For the first time in two years, many people who love St. Patrick’s Day are getting to celebrate it in a more normal fashion. And that really helps out McGinty’s Public House, in Silver Spring.
EDINBURGH - APRIL 26: Pints of guinness are delivered to members of the public enjoying a drink at the Three Sisters Pub in the Cowgate as lockdown measures are eased on April 26, 2021 in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Cafes, beer gardens, non-essential shops and museums are reopening in Scotland today as lockdown easing continues. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)(Getty Images/Jeff J Mitchell)
EDINBURGH - APRIL 26: Pints of guinness are delivered to members of the public enjoying a drink at the Three Sisters Pub in the Cowgate as lockdown measures are eased on April 26, 2021 in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Cafes, beer gardens, non-essential shops and museums are reopening in Scotland today as lockdown easing continues. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)(Getty Images/Jeff J Mitchell)
For the first time since 2019, many people who love St. Patrick’s Day are getting to celebrate it in a more normal fashion. And that really helps out a bar owner in the D.C. area.
Greg Whelan, the owner of McGinty’s Public House in Silver Spring, said it’s been a tough few years financially, so being able to be open this St Patrick’s day is huge.
“Obviously, the financial end is there, but just being able to celebrate your culture — really, you know, most Irish bars are owned by Irish people,” Whelan said.
He added that his customers have been supportive and are excited that this year is more normal: “My phone’s been dinging away here all morning — everyone wishing us happy St. Patrick’s Day and good luck for the day.”
Even though the celebration this year will be more normal, it was still hard to make decisions about how big to go. When Whelan was making decisions about Thursday’s party, it was January, and the omicron variant of the coronavirus was gripping the area.
”It was hard to see that far ahead … so we did err a little bit on the side of caution,” Whelan said. Even so, McGinty’s will feature traditional Irish dancing and have a DJ along with, of course, Irish beers and other drinks.
Anchor and reporter Kyle Cooper, has been with WTOP since 1992. Over those 25 years Kyle has worked as a street reporter, editor and anchor. Prior to WTOP Kyle worked at several radio stations in Indiana, and at the Indianapolis Star Newspaper.
EDINBURGH - APRIL 26: Pints of guinness are delivered to members of the public enjoying a drink at the Three Sisters Pub in the Cowgate as lockdown measures are eased on April 26, 2021 in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Cafes, beer gardens, non-essential shops and museums are reopening in Scotland today as lockdown easing continues. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)(Getty Images/Jeff J Mitchell)
EDINBURGH - APRIL 26: Pints of guinness are delivered to members of the public enjoying a drink at the Three Sisters Pub in the Cowgate as lockdown measures are eased on April 26, 2021 in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Cafes, beer gardens, non-essential shops and museums are reopening in Scotland today as lockdown easing continues. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)(Getty Images/Jeff J Mitchell)
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