Boruma - Irish by heritage, family by name

The world witnesses few St. Patrick’s Day parties of the scale of that of Savannah, GA. It is said that this sleepy, southern town rivals Boston, Chicago, or even Dublin during this celebration of all things Irish, as it awakes from the slumber of Midnight to rabble rouse like none other.

At the epicenter, is Kevin Barry’s

Kevin Barry’s Pub celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2007 and I can say I was on hand just a few years previous, around about when Kevin’s was turning 20. The atmosphere in the pub, on the lower floor of a large building, is idyllic, with the feel of Snug (A snug, by the way, is the exclusively Irish accoutrement in a pub, that small, very private room or booth with frosted glass windows; often near or at the bar). A restaurant setting graces the space above the pub proper. The food is light on the Irish fare but that’s no criticism, they have the usual suspects and supplement that with Savannah’s finest seafood and southern cooking. But you aren’t there for the food, Kevin Barry’s is one of those rare American Irish Pubs that has captured the magic of a seisiún (session) through artists such as Harry O’Donoghue and Danny Doyle.

Harry O’Donoghue is one of those magnetic performers who draws you into the fun and Kevin Barry’s makes no mistake in making Harry a mainstay. I wouldn’t be surprised if Harry remembers me… Harry, I was that guy, stage center, with a large group of family, singing along about ten years ago…. we had a few Guinness at the table…. you looked right at me when you wanted the audience to join you…. I’m sure you remember; we made quite a racket… probably had a shot of Jameson or two… with you. Not only is his music fantastic live, but he extends that experience with annual tour to Ireland, nightly sessions and all.

Some say a picture is worth a thousand words – a video speaks volumes more; here’s Harry at Kevin Barry’s

As for Kevin Barry himself, born in Dublin on January 20th 1902, the man was heavily involved in Ireland’s war for Independence from Britain during the 1910s and 20s. A hero in the National movement that swept the country, he was killed when he was 18 leaving a legacy beyond a pub in Savannah, Georgia.

“It is nothing to give one’s life for Ireland. I’m not the first and maybe I won’t be the last. What’s my life compared with the cause?”

Kevin Barry’s Pub is located in the historic district of Savannah, right on River Street (where the action happens during St. Patrick’s Day) overlooking the Savannah River. As for their Event calendar? Couldn’t be better: live music, 7 nights a week. When in town, look them up at 117 West River St. Let us know what you think of Kevin Barry’s Irish Pub below.

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An oasis in the scorching Phoenix, Arizona desert is a rare sight. The locals love the heat and seem to prefer building strip malls to the nice indoor shopping malls you typically find in the cold weather. Discovering a good Irish pub is even more difficult with the Irish knowing which parts of the United States lack green hills. By my count, there is one (though I’m encouraging a second).

One of the considerations of paramount importance when evaluating the quality of an Irish pub is the interior architecture. Without evoking a historic pub of Ireland, you have nothing more than an “O’Bar” rather than a pub (or a “McBar” though I think McDonalds has that locked up for their new chain of establishments). An Irish pub is a warm, welcoming place where people socialize, sing, relax, tell stories, and gossip. A great experience, should you not be, yourself, from Ireland, is to discover there that the early Irish pubs usually operated by combining the pub with a grocery, hardware or other business. Many pubs in Ireland still resemble grocer’s shops, with the bar counter and rear shelving consuming majority of the space in the main bar area. That’s why those shelves line the walls in good Irish pubs found in the U.S!

But this isn’t about Irish pub history (we’ll do that later). Wisely, and not surprisingly, the founders of O’Donoghue’s Irish Restaurant & Pub modeled their concept after the historic pubs of Ireland. O’Donoghue’s Irish Restaurant & Pub is named after O’Donoghue’s Pub of Merrion Row in Dublin, Ireland. As it were, O’Donoghue’s (the one in Dublin) was a life-long stomping ground for the founding partners of O’Donoghue’s Irish Restaurant & Pub (the one in Phoenix). It was during a visit to this famous pub that they realized the need for a similar concept in their current hometown of Scottsdale, Ariz.

At O’Donoghue’s our focus is on great food, comfortable surrounding’s, warm hospitality and of course cold draught Guinness and other fine beers.

O’Donoghue’s Irish Restaurant & Pub frequently features great live music, positioning itself as a gathering place for locals. The restaurant is cozy with the appropriate flair adorning the walls. They not only designed the building with a company in Ireland but had them build all of the furniture and interiors ensuring true Irish ambiance instilled with hospitality, sociability and friendship.

You are going to find O’Donogue’s in Scottsdale at 20469 N. Hayden. You’ll also find that the staff is exceptional as must be the case. They chat, joke, and even debate if you’re up for it. Insider tip though, stay away from this guy on the left. He’s been known to open a bottle a whiskey if you aren’t enjoying yourself enough. On second thought, stay away from both if you know what’s good for you; there is a reason that photo is blurry.

They pour the mandatory labels: Guinness, Harp, Jameson, Bushmills and Bailey’s Irish Cream. The restaurant’s menu is equally exceptional and authentic with some familiar flavors mixed in.

Sign up for their newsletter to receive updates on events and specials. I left perhaps the most important question from the bulk of my post; rest assured, live music is decidedly Irish. Here’s their event calendar, though they keep it fairly simple:

• Happy Hour Monday through Friday
• Tuesday is Official Dart Day starting at 7:30 pm
• Live Music most Friday nights

Have a favorite in your town? Let us know