Trail of beers

Who to hear and where to drink
on St. Patrick’s Parade day

NO PRO BONO: Belfast Andi

by ERIK LEIJON

Put down the pint, Hank the Tank, time for a Catholic guilt trip. Before the tomfoolery of the 186th Montreal St. Patrick’s Parade this Sunday, March 14, raise a glass to the people who make this great day happen.

People like West Belfast native Andriù MacGabhann, affectionately known as Belfast Andi (a better moniker than when he was pejoratively nicknamed Semtex while residing in London). The traditional Irish musician recalls St. Patrick’s Day growing up on the Emerald Isle being more about Sunday mass than mass consumption. “Coming here, it was a big culture shock, the three-hour parade and all that,” says Andi. “[In Ireland] it was more of a religious thing than an excuse to drink green beer.”

It’s going to be hard work for Andi and his fellow minstrels, as their Sunday will not be spent waving at floats or trying to corral the parade queen’s phone number, but a 6 a.m.–midnight workday. So do Andi—who might not accept your complementary Irish Car Bomb considering he’s actually seen first-hand the effect of a car bomb in Ireland—a favour and not request U2 or the wholly inappropriate Canuck sea shanty “Barrett’s Privateers.” Andi knows the classics, so let him take you on a journey to the lush, rolling greens of his homeland. “I had a guy come up to me once and ask if I knew any Top 40,” Andi recalls. “I had to ask him what century because I play tunes that are 400 years old.”

Belfast Andi will be playing at McKibbin’s West Island from 7–10 a.m., then post-parade from 4–9 p.m.

The pubs and their grub

The 186th Montreal St. Patrick’s Parade starts at noon at the corner of Fort and Ste-Catherine, commandeered by Grand Marshall James Killin and Parade Queen Katherine McKendy. The parade awards banquet will happen Saturday, March 22, at Buffet Sorrento (1275 Dollard, Lasalle), at 6 p.m. Visit montrealirishparade.com for details.

All the major players in the Irish pub game have their usual breakfast and brews planned. Old Dublin has Liam Callaghan and Kristian Brabander from 2–7p.m., and Devaney’s Goat from 7 p.m. onwards. Good luck to server Arlene Heiman, who will be working her 27th St. Paddy’s this year.

O’Hara’s has breakfast starting at 9 a.m., with Tinman and guests performing. Old Orchard has three locations now (including in NDG and on the Plateau), but nothing will compare to their de la Montagne locale, featuring breakfast from 8 a.m.–2 p.m., music from Good Time Charlie from 3–8 p.m., and 60 kegs of Guinness on stand-by.

Hurley’s authentic breakfast, with black pudding and possibly white pudding, starts at 8 a.m. Upstairs at Hurley’s, it’s the Peelers at 3 p.m. and Squidjigger at 9:30 p.m.; downstairs, Solstice play at 3 p.m. and Gary Davis Group at 9:30 p.m.

Brutopia will have extra Guinness on tap, a special Dusk Stout and musical guests the Slaters from 3–8:30 p.m. McLean’s will be serving breakfast all day, starting at 9 a.m., alongside the St. Lambert Locks rugby team. Despite having a float in the parade, bartender Tim will stay behind to keep your whistles wet.

TWENTY YEARS, COUNTLESS BEERS: The Mahones

The Mahones are one of Canada’s best-known Irish music groups, and their 20th anniversary tour includes a stop at O’Regan’s on the big Sunday, playing from 3–5 p.m., then from 8 p.m. till closing. Irish Embassy opens at 9 a.m., with the Paddingtons bringing the bear necessities at 2 p.m. The Jack close out, starting at 7 p.m.

McKibbin’s on Bishop has Good Time Charlie from 8–11 a.m., Salty Dog and Kitchen Party from 3–9 p.m. (on the first and second floors respectively), and Yer Man bringing both floors down from 10 p.m. till closing. West Islanders can also pay $30 for breakfast at their Pointe-Claire location and transportation to and from the parade. Their recently opened Plateau location has breakfast starting from 8 a.m. For CDN-NDgers, $35 at Finegan’s scores you the breakfast, Irish coffee, dinner, a pint and two metro tickets as to not miss any of the parade action.

You have a solid 48 hours to recover before St. Paddy’s Day proper on Wednesday, March 17, on which Foufounes Électriques hosts the Drunken Dru Band and Farler’s Fury. All the pubs mentioned above, of course, will be honouring the holiday as well—check March 17 in the Mirror’s Music Listings pages for the who, when, where and what-have-you.