Maher’s Irish Brew Pub is hosting its fourth annual St. Patrick’s Day festival starting this Thursday, March 14 and running through Sunday, March 17 at 352 B Avenue in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Since I am 100 percent Irish, I figured I was qualified to take a little liberty with some Irish proverbs to convince you why you should check it out.

♣The cheaper the beer, the better the taste. Get there Thursday for Feckin beer specials all night. For every one your purchase, you’ll receive a raffle ticket for a drawing for a 10 day trip to Ireland.

If beer’s not your libation of choice, how about a Dancing Leprechaun or Galway Special to celebrate the occasion? You could also do a taste comparison between a 12 year and 18 year Jameson Irish whiskey and a 10 year Tullamore Dew. And don’t forget the saying, “Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all the four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.” You’ll find that at Maher’s too.

♣Festive is the bar that’s with music. From bagpipes to the Celtic sounds of local musicians like Bill Mullen (Drill, Ye Tarriers) and The Lost Highwaymen (Galway Girl), Maher’s will be downright jubilant, swinging, upbeat and jumping. Get your Irish groove on.

♣Man does not live by Irish soda bread alone. But if he wanted to, he might try one of the entrants in Maher’s Irish Soda Bread Contest. Entries are to be delivered Saturday, March 16, between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Winners in three categories will be announced at 3:00 p.m.: traditional white, traditional brown and glorified. Need a little more to go on? Check out traditional Irish fare including Lamb Stew, Shepherd’s Pie and Bangers and Mash. Or make reservations for a traditional Irish breakfast served from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day. Minimum party of 15.

♣Dance as if everyone was watching you. That’s the motto the Irish dancers who will be performing at Maher’s live by. My daughters studied Irish dance with Gay Maher, one of the pub’s proprietors and I can attest to the high energy these high steppers display. If you can burn calories by watching, you’re in luck because these dancers are going through at least 300 calories an hour. Time to order another beer!

♣Even if you’re not lucky enough to be Irish, you might be lucky enough. That is, if you buy enough Feckin beers. Starting back on September 22 (halfway to St. Paddy’s day), any lad or lassie who purchased a Feckin beer at Maher’s received a ticket for a trip to Ireland drawing. You can still get your name entered—just order up before 7:50 p.m. on Friday, March 15 when the winning ticket will be drawn. Then two lucky people can start planning their 10 day vacation including meals, lodging, airfare and a tour of their choice through Jenny’s Irish Tours.

♣May you be blessed with the laughter of children. Should be easy if you bring them to Maher’s on Family Day, March 16 beginning at 12:00 noon. Activities include face painting, crafts, Irish wolfhounds, Lucky Irish Coins and Irish dancers.

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Photo credit: Ron Bird at freedigitalphotos.net