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Going brogue: Where to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Brooklyn

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Irish eyeglasses are smiling: Marchers donned their Irish-themed gear for the Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day parade, happening this year on March 22.
Photo by Jordan Rathkopf

Update: In response to health concerns about spreading the novel coronavirus, the St. Patrick’s Day parades on March 15 and March 22 have been postponed, until dates to be determined later. For all other events, we advise you call ahead to make sure they are still going on. 

Get ready for some shenanigans!

Saint Patrick’s Day has returned to chase the snakes from Brooklyn! The celebration of Irish culture is also your best excuse to down a few pints of Guinness and fill up on corn beef and cabbage. We found some of the best Irish events in the borough, so that you can get your green on!

Going green: Indie rocker Kevin Devine will play as Kenny O’Brien and the O’Douls on March 14 at Rough Trade. Photo courtesy of Kenny Devine. 

Shamrock ‘n’ roll 

Indie rock standby Kevin Devine will resurrect his Celtic side project Kenny O’Brien and the O’Douls for an early St. Paddy’s show at Rough Trade. The group plays uptempo indie-punk with added Celtic instrumentation, including mandolins and fiddles, which they put on record this year with an eponymous album.

Kenny O’Brien and the O’Douls at Rough Trade [64 N. Ninth St. between Wythe and Kent Avenues in Williamsburg, (718) 388–4111, www.roughtrade.com]. March 14 at 9 pm. $30. 

Step in time: Students with the Buckley School of Irish Dance will march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Park Slope.Photo by Caroline Ourso

Good green fun

Show off your Irish pride at the 45th annual Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Day Parade! On March 15 at 9 am, the day will start with a mass at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Windsor Terrace. Then green-bedecked revelers will assemble at Prospect Park West and 15th Street, ready to step off at 1 pm. The parade, led by Grand Marshal and Brooklyn Parks Commissioner Marty Maher, will march down 15th Street to Seventh Avenue, head to Garfield Place, then turn back to Prospect Park West and return to its origin. Expect loads of kilts and bagpipes!

Brooklyn Saint Patrick’s Day Parade (starting at Prospect Park West and 15th Street in Park Slope). March 15 at 1 pm. Free. 

Haven on Earth 

For a proper Saint Patrick’s Day in a pub, ascend to Sunset Park’s Irish Haven, where the Guinness will be flowing and corned beef and cabbage will be served starting at 8 am. In the evening, traditional Irish trio Bog Turtles will serenade patrons with folk tunes from the Emerald Isle. 

Bog Turtles at Irish Haven [5721 Fourth Ave. at 58th Street in Sunset Park, (718) 439–9893]. March 17 at 7 pm. Free. 

Craic the case

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will host a special St. Patrick’s Day screening of Martin Scorcese’s 2006 crime drama “The Departed” — a quintessential piece of Irish-American culture, partially filmed at the Irish Haven — along with a three-course meal that includes buttered ham sandwiches, corned beef brisket with green cabbage, and a cannoli, each accompanied by an Irish brew. 

“The Departed St. Patrick’s Day Beer Dinner” at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema [445 Albee Sq. West, fourth floor, between Willoughby and Fulton streets Downtown, (718) 513–2547, www.drafthouse.com]. March 17 at 6:30 pm. $70.

Gold digger: The horror film “Leprechaun,” starring Warwick Davis as the gold-loving Irish goblin, has become a St. Patrick’s Day staple.

Mean and green 

Across town, you can spend Saint Patrick’s Day in the most classic example of Celtic cinema: “Leprechaun.” In this first  installment of the schlocky horror franchise, the titular leprechaun goes on a killing spree after he is accidentally released by a group of teens (including Jennifer Aniston in her film debut). A ridiculous reign of terror ensues. 

“Leprechaun” at Nitehawk Prospect Park [188 Prospect Park West at 14th Street in Park Slope, (929) 282–4300, www.nitehawkcinema.com/prospectpark]. March 17 at 9:30 pm. $15. 

Green Bay 

Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations will keep chugging through the weekend! On the Sunday after the holiday, head south for the Bay Ridge Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. First, the Little Leprechaun’s Kids’ Fun Run, a fund-raiser for the Love Conquers Cancer charity, will send kids racing eight blocks along the closed Third Avenue, from Irish bar Wicked Monk to wing spot Kettle Black, where there will be snacks and kids’ activities. 

At noon, the big procession will march 30 blocks along Third Avenue, from Marine Avenue to 67th street. The parade, led by grand marshal Linda Gallagher-Lomanto (the former president of the parade committee), will feature floats, bands, dancers, and Irish locals with loads of shamrock apparel. 

Little Leprechaun’s Kids Fun Run [starts at the Wicked Monk, 9510 Third Ave. at 95th streets in Bay Ridge, (718) 316-5595, www.wickedmonk.com]. March 22 at 11:30 am (sign-up at 10:30 am). $20.

Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Third Avenue from Marine Avenue to 67th Street in Bay Ridge, www.brparade.com). March 22 at noon. Free.

Wicked fun! 

After the parade, make a pilgrimage to the Wicked Monk for some day drinking and Irish tunes. Bronx band New York Brogue will take the stage at 2 pm, followed by Slainte, a Boston band that specializes in upbeat Irish party music, followed by the bar’s weekly seisun of Irish tunes, where anyone with an instrument or a voice is welcome to join in. 

St. Patrick’s Day music at the Wicked Monk [9510 Third Ave. at 95th Street in Bay Ridge, (718) 316-5595, www.wickedmonk.com]. March 22; 2–6:30 pm. Free.