Thirsty bargain hunters are set to rejoice as Dublin's cheapest pint now stands at an impressive €2.50.

Just three months after the average price of a pint of beer stood at a whopping €4.85, publicans have begun slashing prices in a bid to attract punters.

The recession-friendly offer for a pint of Fosters is available in Naomh Olaf GAA Club in Sandyford, where Guinness and other beers cost €3.80.

Speaking to the Herald, club administrator Trish Farrelly said: "We have a lot of students coming in and it has definitely brought younger people back to the club during the recession.

"I encourage people to support their local pubs and GAA clubs because we are all feeling the pinch."

She described the cost of pints in some city centre establishments as "scandalous" but said: "I don't agree with the unhealthy promotions, such as the all-you-can-drink for €50 offers, which I have seen in some places."

The cost of a pint of Guinness varies from €3 to as much as €6.10 in the capital, while Heineken, Bulmers and Budweiser can cost anything up to €6.50 in some of the city's trendiest spots.

But Marc McCabe from Foxrock said he has noticed prices of pints falling in general. "I tend to pay between €4 and €5 for a pint these days but no more than that, even when I am in the city centre. I know pubs have costs to cover but people just don't have that kind of money to spend on booze anymore."

The Metro Bar on Blessington Road in Tallaght believe they are one of the cheapest pubs in Dublin, where all pints are €3 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, rising to €4.10-€4.40 for the rest of the week.

Speaking to the Herald, manager Declan Mulvey said: "We are certainly up there as one of the cheapest bars in Dublin. We are right next door to the college so we have to be competitive."

Tallaght local Lloyd O'Farrell said: "Pints in nightclubs are both horrendous and over priced. I shop around for a good pint rather than a cheap pint, but it's great to see a few good deals."

Captain America's on Grafton Street offers some of the cheapest pints in the city centre from Monday to Wednesday when all pints cost €3.

O'Reilly's pub on Tara Street charges €3.40 for all pints, while McGowans in Phibsboro is offering pints and a number of other drinks for €3.50 on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays.

Website Pintofplain.com offers a guide to finding the cheapest watering holes and enables people to calculate savings from changing pubs.

Karma in Handels Hotel on Fishambles Street has one of the cheapest pints of Guinness in Temple Bar, at €3.70, and a pint of lager costs €4.20.

Gingerman on Fenian Street have pints of Beamish and Franciscan Well ale, lager or wheat beer for €3.50.

aanderson@herald.ie

- Aoife Anderson