March 5th & 6th Day 19 and 20 of The Ultimate Irish Pub Tour!

Four Pubs in Four States…AGAIN!

Well, it’s not so hard to do here in the New England northern regions. Tim Starts out with Maine

The Brian Boru public house in Portland, Maine was founded in 1993. It appears that a few friends cogitated this concept over a few pints of Guinness.  Laurence Kelly of Portland, Maine and his friends Feargus and Justin O’Reilly, two brothers from Naas, Co. Kildare, Ireland,  came up with the notion that Ireland was not recognized in Portland. The town lacked a gathering spot that captured the atmosphere of the pubs of Ireland. Ok, so it took them two decades to get into gear. but the Brian Boru public house stands as a testament to that idea. Located at 57 Center Street, the fire engine red brick building with sunny decks can’t be missed. They carry locally brewed and distilled libations including the best of Ireland, They offer foods like fish and chips made from fresh local cod, live music, and so much more.

The old building is very distinctive and easy to find due to the bright red color and the flying toucan with the two pints of ale balanced on its beak. I believe this is a reference to a famous sports figure who claimed his training regimen was “Fruit Loops and Beer.”

Breakfast of Champions.

Brian Boru

57 Center Street

Portland, ME

It’s a good way for Tim to start a Looong Saturday. 

Stop two.

Kathleen’s Irish pub and restaurant

90 Lake Street

Bristol, NH 03222

(603) 744-6336

This is a very pleasant, homey sort of place that certain will feed Tim right…right before he breaks open another bottle of Tullamore DEW.  Not much to say here aside from the fact it is a beautiful place. 

The Inn at Long Trail is a classic Vermont Inn, close to all the winter wonderland activities one expects in Vermont. 

Also involved here is McGrath’s Irish Pub

Like most of New England, McGrath’s is not big on words. They have good food. They invite families and kids. They have the largest selection of Irish Whiskey in the state. 

I guess that says it all. 

McGrath’s 

709 Route 4 Sherborne Pass

Killington, VT

The Final Stop is…well, in reality A Final Stop. A combo Funeral Home and Pub. 

Now, this is my kind of place. 

McBride's Pub was created from the former nine car garage of the Monahan, Drabble & Sherman Funeral Home. In recent years, as the funeral business changed, the need for many vehicles decreased. Brothers Mark and Bob Russell realized that their old garage needed a new purpose. 

In 2005, Mark and Bob visited Ballyjamesduff, Ireland. (Yes, go ahead and say that rapidly three times over.) Their travels took them to McBride's Pub, a small local establishment. Behind the pub, was McBride's Funeral Home - and, as it turned out, both businesses were owned by two brothers. 

Ta-Dah! An idea for the old garage was born: build it into a pub. It seemed natural to name the new pub McBride's as a tip of the cap to the pub they visited in Ireland. Photos from the original McBride's Pub are on the walls here. Take a look at the photos. Yes, that is a funeral home connected to the bar…and yes that was a 9 car garage. 

As Mark and Bob worked on the renovation of the garage, they brought some unique features to their new pub. They restored two stained glass doors that had once been part of the funeral home's smoking room. These doors, originally constructed in the 1930's by Thomas Monahan, featured the "M" crest. They are now hung on either side of the bar, and the "M" has become the logo for McBride’s.

What a great place for an Irish Wake! Services are right next door. 

McBride’s Irish Pub. 

161 Wayland Avenue

Providence, Rhode Ireland

401-751-3000

Sunday…I can’t believe it! The literary says DAY OFF!!!

Of course, he is in Miami, so who wouldn’t take a day off there…

I wonder if he’ll go visit an Irish pub?