For starters, y’all, it’s “Paddy,” not “Patty.” The correct abbreviation for St. Patrick’s Day is “St. Paddy’s Day,” derived from the Irish name Pádraig. “Patty” is short for “Patricia,” or it refers to a burger. Not that a burger sounds bad, but I digress. Now that I’ve learned ya, let’s dig in.
Ate Days
Food-wise, several places automatically came to mind, but there’s also a new spot. The Henry McCarty Irish Pub (2869 Crockett St, 817-529-6005) opened recently in Artisan Circle (West 7th area), offering a traditional pub atmosphere with Guinness on tap, a full Irish breakfast, and fish and chips that locals are already raving about. Hours are 11am-midnight Mon-Wed, 11am-2am Thu-Fri, and 10am-midnight Sat-Sun.
The Irish Nachos at J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill (400 E Abram St, Arlington, 817-274-8561) are world famous (it’s true), so if you’re looking to avoid the crowds, visit anytime you like. Those wanting to party should head there on Tue, Mar 17, from 11am ’til close for J. Gilligan’s 47th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Block Party. Along with plates of those signature, thinly sliced, skin-on, cheese-covered fried potatoes, there will be green beer, giveaways, and DJs spinning tunes, plus live music in the parking lot for the block party.
Corned beef is not technically an Irish tradition, as it was too expensive for the locals to eat back home. Irish-American immigrants found it affordable in the states, and now it is a thing. Tom’s Burgers & Grill (1530 N Cooper St, Arlington, 817-459-9000) has it on their breakfast menu. The house-made corned beef hash topped with three eggs and served with gluten-free toast will run ya $19.12.
Courtesy Tom’s Burgers & Grill
Couples looking for something special to do should check out Couples Cook: An Irish Dinner for St. Patrick’s Day at the Cooking School at Central Market (4651 W Fwy, Fort Worth, 817-989-4700). From 6:30pm to 9pm, you and your partner will cook with a small team, making lamb chops with Guinness pan sauce, soda bread with Irish butter, Emerald Salad with Irish blue cheese dressing, colcannon (mashed potatoes with cabbage), and an Irish apple cake with vanilla custard sauce. The class is 18+, and if you’re 21+, you can enjoy an Irish beer with your meal. Tickets are $110.13 per person on Eventbrite.com.
Courtesy J. Gilligan’s
Last Call
I bet that in his prime, Editor Anthony Mariani could drink all of us Weeklyteers (and half of Fort Worth) under the table. He’s partial to NA booze now, and while he’s currently recuperating from one cold or another, I am picking up a few extra grafs for him this week. When the subject of local Irish pubs came up via email, he rattled off a few names faster than a TCU kid planning a frat party. Tell them to go here. Tell them to go there. And so, I give you …
Courtesy The Henry McCarty Irish Pub
The Weekly Walkabout
OK, that sounds kind of Australian, but I like the alliteration, so just go with me on this. Here is your self-guided Irish pub crawl. I even made you a map: bit.ly/TheWeeklyWalkabout. Several are within walking distance of one another, or a short ride-share away, so don’t even think about drinking and driving.
1.) The Henry McCarty Irish Pub (2869 Crockett St, Fort Worth, 817-529-6005) is the place to start for me. Because I am a foodie at heart, I’m going with the #ShinyNewThing and throwing down some fish and chips straight away.
2.) The Abbey Pub (2710 W 7th St, Fort Worth, 817-810-9930) typically opens at 11am on St. Patrick’s Day and has drink specials all day. For updates on the 2026 festivities, follow them at Facebook.com/AbbeyPubFTW.
3.) Poag Mahone’s (700 Carroll St, Fort Worth, 817-420-6355) usually celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with drink specials, food trucks, and DJ music. The bar opens at noon, and the yard opens at 5pm. For info on this year’s madness, keep an eye on Facebook.com/PoagMahones.
4.) Conlon’s Pub (2528 White Settlement Rd, Fort Worth, 817-698-9777) doesn’t have anything special planned, but they will be open from noon to 2am and assured me there would be a strong selection of beers, Irish whiskeys, and other spirits. “We’re welcoming all to celebrate the holiday with us,” they DM’d me on FB. “We’re expecting to be busy and festive!”
5.) Durty Murphy’s Irish Pub (609 Houston St, Fort Worth, 817-810-9575) is celebrating on Sat-Sun, Mar 14-15, starting at noon. They are closed on Monday but will be back at it on Tue, Mar 17, with swag and special St. Patrick’s Day drinks.
6.) Malone’s Pub (1303 Calhoun St, Fort Worth, 817-332-5330) hasn’t announced this year’s St. Paddy’s Day shenanigans yet, but we do know that they have new dartboards, have recently acquired a Big Lebowski pinball machine, and have $4 pints on Sundays. For more breaking news and the occasional dad joke, follow them at Facebook.com/MalonesPubFW.
7.) You may want to end the evening at Finn MacCools Pub (1700 8th Av, Fort Worth, 817-923-2121). Why? Keep reading.
Courtesy Malone’s Pub
Crosstown Sounds
I recently asked some nominees in our Fort Worth Weekly Music Awards where they are playing for St. Paddy’s Day. Here you go.
Saturday, March 14, 2026
Guitar virtuoso Darrin Kobetich will perform at Dove Ridge Winery (6060 Tucker Dr, Weatherford, 817-458-8103) at 3pm, elegant folk stylist Simone Nicole at Hall Park Hotel (3220 Internet Blvd, Frisco, 469-922-2442) 5pm-9pm, and outlaws Two Guys Walk Into a Bar at Truckyard Dallas (5624 Sears St, Dallas, 877-447-2967) at 6pm.
Old Town Lewisville scored a big-time North Texas favorite when they booked Rev. Horton Heat to headline today’s annual St. Paddy’s Texas Style event from 1pm to 9:30pm at Wayne Ferguson Plaza (150 W Church St, Lewisville, 972-219-3400). The psychobilly trio goes on at 8pm.
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Spend Sunday afternoon enjoying the Wandering Roots Market and live music by Summer Lane at Tulips FTW (112 St. Louis Av, Fort Worth, 817-367-9798) from 1pm to 4pm. Then at 5pm at The Rusty Nickel (2836 Stanley Av, Fort Worth, 817-528-1682), perennial Music Awards winners for cover band Poo Live Crew will get booties shaking all night long.
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Head back to Tulips for the Locals Tuesday Show with Fort Worth folk singer-songwriter Jacob Furr at 7pm. He’ll be doing a set of Phish tunes, followed by a full-band set.
You could also hear former Weekly Music Award winners the Fender Benders at the big St. Patrick’s Day Party at Finn MacCools Pub (1700 8th Av, Fort Worth, 817-923-2121). Not sure what time is what, but I’d get there early. From noon until they run out, Finn’s is offering a special food menu, which will include an Irish Funeral Sandwich (?!), corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, and an Irish Eggroll Trio (Irish nachos, a Reuben, and shepherd’s pie). For dessert, there are Irish-cream cheesecake eggrolls and Car Bomb Cupcakes, which, not unlike the drink of the same name, will be boozy, chocolatey, and made with Irish cream.
Courtesy The Fender Benders
Sunday, March 29, 2026
Speaking of our annual Music Awards, it won’t be green, but beer will be a-flowing on the last Sunday of this month at the Ridglea Theater (6025 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-738-9500), where we will announce and fete the winners of the 2025 Panthys. For updates on musical guests, timelines, and whatnot, RSVP at Facebook.com/FortWorthWeekly/events
