Here are the nominees for the best pubs and nightclubs in Ireland

Recognise any of these places?

It's a regular enough debate, perhaps – just what is the best bar or nightclub in Ireland? Personal preference tends to trump scientific data but the team behind the Bar of the Year Awards is putting the graft in to try and determine the best of the best across the country. To wit; the finalists for various bar and club-related categories have just been unveiled, with 176 different "outstanding" bars making it into the shortlist. Admittedly, 176 sounds more like a long-list but that figure has been reached from an initial total of 500 so they're making progress, at least. It's the 17th year of the awards, too, so you can rest assured that it's being taken very seriously indeed. But you want to know what made it in, right? That's why you're here. We've picked out the most eye-catching categories – Nightclub, City Bar and Local Bar – which you can check out below.

LATE BAR / NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR

House Limerick | Amber Nightclub Left Bank Lilly's Bar & Kitchen Old Town Whiskey bar @Bodega Opium Live Dublin R.I.O.T Bar The Camden The Front Door Pub The Living Room The Quays Bar and Music Hall The Roost The Workman's Club & Cellar Time Square Night Club Wrights Cafe Bar

LOCAL BAR OF THE YEAR

33 South Main An Poitin Stil Brady's of Shankill Carrickdale Hotel & Spa Molloys Bar & Grill Oriel Bar & Bistro Pennyhill Revolution Craft Beer & Whiskey Bar The Brass Fox Wicklow The Hibernian Bar Kilkenny The Igo Inn The Martello The Old Mill The Porter House The Strawberry Hall Tom Sheridan's Bar & Restaurant Galway

CITY BAR OF THE YEAR

101 Limerick Americana bar An Púcán Bruxelles Cafe en Seine House Limerick | Amber Nightclub Jackies Left Bank Old Town Whiskey Bar at Bodega R.I.O.T. bar Revolution Craft Beer & Whiskey Bar Sober Lane The Front Door Pub The Savoy Bar The Shelbourne Bar Vintage Cocktail Club You can view the rest of the categories – there are a LOT of them – at the Bar of the Year Awards official Facebook page.