St. Paddy's Day Grub Crawl

There’s a lot of hemming and hawing about the lack of any solemnity to St. Patrick’s Day in the US. Sure, for some it’s just an excuse to drink green food dye of unknown quantity at a normally unacceptable hour. Yes, technically corned beef and cabbage are an Irish-American favorite, not a strictly Irish one. You’re not wrong, my pedant friend, but you are increasingly alone in the corner of a bar, with that kind of attitude. While the vast majority of folk aren’t going to be experiencing a moment of catharsis from strict Lenten fasting this St. Patrick’s day, visiting family in County Roscommon, I have witnessed similar moral declension. So, our consciences free, let’s take a tour of some Irish bars for some rare, papal-approved drinking.

Let’s begin in Newport, whose strong Irish community means an early start to festivities with the St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 14. Buskers (178 Thames St., Newport. 846-5856) need not overhaul their menu to serve you traditional Irish fare; they have that on their menu on a daily basis, but they’re open early for the parade at 8am, and will feature a full Irish breakfast. On St. Paddy’s day itself they will have Brian Twohey and his acoustic guitar in to perform originals and favorites. Remember, ye intrepid bar hopper, there’s a time and place to make solo work an ensemble; the timing can be both magical and unforgiving. While not reserved for St. Patrick’s Day, every Sunday The Fastnet (1 Broadway, Newport. 845-9311) has a welcoming circle of musicians playing traditional Irish music, one of whom told me the secret to improvisation is drink. Make this the month to get your dose of tin whistle and Irish fiddling.

Further north, the Portsmouth Publick House (1 King Charles Drive, Portsmouth. 682-2600) has female acoustic duo Colby & Keila dropping by at 7pm. The Publick House will be doing a $14 corned beef and cabbage dinner special. Also, for the whole month of March, a very generous 20oz pour of Guinness will run you a mere $4. Sláinte, indeed. Over the bridge to Bristol, Aidan’s (5 John St, Bristol. 254-1940) will be open early at 8am for traditional Irish breakfast. They’ll have live local Irish music all day as well, featuring musicians like the Providence Pipers, and Mike Carroll on the second floor. Likewise, the nearby Judge Roy Bean (1 State St., Bristol. 253-7400) also will have live music, so stretch your legs and make that arduous 450 ft pub crawl.

Last but not least, get cozy next to the fire at the Dublin Rose (940 Fall River Ave., Seekonk. 508-336-9222) in Seekonk. They’re using their big space to bring you a St. Paddy’s day party hosted by WBRU. Open early at 9am, there’s live music from 4pm til midnight, featuring Mid Life Crisis band, who, as you would expect with the name, play classic rock from when that didn’t include Pearl Jam. The kitchen will be doing traditional Irish dinner, and they’ll have prizes, giveaways and raffles all day.