Day Seven of the Irish Pub Tour!

Laramie Wyoming

If it is Monday, February 22nd then Tim must be in Wyoming…or Nebraska, depending on the time of day.

Yes, lots of open space out there and Tim is covering it for his Tullamore Irish pub trek of 50 states in 30 days. (Kid’s, don’t try this. Tim is a seasoned professional.)

First stop is Laramie, Wyoming, home of Steamboat and the University of Wyoming. (Steamboat is the bucking bronco seen as the state symbol.) The stop in town is O’Dwyer’s pub.

Liam O’Dwyer emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1951 on a fellowship to study mathematics at Columbia University. One year later his wife Nora O’Dwyer followed on the “Queen Mary” — yes the ocean liner now living permanently in Long Beach, California (where I can see it from my office as I write this right now. It is a small world after all). Once here, in the Irish-Catholic tradition, they proceeded to bring 9 children into the world. Years later, a twist of fate, most all of them moved from Philadelphia to Wyoming. And no, despite the wide open spaces, the O’Dwyer family did not double the population of Wyoming with their arrival.

O’Dwyers Public House is a union between the steadfast wisdom of the old and the reckless abandon of the young. And Yes, it is ALL Irish. That means, “There are no strangers here, only friend who have never met. Slainte!

The combo Restaurant, Bar and Liquor Store is located at 1622 Grand Avenue in Laramie Wyoming. Hey Tim! They are not hard to find — just across the street from the University of Wyoming dorms and the Chief Washakie statue. And if you are reading this, get on over there now, say Hi to Tim and tell him you heard about his trek on American Bars. He may just buy you a drink!

O’Neill, Nebraska

If you look at a map of Nebraska very hard and long, you probably still won’t find O’Neill. It is about 3 hours drive west and north out of Omaha across the “amber waves of grain” of Nebraska.

After visiting such cosmopolitan areas like Phoenix, Las Vegas, LA, Seattle and Denver, Tim is about to experience true culture shock. But, do not fret, O’Nell touts itself as “the Irish Capital of Nebraska” and they mean it.

Take a gander at the photos. They take St. Patrick’s Day very seriously here. I gigantic, freshly painted shamrock in the main intersection of town where the annual parade and festivities are held.

And yes, the green horse is apparently very famous.

The stop here is The Blarney Stone, which is a combination Irish Pub and steakhouse. Tim will be there, enjoying all the great food and the company. Join him there!

The Blarney Stone is locate at 432 East Douglas Street, O'Neill, Nebraska 68763 | (402) 336-1336

Tomorrow, we are talking Sioux in two…states, that is.