LRA Members with the Irish Spirit

Irish Pubs across the state ready to welcome patrons for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations

By Nicole Koster

There is plenty of green beer, luck and revelry to go around on St. Patrick’s Day, but here in New Orleans, and around the state of Louisiana, the celebrations are deeply rooted. The Irish have a historical role in the rich cultural fabric of Southeast Louisiana. When the Irish were fighting British rule, many of them left their homeland and found solace off the Mississippi River in New Orleans. The Irish Channel in New Orleans is rightly named after the Irishmen who worked on the Port and would walk to work from their cottages, many built from barges broken down for building materials. The Irish worked to start banks, built English-speaking churches and served in the military. It was the Irish who worked for only $1 a day to build the New Basin Canal. The Irish evolved into businessmen and professionals of all trades. Their contributions to the food, music and New Orleans spirit are visible every day, like through all the pubs who pride their brand on the spirit of the Irish. Find a place below to celebrate the luck of the Irish today!

Enoch's Irish Pub

Enoch's Irish Pub in Monroe is the place to be in Northern Louisiana, all year round, for Irish spirit. The Irish pub with Louisiana attitude opened on St. Patrick's Day in 1980. The business is still in the family and has become a premier music venue for musicians around the state. 

Happy Land is the outdoor courtyard at Happy's Irish Pub in Baton Rouge. The pub was bought out by Brandon Landry, Co-Owner of Walk-On's Bistreaux and Bar, in 2016 to reinvigorate the Irish spirit of the pub. Photo courtesy of Happy's Irish Pub.

Happy's Irish Pub

This neighborhood pub in Baton Rouge celebrates St. Patrick's Day all week, and all year long. Their happy hour the week of St. Patrick's Day lets revelers partake with 2-for-1 beers and double well drinks.  On the 17th of every month, Happy's celebrates 'St. Practice Day' as a way to honor St. Patrick's Day year round. Among many specials, Patrons enjoy their signature green beer, Happy's Hooligan.

The courtyard at Pat O'Brien's in the French Quarter is lit up green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Rumor has it that the women's bathroom and Piano Bar are haunted. Photo courtesy of Pat O'Brien's.

Pat O'Brien's

A New Orleans institution, Pat O'Brien's has been in business now for 89 years. The bar, which began as a speakeasy on St. Peter Street, bears a classic Irish name. They have a big St. Patrick's Day celebration each year where patrons enjoy sporting Pat O's Irish green bowling hats. You can enjoy festivities in the courtyard, or inside at the famous Piano Bar with dueling pianos. 


There will be a St. Patrick's Day parade from the Downtown Irish Club walking through the Marigny, French Quarter and CBD tonight starting at 7 p.m.