A number of mugs holding fish at a Dublin venue (8)
I believe the answer is:
tankards
'a number of mugs' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tankards that I've seen before include "Large beer mugs" , "One-handled beer mugs" , "Large one-handled drinking mugs" , "Large one-handled drinking vessels" .)