Briana Pereira
Words by Briana Pereira
March 17, a day famous for drinking your day away decked out in green apparel while toasting leprechauns. St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect occasion for a bar crawl.
A little history behind the holiday and all of its glory before moving on to the fun stuff. St. Patrick’s Day honors the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick (in case it wasn’t clear yet). The holiday first took place in 1631, 12 centuries after St. Patrick died, when the church started a Feast Day to honor him. There is little known about the life of St. Patrick, but here’s what we do know, according to Marion Casey, a clinical assistant professor of Irish Studies at NYU. He was born around 386 AD as a Roman-British citizen (because Britain was Roman at the time). Casey said he was enslaved and taken to Ireland, where he either escaped or was released, then went on to become a priest and returned to Ireland, “where he had a lot of luck converting the Druid culture into Christians.” His luck is said to be the root of all of the modern day celebrations that come with St. Patrick’s Day today. The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was organized by Irish soldiers in America and today the holiday is still marked by lively parades and pub celebrations. While the historical accuracy of St. Patrick’s deeds may vary, the festivities focus on camaraderie, beer and traditional Irish fare like corned beef and cabbage.
Where to celebrate:
Ann O’Malley’s Irish Pub & Deli, St. Augustine
Called “The Local’s Local,” Ann O’Malley’s is where you go to be treated like one of their own. It’s the perfect place for a pint, a delicious sandwich or to watch a game. They have pub quiz nights, live music, daily specials and open mic night — something for everyone.
Barley Republic and Cocktail Bar, St. Augustine
An Irish gastropub located in the heart of historic Downtown St. Augustine, Barley Republic serves a spin on traditional Irish favorites. They also have live music throughout the week and specials to make every night one to enjoy.
Culhane’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Jacksonville Beach and Southside
With two Culhane’s here in Jax, they are definitely a favorite with the locals. Founded by four sisters straight from beautiful Limerick, Ireland back in 2005, it just can’t miss. Their recipes strive to capture their family heritage through unique flavor profiles. They are a lively sports styled pub that shows the English Premier League, rugby and, on occasion, karaoke!
Donovan’s Irish Pub, St. Augustine
Donovan’s take’s pride in their food and cocktails. With live music every Saturday night, trivia on Monday nights, and AYCE fish and chips on Wednesdays, they really are a fun time every night of the week.
Emerald Goat, Yulee
All right, my Yulee babies, I tried for y’all and here’s what I was able to come across. The Emerald Goat has a ton to it. It’s the perfect place to kick back with some friends, listen to live music, play pool and enjoy a pint. They have over 90 beers and 70 whiskeys in house and take pride in being a true Irish pub.
Fionn MacCool’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, Ponte Vedra Beach
The pub’s authentic Irish atmosphere will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Emerald Isle. With live entertainment, happy hour, 36 beers on tap, and world class whiskey and scotch selections, Fionn MacCool’s gives you that genuine Irish pub feel.
Lynch’s Irish Pub, Jacksonville Beach
A favorite with Jax beach bar fanatics, this is absolutely where you will catch me without a doubt almost every Friday and Saturday right around 1:30 a.m. The decor and vibes are everything, and not just at night. With live music, trivia, bingo, happy hour, over 40 beers on tap, food, and a weekend brunch there’s really nothing this place misses on. As an English Premier League fan, I certainly appreciate the pub showing games, which always brings a good atmosphere if you like the crowd.
Meehan’s Irish Pub & Seafood House, St. Augustine
Their saying is “Eat, Drink, & Be Irish!” So if that doesn’t tell you what you need to know about this pub I don’t know what will. Meehan’s is really three restaurants in one, but for this crawl we obviously want to focus on its Irish element. It’s the perfect place to have a pint and enjoy some grub, where they have traditional Irish dishes such as corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, bangers and mash, and more. If your day of fun has worked yourself up an appetite or you anticipate needing to eat prior to a day of drinks, I suggest popping in.
Mickie’s Irish Pub, Riverside
This quaint little spot in the heart of the King Street District features an Irish food menu accompanied by a full liquor bar, games, an open patio and DJs on certain nights.
The Stout Snug, Murray Hill
Located on Edgewood Avenue, the Stout Snug is probably as Irish as it gets, or one of the closest to it here in Jax. In addition to live music, they have delicious food, trivia and a full bar.
TJ’s Irish Pub, Arlington
A more lowkey pub, with two pool tables, dart boards, shuffleboard, and plenty of beer to go around. If games are your vibe, it’s a great spot for you to swing by for your crawl.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! And as they say over in Ireland, sláinte!
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