WHEN IT COMES to ‘pub grub’ look no further than Co. Down. That’s according to the ‘Michelin Eating-Out In Pubs Guide’ which has no less than seven pubs from the Mourne County in its 2014 list.

In total, there are thirty-four Irish pubs spread across fifteen counties included in the listing, with Cork following close behind Down with six bars in the guide.

The guide recommends 577 pubs across Ireland and Britain with the authors saying that they were selected ‘first and foremost, for the quality of their food’.

Not only does Down have the most inclusions, but two of its towns have two separate pubs on the list. Donaghdee itself has Grace Neill’s and Pier 36 with Hillsborough represented by The Parson’s Nose and The Plough In.

The town of Caherciveen in Kerry also has two pubs on the list, O’Neill’s Seafood Bar and QC’s with Clonakilty also keeping pace with An Súgan and Deasy’s.

Below is the county-by-county breakdown of all the Irish pubs in the  Michelin list:

• Down (7): Pheasant, Coyle’s, Lisbarnett House, Grace Neill’s and Pier 36 and The Parson’s Nose and The Plough Inn.
• Cork (6) Mary Ann’s, Poacher’s Inn, An Súgan and Deasy’s, Cronin’s and Toddies at The Bulman.
• Clare (4) Morrissey’s, Vaughan’s Anchor Inn, Wild Honey Inn and Linnane’s Lobster Bar.
• Mayo (3) Crockets on the Quay, The Tavern and Sheebeen.
• Galway (2) Moran’s Oyster Cottage and O’Dowd’s.
• Kerry (2) O’Neill’s Seafood Bar and QC’s.
• Kildare (2) Ballymore Inn and Fallon’s.
• Dublin (1) Chop House.
• Leitrim (1) Oarsman.
• Louth (1) Fitzpatricks.
• Sligo (1) Hargadons.
• Tipperary (1) Larkins.
• Wstmeath (1) Fatted Calf.
• Wexford (1) Lobster Pot.
• Wicklow(1) Byrne & Woods.

Read: Michelin star success for two Kilkenny restaurants >

Read: The complete history of coffee in one infographic >