Baile Corcaigh 1426 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-963-4546: Baile Corcaigh (pronounced "Bally Cork") will not accept reservations for St. Patrick's Day, though a crowd is expected, drawn by their shortened menu of Irish fare. Baile Corcaigh opens at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, St. Patrick's Day. Eire America will be there Friday the 13th, live Irish entertainment on Saturday. Open 8 a.m. Sunday. Irish band The Diggers will play after the parade on Sunday. No cover, open until 2 a.m., specialty Irish drinks will be available. Plus, they'll have live entertainment on Tuesday.
Bailey's Pub 22091 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-277-3212; 1777 Canton Center Rd., Canton; 734-844-1137; 1965 W. Maple, Troy; 248-435-3044: The Bailey's Pub triumvirate thinks you need a little conditioning before your St. Patrick's Day. All three locations are hosting a "St. Practice Day" in order to get your tolerance" up for the big day itself. St. Practice Day starts at 11 a.m. on Saturday, complete with plenty of drink specials to get you in that right kind of mood. All three locations will sport TVs for March Madness, more than 30 beers on tap, and enough bagpipers to make your head spin.
The Blarney Stone 27253 Woodward Ave., Berkley; 248-541-1881: In typical St. Patrick's Day fashion, Blarney Stone will open its doors at 7 a.m. Not so typically, the bar will host radio's WDFN "The Fan." Giveaways and contests will go on all day — with the possibility of immortalizing your drunken antics live over the airwaves in the offing. One of the bar's two parking lots will be taken over by a massive, heated beer tent, lending comfort to your binge-drinking.
Claddagh Irish Pub 17800 Haggerty Rd., Livonia; 734-542-8141: Claddagh opens at 6 a.m. to serve an Irish breakfast to those with an Irish cheer. Entertainment throughout the day and into the evening will consist of Irish dancers, bagpipers and three bands. Live radio broadcast by 96.3 6-10 a.m., and a corned beef hash breakfast until 11 a.m. The day promises lots of live music as well as Irish dancing, Guinness and Jameson girls. Cover is $10; VIP tickets available early online.
Conor O'Neill's Traditional Irish Pub 318 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-665-2968: The closest thing Ann Arbor has to an Irish bar, Conor O'Neill's will approach St. Patrick's Day with a little more inclusiveness. Aside from obvious deals on Guinness for Mom and Dad, there will be a kids' dash and face-painting on Sunday, and plenty of wholesome Irish piping and dancing. If the regular menu is any indication, the St. Patrick's Day fare will be among the best in Michigan.
Cowley's Old Village Inn 33338 Grand River Ave., Farmington; 248-474-5941: Open 10 a.m.-1 a.m., 21 and older, $10 cover, live music from "Free Beer," "Corktown Brew" and "50-Amp Fuse." Expect corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, and a regular menu priced around $6-$12.
Dick O'Dow's 160 W. Maple Rd., Birmingham; 248-642-1135: Opening at 7 a.m. for breakfast, the big day will see three bands playing, starting at 9 a.m.: The McGlynns, Gerard Smith and Terry Murphy, as well as bagpipers throughout the day. No cover, normal prices apply, open until 2 a.m. Live Irish music Friday and Saturday as well.
Duggan's Irish Pub 31501 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak; 248-549-3659: The day's Irish menu will feature corned beef and cabbage, shepherd's pie, a corned beef Rueben, and mugs of green beer. In the morning, the pub will host 89X, with the stirring sounds of live bagpipes later in the day. No cover; open 7 a.m.-2 a.m.
Foran's Irish Pub 612 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-961-3043: Foran's makes its home in the historic Grand Trunk Railroad Station on Woodward and Congress. In this historic space, they commonly offer special food, drink and entertainment on the big day. Call after 5 p.m. for details.
Gaelic League and Irish American Club 2068 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-964-8700: Ground Zero for Detroit's Irish community, this spot is a reliable destination for parade day (March 15). They usually offer beer, corned beef sandwiches, turkey sandwiches and Irish stew to its member patrons. The Gaelic League is about a block west of the parade route, but there's always a huge scene there, both inside the club and out back.
Gus O'Connor's Irish Pub 42875 Grand River Ave., Novi; 248-465-9670: Starting at 7 a.m., a $10 cover gets you access to both floors on St. Patrick's Day only, a total of 10,000 square feet (no cover Friday through Monday). Food choices include a complimentary breakfast of scrambled eggs, rashers (Irish bacon) and potatoes O'Brian, with a limited menu of Corned Beef Sandwiches and Guinness Stew.
Irish Tavern 4703 Elizabeth Lake Rd., Waterford; 248-683-9056: Expect live Irish music all day from "The Entertainer," as well as a live DJ, bagpipers, corned beef specials, green beer and standard prices; $3 cover after 6 p.m; open 9 a.m.-2 a.m.
Kennedy's Irish Pub 1055 W. Huron St., Pontiac; 248-681-1050: Irish entertainment all day, starting at 9 a.m., featuring the Gaels, serving green eggs and ham (morning only), and corned beef and cabbage for dinner. For competitive drinkers, try the green apple Pucker luge.
The Lager House 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-961-4668: OK, so years of rockin' and rollin' may have chipped away at the bar's Irish identity, but where else can you chill in the "Jerome P. Cavanagh Social Room" on parade day? Open 10 a.m.-2 a.m.; live entertainment at night; no cover.
Malarkey's Irish Sports Bar 14980 Dix-Toledo Rd. Southgate; 734-281-2616: Only those 21 and older allowed all St. Patrick's Day, though they'll open at 7 a.m. to accommodate the grownups. They promise corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew and stuffed cabbage, starting with a scrambled eggs and bacon breakfast at 7 a.m. Expect WRIF's Mike in the Morning live 6-10 a.m. and 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and WCSX's Ken Calvert 2-6 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. They'll have a 10,000-square-foot tent outside, opening at 3 p.m. Expect the usual bagpipers, "leprechauns" (little people in costume), and giveaways.
O'Blivion's Corktown Café 1800 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-962-1383: Occupying a prime spot on the parade route, O'Blivion's Corktown Café will have corned beef and cabbage for lunch, Guinness stout on draft and live music from the Barley Boys Jug Band. Hot dogs, domestic beer and earplugs will also be on hand for confirmed Yanks. Amenities also available March 16 and 17, with the bar open noon-3 p.m. for Sunday's St. Patrick's Day parade.
Old Shillelagh 349 Monroe St., Detroit; 313-964-0007: The Shillelagh claims to have "the world's hugest St. Patrick's Day party." For the past 10 or 15 years, the Shillelagh has celebrated the land of the leprechaun in two heated tents (Saturday and Tuesday only, this year) that can hold more than 800 people. Practice your Irish party spirit on Saturday at the "St. Practice Day" party, which starts at 6 p.m. On Sunday, it's the perfect place to celebrate after the parade. Wear your green on Tuesday to the St. Patrick's Day Party, starting at 6 a.m. Giveaways, food and beer will be plentiful. Who knows what will take place amid all the excitement this year; $10 cover charge.
O'Mara's 2555 W. 12 Mile Rd., Berkley; 248-399-6750: This brewpub calls itself "Michigan's best-kept Irish dining secret." Their shepherd's pie and Irish stew are menu staples. Those looking to have some Irish fun should make reservations, but St. Patrick's Day will feature four shows with a cover charge of $5 for Inis Cole, the Given Note and a $10 cover for the Blackthorn Band. Celebrating Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14, with live entertainment 8-midnight both nights. Opens at noon St. Patty's and closes at 2 a.m.
O'Tooles 4000 Cass Elizabeth Rd., Waterford; 248-683-3494: Live entertainment all day long, with Mike Lush, Joey Spina and Rev. Right Time. Using the enclosed deck-patio to open add capacity, they'll have the River FM in the house, $3-$4 green beers, bagpipes, and plenty of corned beef; $5 cover after 5 p.m.; open 8 a.m.-2 a.m.
Rosie O'Grady's 175 W. Troy St., Ferndale; 248-591-9163; with locations in Chesterfield and Clinton Twp.; Rosie's will have a limited Irish menu, including Guinness brats; $5 cover.
Sheehan's on the Green 39450 Five Mile Rd., Plymouth; 734-420-0646: There will be no cover charge for Sheehan's 33rd Annual St. Patrick's Day Event. They'll open at 10 a.m., March 17, with trusty corned beef and cabbage, corned beef sandwiches, Irish stew and green beer. Expect live sing-alongs and take shelter in their heated, covered outdoor patio.
