Mayo in the top 10 Irish counties that love Guinness the most

Mayo ranks 8th among the Irish counties that love Guinness the most in new data revealed by catering suppliers Alliance Online Ireland.

Many around the world see a pint of Guinness as the ultimate 'winter warmer,' a comforting dark stout best enjoyed by a crackling fire. To determine where the biggest Guinness hotspots in Ireland are, new data from catering suppliers Alliance Online Ireland, has revealed the top 10 Irish counties for the beverage.

Using a weighted scoring system that accounts for both affordability and search popularity, the study ranks each county's enthusiasm for Guinness. The total number of searches and the average price of a stout were scaled relative to the county’s population to create a comprehensive ranking.

Some of the key findings include: Cheapest pint of stout: Westmeath has the most affordable average pint price at €5.00; most expensive pint of stout: Dublin has the highest average pint price at €7.25, which is increased by prices in the Capital city, where Guinness was founded; top scoring county: Westmeath ranked first overall with a Guinness loving score of 57.01/100; highest searches per capita: Leitrim recorded the highest number of searches relative to its population, with 10,859 Guinness-related queries per 100,000 people.

Mayo ranks 8th among the Irish counties that love Guinness the most, with a score of 46.91/100. Here, residents are searching for Guinness-related topics 4,277.46 per 100,000 people. The average pint of a stout in Mayo costs €5.32, the third cheapest in the ranking, contributing to the county's final score.

Westmeath has been crowned Ireland’s most Guinness loving county, topping the rankings with an overall score of 57.01/100. Locals search for Guinness around 6,260 times per 100,000 people. Combined with the most affordable average pint of stout, priced at €5.00, Westmeath perfectly balances passion for the drink with great value, securing its place at the top of the list.

Longford takes second place with a Guinness loving score of 52.22/100. Despite being one of Ireland’s smallest counties, it recorded the highest search rate in the ranking, with 8,685 Guinness related searches per 100,000 people. With pints costing an average of €5.38, Longford’s residents are clearly among the nation’s most devoted Guinness fans.

In third place is Roscommon, narrowly missing second place with a Guinness loving score of 52.21/100. The county recorded 5,143 searches per 100,000 people, paired with an average pint price of €5.14. This balance of enthusiasm and affordability highlights Roscommon as another strong contender for Ireland’s most Guinness obsessed county.

Meanwhile, Dublin ranked seventh overall. While it recorded by far the highest search volume — over half a million Guinness related searches per month — the city’s high population and the steep average pint of stout costing €7.25, driven by city-centre prices, brought down its overall score to 50.00/100.

Outside Dublin, Kerry has the priciest pints at €5.58.

Despite the high prices, Dublin remains the nation’s search capital for Guinness. This highlights the city’s deep-rooted connection to Ireland’s most famous pint, as the stout being founded there in 1759. It has now attracted over 25 million tourists to the Guinness Storehouse since its opening in 2000.

Commenting on Guinness’ popularity in the UK, Rachael Kiss at Alliance Online Ireland said:

“Guinness remains a powerhouse in Ireland, accounting for one in every three pints bought in 2022. The brand is also keeping pace with modern trends, as demonstrated by a 35% surge in sales for Guinness 0.0 over the last year.

“With an average pint of stout often costing more than a standard lager, customers are expecting a premium experience in return. That’s why the pour is so important — from the two-part serve to the creamy head, every detail contributes to how people judge the quality of their pint. Trends like ‘Split the G’ show that drinkers are not just tasting their Guinness, they’re watching how it’s presented, making the correct bar equipment more vital than ever.”