March 16th, 2011 
Living so close to Savannah, GA, you may have heard of the infamous St. Patrick’s Day Celebration held every year on March 17. The entire downtown is closed off for revelers and even the city fountains are flowing green! But Charleston promises to serve up its own brand of Irish merriment with several venues in the downtown area leading the way.
(Photo Credit: Radcliffebytes)
The Holy City’s St. Patty’s Day celebration begins with Mass at 8 am at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Philips Street. After Mass, join the Men’s and Ladies’ Ancient Orders of Hibernians, South Carolina Irish Historical Society, and Knights of Columbus for Charleston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade starts at 9 am on the Radcliffe Stage, and steps off promptly at 10 am, where it continues down King Street and ends at Broad. This is a fun event for all ages to enjoy and features floats presented by area organizations, bagpipers, step dancers, antique cars, and some of the city’s most prominent Irish citizens. City Hall gets in the spirit with the raising of the Irish Flag and the singing of the Irish National Anthem around 11:30 am.
Traditional Irish Pub, Molly Darcy’s on East Bay, will have bagpipers and step dancers starting at 10 am. Live music will be played by O’Connor & Milne, and DJ C-Nile will be spinning Irish tunes and Top 40 dance mixes. Molly’s will have food and drink specials all day long. The menu features a variety of classic Irish dishes, including Shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, and bangers and mash. Bailey’s and Bushmill’s giveaways start at 5 pm, and the Jameson girls will be there from 7 to 9 pm. If you haven’t visited this pub, located where the old Meritage was, don’t miss this special treat. The bartenders are all Irish, and on St. Patty’s Day especially, what a great day to hear a lilting Irish voice asking for your drink order!
The Brick on East Bay opens early Thursday as well, with noon-time lunch specials. The drink specials include $4 Guinness and $7.50 Car Bombs. The special food item of the week is Shephard’s Pie Brick. Live music will be provided by Dan Clamp playing for happy hour from 5-8 pm, and DJ C-Nile on the turntable from 10 pm to close.
Wild Wing Cafe will be holding with Irish tradition by serving $2.50 green beer, and $4 Guinness and Irish Car Bombs. Get your Sam Adams pints for $3. The musical action is lively with the Dave Landeo Band playing at Wild Wing downtown, Plane Jane in Mt. Pleasant, and Soul Fish in North Charleston.
Red’s Ice House on Shem Creek will host its Sunset St. Pat’s Day Bash on Thursday from 5-8 pm. What a great place to enjoy green beer, food and drink specials, and the company of friends against the beautiful backdrop Red’s offers with its location on the water.
(Photo Credit: CharlestonScene.com)
The famed Market Street Saloon will be participating in the frolicking with a Freakin’ Lucky Party downtown, and a Shag My Shamrock Party at the North Charleston location. Dig out your green t-shirt because the Saloon Girls will be out to pinch those who aren’t wearing green! The Freakin’ Lucky Party features $1 Green Draft, $5 Irish Car Bombs and Jameson, from 4-8 pm. You might be freakin’ lucky and get some free green beads, or win over $500 from their pot of gold. Drawings will be held all night. The Shag My Shamrock Party from 5-8 pm challenges party goers to make their own green bikini, using whatever materials you want, as long as it is predominantly green. (I’m assuming this is for female party goers and males get to enjoy the competition, although you never know what might happen at Market Street Saloon!) Be creative because $500 in cash and prizes is up for grabs! The Shem Creek Boogie Band will be playing shagging tunes from 7:30-10 pm. House DJ Randy Swan will then be rockin’ the house with Irish classics, and Market Street Saloon’s mix of country, rock and hip hop. Free beads and favors compliment the $1 Green Draft and $5 Car Bombs and Jameson from 5-7 pm. If all the revelry makes you hungry, smokehouse specials include $12.99 full racks of ribs, Corned Beef & Cabbage, and Pulled Pork Reubens.
Make sure to smile while enjoying the festivities because the photographers of Carolina Nightlife will be out to document your frivolity. When you hear, “Say Green Beer!”, strike a pose and smile for the camera! You may find your St. Patty’s Day photos in albums posted by venue at CarolinaNightlife.com. Sign in to your Facebook account first and the photos can be shared directly to your Facebook page or those of your friends. The photos are free to download and are a fun way to capture your Charleston St. Patty’s Day experiences.
Get ready, Charleston! Find your leprechaun hats, green beads and “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” t-shirt. St. Patty’s Day is the one day of the year that brings out the Irish in all of us. Mora na maidine dhuit! (Top of the mornin’ to ya!)
