St. Patrick’s Day in Detroit is a two-fer … and here’s where to enjoy it
(Written By: Terrence Patrick Sullivan via County Cork, Ireland)
Detroiters love a parade and they especially love a St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Why is that you ask? Well, beyond the very obvious great time everyone in Detroit has at a parade that celebrates the heritage of the Irish here are a few other very important reasons:
- Spring is truly right around the corner. Once mid-March arrives only a few weeks of winter remain. Sure, we might get one sizeable snow fall after March 1 but it will be melted and gone in two days.
- The 2013 Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade marks its 55th year and it is the longest running ethnic parade in the city and the entire state of Michigan. So that tells me the hometown crowd enjoys celebrating (up and down Michigan Avenue) with the Irish.
- Detroiter’s get to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day twice a year – a “Two-Fer.” Traditionally, Detroit’s St. Patty’s Day Parade is held the Sunday before March 17–the official Feast Day for the Patron Saint of the Emerald Isle. This year the annual parade celebration is March 10 and seven days later (March 17) is reason for another Detroit celebration of the “Wearin of the Green.”‘
The parade takes place in the city’s Corktown neighborhood, where Irish immigrants settled in the mid-1800s. The neighborhood was actually named after County Cork in Ireland and eventually became home to the Gaelic league of Detroit, making it a natural location for the Irish celebration.
This year it starts at 2:00 PM on Sunday, March 10 near Irish Plaza at Sixth Street and Michigan Avenue. The parade route runs west on Michigan Avenue to 14th Street. It is expected to last for approximately two hours. The 55th Detroit St. Patrick’s Parade is sponsored by the United Irish Societies (UIS).
If you want to find a warm and friendly place to watch the parade while singing your favorite Irish songs, I’ve listed five top Irish Pubs that are located on Michigan Avenue. You can’t go wrong lifting a pint in any one of these Irish Pubs that are on the parade route as you celebrate with your Irish friends and those who wish they were Irish. In fact, you might want to visit all five pubs to see which one you enjoy the most.
To help you throughout the day’s festivities here are a few popular Irish Toasts to borrow.
“May the most you wish for be the least you ever get.
May the best times you’ve ever had be the worst you’ll ever see.”
Or
“May you be a half an hour in Heaven before the devil knows you’re dead.’’
Or
“If you’re lucky enough to be Irish — you’re lucky enough”
And one of my favorite Irish toasts is …..
“Here’s to a long life and a merry one.
A quick death and an easy one.
A pretty girl and an honest one.
A cold beer — and another one.”
For sure, all of these Detroit bars have plenty of Irish memories to remind you of the ‘Old Sod’ … and beer-a-plenty on tap as well as great pub food to get you through the day without wilting.
March 10th Irish Pubs |
March 17th Irish Pubs |
Gaelic League and Irish-American Club
2068 Michigan Ave.
1254 Michigan Ave.
1830 Michigan Ave.
1830 Michigan Ave.
McShane’s Irish Pub and Whiskey Bar 1460 Michigan Ave.
|
Old Shillelagh
349 Monroe St.
612 Woodward Ave.
2644 Harrison St.
201 Joseph Campau St.
1426 Bagley Ave.
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Remember, if you can’t be at the March 10 St. Patrick’s Day parade enjoying all the festivities along the Michigan Avenue parade route in Corktown, I’ve added an additional five great Irish pubs Downtown you can visit on March 17— the real St. Patrick’s Day. If you’re one of the lucky Detroiters who will be celebrating on both the 10th and the 17th
… “May good luck be your friend in all that you do, and may trouble be always a stranger to you.”
Forwarded by Midtown Alliance