block...

Coqbull Limerick. Credit: Miki Barlok

In addition to restaurants, there's also in-depth guides to all of Ireland's top pubs, venues, clubs, festivals, hotels, shops, days-out, kids' attractions, food trucks, trad sessions, and hidden gems – as well as special insights into the eclectic activities and experiences to be found in spots like Cavan, Fingal, and along the Gourmet Greenway.

Plus, Dublin's Viola Gayvis discusses her favourite bars, stages, and fellow drag artists!

Viola Gayvis

As we count down the days until the Paris Olympics, Riccardo Dwyer also rounds up the top Irish athletes to watch at this summer's games.

And that's not all!

My Ireland: Throughout Best Of Ireland, leading lights like LYRA, Sinéad Gleeson, Katja Mia, John Connolly, Mark Mehigan, Anna Geary and Jo Spain discuss their favourite aspects of Irish life.

Eating Out: For even more personal insights into Ireland's food scene, author Elaine Feeney, singer Cosha, and presenter Louise Cantillon share some of their favourite spots in Galway, Wicklow and Limerick, respectively.

Our Music Scene: A genre-spanning selection of artists, including TraviS & Elzzz, Niamh Regan, CHERYM,  Cardinals and Moncrieff, fill us in on what makes their local music scenes so vibrant.

Niamh Regan. Credit: Sorcha Frances Ryder

And that's just a tantalising taste of what to expect! You'll find much more inside the 2024 edition of Best Of Ireland – so what are you waiting for? Pick up a copy in shops over the coming days, or order online now: