On St. Patrick's Day, so they say, everyone is Irish.

Maybe. Maybe not. But certainly on St. Patrick's Day, every bar is Irish.

For many celebrants, the country of their favorite watering hole's origin will not matter to them on Monday, St. Paddy's Day. What matters to them is that they are at a place where, like Norm and Cliff on "Cheers," everybody knows their name.

But some people are purists. St. Patrick's Day is Irish, and they want to spend it at a pub that isn't Irish just on Monday, but the other 364 days of the year, too. Or, this being a leap year, 365.

The following is a compendium of the real thing, Irish pubs in the area that are actually Irish. Or at least, Irish-ish.

BAILEY'S PUB & GRILLE 11581 Robious Road, (804) 560-4600 and BAILEY'S SMOKEHOUSE & TAVERN 7502 W. Broad St., (804) 755-6800.

Irish beers on tap: Guinness ($4.75 for a 16-ounce pint), Killian's (which is brewed in America), Smithwick's.

Irish whiskeys: Jameson, Bushmills, Black Bush.

Number of dartboards: Two.

Irish pub ambience: Extensive wood paneling, green wall, English hunting prints.

What makes an Irish pub? "It's more the atmosphere. Dimly lit, wood/stone finish," said general manager Mike Patterson.

Plans for St. Patrick's Day: Still to be announced, as of deadline.

BLACKFINN RESTAURANT AND SALOON 1001 Haxall Point, Riverside on the James, 643-3466. Irish beers on tap: Guinness ($5 for a 16-ounce pint), Harp, Smithwick's.

Irish whiskeys: Jameson. Will have Bushmills in for St. Patrick's Day.

Number of dartboards: None.

Irish pub ambience: Dark woods, brass. BlackFinn recently switched its format to an American pub with residual Irish touches.

What makes an Irish pub? "Most people put it on what's behind the bar or in the kitchen, but I think it's the feel. We have a lot of regulars that when they come in, we take care of, and it's like an Irish pub," said assistant manager Lewis Meredith.

Plans for St. Patrick's Day: Fifteen-piece bagpipe performance Saturday night. It also features Irish-themed trivia 9 p.m. every Tuesday.

DUBLIN'S IRISH PUB 7526 Mechanicsville Turnpike, 723-5582.

Irish beers on tap: Guinness ($5 for a 16-ounce pint; club members receive 25-ounce mugs ), Harp, Killian's, Murphy's Red, Smithwick's.

Irish whiskeys: Jameson, Tullamore Dew, Bushmills, Bushmills 10-year, Black Bush, Bushmills Single Malt, Kilbeggan.

Number of dartboards: Two.

Irish pub ambience: Irish and English music, firefighter and police patches, "A Poem for Me Mudder" poster, photo of George Bernard Shaw, sometime meeting place of the Irish-American Society of Greater Richmond, "Irishmen avenge the Lusitania" poster, sheet music for song "Ireland Is Ireland to Me" which was "written for and sung with great success by Fiske O'Hara."

What makes an Irish pub? "The menu. The music. The people. The friendship," said co-owner Mike Mancini.

Plans for St. Patrick's Day: Open 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. for a party in the parking lot that will feature four bands, tricycle races, an egg toss and a best-kilt walk. A $10 cover charge will benefit the Knights of Columbus.

McCORMACK'S IRISH PUB 12 N. 18th St., 648-1003.

Irish beers on tap: Guinness ($6.25 for a 20-ounce imperial pint), Harp, Murphy's Extra Stout, Smithwick's.

Irish whiskeys: Jameson, Jameson 12-year, Jameson 18-year, Bushmills, Bushmills 10-year, Bushmills 16-year, Black Bush, Knappogue Castle, Michael Collins, Tullamore Dew, Tullamore Dew 12-year, Tyrconnell, Middleton Very Rare, Connemara, Redbreast.

Number of dartboards: Three.

Irish pub ambience: Guinness posters, framed Irish toast: "May you be in Heaven for two hours before the devil knows you're dead."

What makes an Irish pub? "That homey feeling. People feel welcome," said manager Melissa Ambrose.

Plans for St. Patrick's Day: Don't bother stopping by unless your picture's on the wall there. Owner Mac McCormack says he limits admission to regular customers -- he has about 1,500 of their pictures on the walls. "It's just a way to thank our regular patrons," he said.

O'BANK'S CAFÉ AND GRILL 10392 Leadbetter Road in the Hanover Air Park, 550-3888

Irish beers on tap: Guinness ($5.50 for a 16-ounce pint), Harp, Wexford Irish Cream Ale (in a can).

Irish whiskeys: Bushmills, Jameson.

Number of dartboards: None.

Irish pub ambience: Not much, aside from a long, dark-wood bar. Most of the décor is fish-related. But an impressive array of high-end bourbons.

What makes an Irish pub? "I think it's camaraderie. There's more to it, but that's the most important point. You can put up any sign, serve any beer, paint anything green, and it's not an Irish pub unless you have that feeling," said owner Jeff Friz.

Plans for St. Patrick's Day: No special events planned, "just lots of beer."

O'TOOLE'S RESTAURANT 4800 Forest Hill Ave. 233-1781

Irish beers on tap: Guinness ($5 for 16-ounce pint), Harp, Smithwick's.

Irish whiskeys: Bushmills, Jameson, Tullamore Dew.

Number of dartboards: There will be four when the new addition is completed.

Irish pub ambience: Dozens of Irish family crests on the walls, a couple of shamrocks, occasional live Irish music (including bagpipes on the 17th of every month, "St. Practice Day"), a smattering of leprechauns.

What makes an Irish pub? "The people," said bartender Lauren Thomas.

Plans for St. Patrick's Day: The party begins Saturday and spills out into a tent on Sunday and Monday, with live music. Performers include Janet Martin, The Peter Jennings Band, The Havers, Tinker's Dam and Uisce Beatha. There's a $5 cover Sunday night and Monday.

PENNY LANE PUB 421 E. Franklin St. 780-1682.

Extenuating circumstances: Bar owner Terry O'Neill is from Liverpool, which, despite a large Irish population, is in England. Technically, therefore, this 30-year-old granddaddy of Richmond pubs is English, but bartender Abran Shaffer says, "We try to be a United Kingdom pub. Irish, English, Scottish, Welsh. We accept all."

Irish beers on tap: Guinness ($5.50 for a 20-ounce imperial pint), Harp, Smithwick's.

Irish whiskeys: Jameson, Bushmills, Bushmills Malt, Black Bush, Tullamore Dew, Kilbeggan, Michael Collins.

Number of dartboards: One.

English/Irish pub ambience: Bar towels, pictures of Queen Elizabeth II (astride a horse), Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth I, pictures of Winston Churchill, many pictures of the Liverpool Football Club ("You'll never walk alone"), soccer on at least one TV at all times, Guinness posters, Beatles paraphernalia, poster reading "Daddy, what did you do in the Great War?"

What makes an Irish pub? "To me, it's the coziness. There's usually dark wood. On a cold day, it's a good destination to go to. Low ceilings make it easy to talk without yelling over the music. Everyone gets along 'cause they all share in a comfortable atmosphere, whether you're a suit or a Deadhead or reggae," said manager Terence O'Neill.

Plans for St. Patrick's Day: "Fun and frivolity."

POE'S PUB 2706 E. Main St., 648-2120.

Irish beers on tap: Guinness ($4.50 for a 20-ounce imperial pint), Harp, Killian's Red, Smithwick's.

Irish whiskeys: Bushmills, Black Bush, Jameson, Michael Collins, Tullamore Dew.

Number of dartboards: One.

Irish pub ambience: Mirrors advertising Irish whiskeys and beers, neon shamrock, wood paneling, sign reading "God created liquor to keep the Irish from conquering the world."

What makes an Irish pub? "Being able to sit down and have some drinks with some good friends. There's a certain camaraderie in an Irish pub," said manager Dan Britt.

Plans for St. Patrick's Day: Not heavy on Irish food, except for corned beef and cabbage, but "the place is an Irish pub . . . by its atmosphere and feel," said owner Mike Britt. There's plenty of Irish beer on tap, too, and bagpipes and drums to entertain for extended hours from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

RARE OLDE TIMES 10602 Patterson Ave., 750-1346

Irish beers on tap: Guinness ($5 for a 16-ounce pint), Harp, Smithwick's.

Irish whiskeys: Jameson, Jameson 12-year, Bushmills, Powers, Tullamore Dew, Michael Collins, Redbreast.

Number of dartboards: Two.

Irish pub ambience: Wood paneling, police patches from all over, including Hawaii, Austin, Texas, and the Supreme Court of the United States, mirror advertising Jameson whiskey with two clocks, one showing "Dublin time" and one showing "our time," Guinness posters (including Guinness Gold), Irish harps, T-shirts, shamrocks and photos of Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, James Joyce, W.B. Yeats, Brendan Behan and Sean O'Casey.

What makes an Irish pub? "[Owner] Andy [Jennings] would say 'the music.' Good friends and good Guinness," said manager Rob Mercurio.

Plans for St. Patrick's Day: This public house is importing Suas, a four-piece band that plays traditional Irish music, for the weekend. The band will play at the restaurant Friday through Monday, with a $5 cover charge.

ROSIE CONNOLLY'S PUB AND RESTAURANT 1548 E. Main St., 343-1063.

Extenuating circumstances: Owner Tommy Goulding is from Liverpool, England, but his parents were Irish. The pub is named for his grandmother.

Irish beers on tap: Guinness ($5 for 16-ounce pint, $6 for 20-ounce imperial pint), Harp, Smithwick's.

Irish whiskeys: Knappogue Castle, Michael Collins, Redbreast, Bushmills, Black Bush, Bushmills Single Malt, Jameson, Jameson 12-year, Tullamore Dew, Middleton (when available).

Number of dartboards: None ("We took it out. People were trashing it").

Irish pub ambience: Bar towels, ashtrays advertising English beers, mirrors advertising beers and whiskey, hunting-scene prints, Celtic knot design in stained glass, two-tiered tables and stools imported from Ireland, police patches.

What makes an Irish pub? "The same familiar faces serving you. Happy customers. The atmosphere. People like to come," said Goulding.

Plans for St. Patrick's Day: Friday, the Irish band Suas will play, and Sunday, Richmond's own Uisce Beatha will perform.

SHENANIGANS EATERY AND PUB 4017 MacArthur Ave., 264-5010

Irish beer on tap: Guinness ($5.50 for a 16-ounce pint).

Irish whiskeys: Bushmills, Jameson, Kilbeggan, Tullamore Dew, Powers.

Number of dartboards: None

Irish pub ambience: Um, not much. But most of the staff is Irish. And they do have Guinness.

What makes an Irish pub? "An Irish girl working there," manager Kathy "Bonkers" Bryant said, pointing to herself. "It's a lot of fun. We have a lot of live music." Plans for St. Patrick's Day: Li'l Ronnie and the Grand Dukes will play on Sunday and The Taters on Monday.

SINÉ IRISH PUB 1327 E. Cary St., 649-7767.

Irish beers on tap: Guinness ($5 for a 16-ounce pint), Harp, Killian's, Murphy's Red, Murphy's Stout, Smithwick's.

Irish whiskeys: Jameson, Bushmills, Bushmills Malt, Black Bush, Powers, Tullamore Dew, Middleton, Michael Collins, Redbreast, Kilbeggan.

Number of dartboards: Two.

Irish pub ambience: Woodwork, wood beams, metalwork, tiles and mantelpiece all imported from Ireland, murals on ceiling by an Irish artist, Guinness signs, Irish family crests.

What makes an Irish pub? "Atmosphere. It's community-oriented. People can come in and sit down and get in a conversation with the person next to you. Beer selection. Food. Lots of Guinness. Basically, beer and atmosphere," said manager Charlie Floyd.

Plans for St. Patrick's Day: Friday night, the U2 tribute band Even Better Than the Real Thing will play at 9:45 p.m. with no cover charge. Saturday, the restaurant will hold its eighth annual street party, with Uisce Beatha, US, Naughty Little Monkey and Broken Monday, playing from 1 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. for a $3 cover charge. More entertainment is planned for St. Patrick's Day.

SULLIVAN'S IRISH PUB 301 S. Railroad Ave., Ashland, 752-1628

Irish beers on tap: Guinness ($5 for a 16-ounce pint), Harp, Killian's, Sullivan's Irish Red Ale, Smithwick's.

Irish whiskeys: Jameson, Jameson 12-year, Bushmills, Tullamore Dew, Kilbeggan.

Number of dartboards: Three.

Irish pub ambience: Irish music, Irish flags, including three for Irish regiments in the American Civil War, pictures of Irish Civil War regiments and photos of individual Irish immigrant Civil War soldiers, police and fire patches, Guinness posters and paraphernalia, photo of heavyweight champion John L. Sullivan, wood barrels, poster of a 17th century nun's prayer.

What makes an Irish pub? "The atmosphere. When you walk into the pub for the first time, I want you to feel like you're walking into a living room. By the third time, I want you to feel like you're walking into your own living room. You shouldn't worry about bringing a friend you can meet a friend here," said owner Greg Sullivan. Plans for St. Patrick's Day: It will be open special hours, 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday through Monday, with Celtic dancers and bagpipes.

Contact Daniel Neman at (804) 649-6408 or dneman@timesdispatch.com
Contact Karin Kapsidelis at (804) 649-6119 or kkapsidelis@timesdispatch.com.