It’s almost time to don your green attire and enjoy Irish tunes, tasty ales and stouts, some whiskey shots, and, of course, great food! And with a performance by Irish/Gaelic musician Patrick O’Flaherty, you’ll certainly want to make Lewisburg your destination for the greenest of all holidays!
On St. Patrick’s Day, Amy’s Market, owned by Amy Mills, will have “Pot of Gold” gourmet milkshakes, with green mint-chip ice cream. They will be serving breakfast and lunch. They also have bakery items and a farmer’s market. Amy’s Market opened in 2016 as “Amy’s Cakes and Cones” before moving to their current location in Montwell Park in 2020.
Hill and Holler, owned by Jody and Kate Wooton, will be serving an “Irish Pizza Special,” in addition to the regular menu. Guinness and Irish whiskey will be flowing as well.
At the parade, we hope to see some floats (bring one if you can—think little red wagon size), maybe some parade throws for onlookers, and possibly some fantastic surprises. Everyone is welcome to join the parade!
Patrick O’Flaherty will be playing traditional Celtic music at Hill and Holler from 3-9pm, and will also lead the Shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade ever with his accordion in hand. Patrick will be accompanied by Grand Marshall Ted Gosnell. Parade line-up will begin inside Amy’s Market at 5pm. The marching and revelry will proceed to Hill and Holler’s front door.
A little background from the Grand Marshall, himself: “On Sunday, August 10th, 2008, I rode my motorcycle into Lewisburg. I stayed at the Econo Lodge (which is now Hill and Holler) where I swapped my boots and jeans for boat shoes and cutoffs, then walked into town for some supper. The only place open that evening, some 13+ years ago, was the Irish Pub on Washington St. As I finished a delicious supper of Irish Stew and Shepherd’s Pie, someone brought a big bass fiddle down from upstairs and placed it near the front door. I, myself, was planning on an after supper return to my room for reading and eventually sleep, but my curiosity got the better of me. So instead I ordered another adult beverage and waited to see what would develop.
What unfolded was an old-fashioned Irish session with guitars, mandolins, a bass fiddle, violins, fiddles, and even a bodhran. I was mesmerized as I had found a little bit of Ireland right here in W.Va…
I kept returning to the Pub over the years, and became enamored with Greenbrier County. Ten years and a day later after my first visit to the Pub, my wife and I moved into our new Greenbrier County home. Although I am not sure why Patrick chose me to be this year’s Grand Marshall, I am honored to do so.”
The parade was first held at the Irish Pub on Washington St. in 2009. Except for last year, it has happened every year since. It’s always been a blast. Past parades have had dancers, pipers, drummers, Irish wolfhounds, floats, fire eaters, martial arts demonstrations, and all kinds of shenanigans.
The idea for the Shortest St. Patrick’s Parade Ever came from Patrick’s very dear friends from Belfast, Stephen and Pauline Patterson. They owned an Irish Pub in New Orleans from 2002 to 2016, and hosted their own parade for many years. When Stephen and Pauline came to visit the Irish Pub on Washington St. they suggested trying a mini-parade here in Lewisburg.
Why should everyone come to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Hill and Holler? To have a great time and celebrate their Irish heritage. Or celebrate the Irish in general. And eat pizza. And drink beer. And see friends. And listen to great Irish music. Come raise a pint with us! Slainté!”
Now that Saint Patrick’s Day is fast approaching, you’ll want to find the right spot to grab your stout or ale, listen to Irish tunes, and enjoy the festivities. For St. Patrick’s Day, and every other day, Amy’s Market and Hill and Holler (970 Jefferson Street N. in downtown Lewisburg) hold several events with specials each week.
If you want to hire Patrick to play at your venue, he can be reached at 304.646.6554 or oflaherty.patrick1@gmail.com. See his performance schedule as well as more St Patrick’s Day events on our AGENDA.
– Matthew Young, HashtagWV #140. March 2022.
Matthew Young has been a resident of Lewisburg, WV since December 2019. Prior to arriving in West Virginia, Matthew resided in the Philadelphia area, where his reporting, commentary, and editorials have been featured in numerous local and regional publications. Previously, he has served as a scriptwriter and consultant for television, radio, and various other short-form digital-media platforms, both within the United States and internationally. Since moving to the Mountain State, Matthew spent eighteen months as senior writer/managing editor for the West Virginia Daily News and is currently an active journalist with the West Virginia Press Association.