Joel Herrera
Boston held its first St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1737, followed by New York City in 1762. Other cities with large Irish immigrant populations then started to follow suit. Chicago one-upped green beer with the tradition of turning its river green in 1962, and Dallas raised a pint with its first parade in 1979.
This year marked the 41st annual North Texas Irish Festival, where just weeks ago, tens of thousands came out to celebrate Irish culture through live music, dance, storytelling and plenty of food and drink. Although the event has come and gone for 2023, North Texans should consider themselves lucky to have other great ways to celebrate Celtic heritage here in North Texas.
Take The Most Irish Road Trip In Texas
With St. Patrick’s Day falling on a Friday, this year is the perfect opportunity to take the most Irish road trip this side of the Atlantic. A simple loop can bring you to the trinity of Ireland, Dublin and Shamrock, Texas before returning back to Southlake in 12 hours drive time.
The first leg of this trip is just two hours south, where a brief stop for selfies in Ireland is a must. Named after the late Texas governor John Ireland, this former railroad boomtown lies 60 miles west of Waco. It reached its peak population of 400 people in the 1920s, but today, TexasEscapes.com categorizes the city of under 100 as a ghost town.
Having grabbed that “Welcome to Ireland” photo, it's time to be on your way toward Dublin, the official Irish Capital of Texas. One of nine U.S. cities to bear the name of Ireland’s capital, Dublin is home to the Dublin Bottling Works, which opened in 1891 and bottled Dr. Pepper for over a century. It’s no longer working with the famed cola, but they are still bottling its own line of sodas, with flavors including ginger beer, vanilla cream, Texas Sweet Peach and 1891 Red Cola.
Those who time it right can enjoy the Dublin Chamber of Commerce’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival happening March 16-18, which features its own parade, vendors and Irish stew cook-off.
The final leg brings you 300 miles north to the Texas Panhandle city of Shamrock, roughly 95 miles east of Amarillo. As part of the historic Route 66, there is much to see year-round like the Conoco Tower and the Magnolia Gas Station. Shamrock becomes a very popular destination in March, as it hosts the Official St. Patrick’s Day Festival of Texas. This year’s 76th annual celebration entitled “Green and Free” happens March 17th through 19th. The three-day event is packed with live music, a carnival, car and craft shows, a wing-eating contest and a Donegal Beard contest (think Abe Lincoln).
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Show A Little Knee
When you want to scratch that itch for an authentic wool kilt, Things Celtic in Dublin, Texas is your go-to resource with a network of tartan manufacturers from across the pond and a fabric sample book of over 500 choices. If you’ve got the time, they’ve got you covered — to the knee that is! They also boast more than 3,000 imported items, including Celtic jewelry and gifts of all types.
Go Green With Irish Nachos
J. Gilligan’s Bar And Grill may not be an Irish Bar, but as owner Randy Ford told “The Food Network,” his bar has a little bit of the luck o’ the Irish thanks to its world-famous nachos. Open since 1979, J. Gilligan’s has become an Arlington staple that always wins thanks to its Irish Nachos. Subbing out tortilla chips with the power of the potato, this bar food delight has also been featured on the “Travel Channel” and “ESPN U Road Trip,” and for good reason. The dish starts with a bed of sliced, fried and seasoned potatoes and tops them with aged Wisconsin cheddar cheese, bacon, onions, chives, tomatoes and of course, jalapenos. Just like their counterparts, they can be ordered with ground beef or grilled chicken to satisfy any appetite. Pair them with some green beer and live music at their 44th annual Block Party, which will be held on March 17.
Go Irish With Cuban
The 43rd annual Greenville Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade returns on March 16. Sponsored by the Dallas Mavericks and their owner Mark Cuban, this neighborhood festival has evolved into one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country, with over 125,000 attendees and 100 parade entries. The pre-parade event opens at 9 a.m., and the parade starts at 11 a.m. The event will feature local DJs, food trucks, bars and live music.
Grab A Pint From An Old Irish Pub
If you’ve never hoisted a pint at an Irish pub, there’s no better time of year to do so than March. And if you’re in Dallas, there’s no better place to do so than at The Dubliner Irish Pub on Lower Greenville Avenue. Owned and operated by Dubliner Peter Kenny, this traditional pub prides itself on its draught Guinness and expertly-curated Irish and Scottish whiskies.
