A St Patrick’s first in Glasgow

Pub warms up for its first big Irish event since launch

STAFF at Irish-themed Glasgow bar Kitty O’Shea’s are preparing for the venue’s first ever St Patrick’s Day since opening last autumn.

And it should come as no surprise that a pub with Guinness-themed toilets and a back-bar stocked with Irish whiskeys and craft beers does not plan to hold back when it comes to celebrating.

“I believe we’re going to have a band on, and we’ve toyed with the idea of doing the whole green Guinness thing,” said James Nugent, general manager at Kitty O’Shea’s.

This year, St Patrick’s Day falls on a Tuesday (March 17) and although Nugent admitted it’s not the best day for a big celebration, they’ll still make the most of it at the Irish venue.

“I think Paddy’s Day is what it is,” he said.

“I find the craic is always better at the weekend. Tuesdays can be a little quiet [in Glasgow] but we’re certainly going to go for it.”

The team at Kitty O’Shea’s will be going the extra mile to promote their inaugural St Patrick’s Day festivities and bring customers down to the pub, with efforts including an appearance on STV Glasgow.

Nugent and O’Shea’s chef Martin Campbell have been invited to appear on the local channel in the run up to the big day to demonstrate their take on some traditional Irish fare.

But the team behind O’Shea’s won’t be relying solely on their five minutes of fame to bring in the punters as Nugent, along with assistant manager Craig Adams, continuously maintain the venue’s social media presence to keep customers engaged.

The pair have been plugging the venue’s 6 Nations coverage in recent weeks and with both Scotland and Ireland competing in the tournament, Nugent reckons the Celtic nature of the rugby could prove a “kind of warm up” to Kitty O’Shea’s first St Patrick’s Day.