Thirty four pubs in the Republic and Northern Ireland have been included in the new Michelin Eating Out in Pubs Guide for 2014 published today - a rise of four on last year.

However only 15 of the 32 counties have a recommended pub and Dublin has only one.

On a county league table, Down has seven recommendations, Cork has six, Clare has four and Mayo has three. Galway, Kerry and Kildare each have two.

Of the 27 pubs listed in the Republic, five are new entries - ­ Byrne & Woods, Roundwood, Co Wicklow; The Tavern, Murrisk, Co Mayo; Fallon’s , Kilcullen, Co Kildare; Linnane’s Lobster Bar, New Quay, Co Clare; and Morrissey’s, Doonbeg, Co Clare.

Three pubs in the Republic received “inspector’s favourite” listings . They were the Wild Honey Inn, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare; Deasy’s, Clonakilty, Co Cork; and Toddy’s at The Bulman, Kinsale, Co Cork.

The seven Northern Ireland pubs recommended in the guide are all in Co Down. Lisbarnett House in Comber is a new listing, while Grace Neill’s in Donaghadee is alone in securing an “inspector’s favourite” commendation.

This year’s guide recommends 577 pubs spread across Britain and Ireland, of which 70 are new entries. Its editor, Rebecca Burr, said they had all been “rigorously inspected” by a team of full-time inspectors - the same team who produce the Michelin restaurant guide.

She believed that reports of the death of the pub “have been grossly exaggerated”.

“We now recommend more pubs than ever before and the great news is that they are spread all over Great Britain and Ireland, rather than just being concentrated in a few counties. No-one has to put up with bad food in a pub anymore, however picturesque that pub may be”.

She said that a pub did not need a modern makeover to serve good food, nor did it have to transform itself into a restaurant.

“Chefs looking to open their own place without having to spend huge amounts of money are also finding pubs to be the perfect choice. And with such skills in the kitchen, these pubs in turn are becoming great training schools for the next generation of chefs.”

Full list of 2014 Michelin ‘Eating Out In Pubs’ Guide listings for Ireland:

Co Down - Pheasant (Annahilt), Coyle’s (Bangor), Lisbarnett House (Comber), Grace Neill’s and Pier 36 (both in Donaghadee) and The Parson’s Nose and The Plough Inn (both in Hillsborough)

Co Cork : Mary Ann’s (Castletownshend), Poacher’s Inn (Bandon), An Súgan and Deasy’s (Clonakilty), Cronin’s (Crosshaven) and Toddies at The Bulman (Kinsale)

Co Clare : Morrissey’s (Doonbeg), Vaughan’s Anchor Inn (Liscannor), Wild Honey Inn (Lisdoonvarna) and Linnane’s Lobster Bar (New Quay)

Co Mayo : Crockets on the Quay (Ballina), The Tavern (Murrisk) and Sheebeen (Westport)

Co Galway: Moran’s Oyster Cottage (Kilcolgan) and O’Dowd’s (Roundstone) Co Kerry: O’Neill’s Seafood Bar and QC’s (both in Caherciveen)

Co Kildare: Ballymore Inn (Ballymore Eustace) and Fallon’s (Kilcullen)

Dublin: Chop House (Ballsbridge)

Co Leitrim : Oarsman (Carrick-on-Shannon)

Co Louth : Fitzpatricks (Jenkinstown)

Co Sligo: Hargadons (O’Connell Street, Sligo)

Co Tipperary: Larkins (Garrykennedy)

Co Westmeath: Fatted Calf (Glasson)

Co Wexford: Lobster Pot (Carne)

Co Wicklow: Byrne & Woods (Roundwood)