March 17 is right around the corner and you know what that means (and no I’m not talking about the one year anniversary of KU losing to Bradley in the first round of March Madness). St. Patty’s Day! The one day of the year where you can gather with friends in the wee hours of the morning and begin the celebration of, well, celebrating!

And what better way to compliment the Irish festivities than to spend the entire day at a pub. I’m not just talking about any run-of-the-mill pub either. I want entertainment, an authentic and explosive atmosphere, and drink specials which remind me that everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. If this is what you’re looking for, then spend your St. Patty’s Day at Frances O’Dooleys, which, as bartender Darren White said, is “the only real Irish pub in town.” Located at 19th and Westport, O’Dooleys is opening their doors at 9 a.m. for the strong of heart (and stomach) and keeping the party going until 2 a.m. (you heard me right, that’s 17 hours). O’Dooleys features traditional Irish charisma, ranging from the authentic look and feel of the wood floors and antique walls, to the friendly wait staff and bartenders.

Drink specials include $3 Guinness pints and $3 Belfast Bombers, so go out on a limb and try something other than your usual “light” beer. For those of you who just can’t stand the thought of dark beer, O’Dooleys offers a variety of other draught beers, including Strongbow, Blue Moon, Newcastle, as well as the usual Budweiser/Coors products. Five menu items will be available throughout the course of the day, and breakfast provisions will be available for the true Irish at heart.

As far as entertainment is concerned, the parking lot will be partially blocked to house live music open to bar patrons. Live, traditional Irish music will be played inside the bar over the course of the day as well. For those wanting to watch March Madness games, Lucky Dog’s sports bar will be open for business, sharing the same wait staff and specials as O’Dooleys.

With the ambiance and merrymaking found only in an Irish pub, Frances O’Dooleys is the only place to spend your St. Patrick’s Day. If you need an excuse to go out, just remember that it’s St. Patty’s Day, everyone’s Irish! Party hard, party responsibly, take care of your wait staff, and in the spirit of the Irish “Sláinte!”