Sluggers is a Hit for St Patrick's Day

By Xavier Benney

It’s March Eighteenth, and many of us are washing our green, and nursing our headaches. Saint Patrick’s Day has become an annual celebration among the Irish American population in many metro areas, and has developed a following even among the non-Irish in places like Chicago, New York, and Lamar Missouri.


Mr. Quinn O’Brien, the owner/manager of Sluggers Sports Bar, talked to us about his Saint Patrick’s Day festivities, and his hopes for the future.

*How was your celebration this year?*
 “As always the city of Lamar showed up in droves to celebrate the holiday of St. Patrick. It's really not only a chance for the irish of Lamar to show their pride but really everyone to come together a little. It's just something special about this holiday that brings out the joy in people.”

 *How do you determine success for the party?*
 “Well, as a business owner I could easily tell you it's in dollars earned but the truth is that we keep a tally of how many people come in and out the front door. This year my boys at the door lost count. So I'd say it was a pretty amazing year.”

 *How long have you been hosting a St.Patty's day party?*
 “This is our 5th year actually though we've been involved with the St. Patrick's Celebration in the city since my father owned this bar.”

 *What does this activity bring to the community at large?*
 “Really it is a sense of just that... community. Too often we're all so busy with our lives and dramas that go on day to day that we don't take a lot of time to sit down together over a meal or a nice drink and just say, "thanks for being here." More than any other holiday or celebration, it feels to me that St. Patrick's Day is about people socializing... where we lose sight of that with some other holidays with their presents, cards, and big meal preparations.”

 *Would you like to see a city wide St. Patrick’s Day celebration?*
 "Actually we're putting together a proposal to get a full downtown block party declared next year which, we hope, will be something like you see in cities like Boston and Chicago. There is even talk of using the same things that Chicago uses to dye their river green to do that to Lamar Lake or Muddy Creek.”

 *Did you pinch anyone for not wearing Green/Orange this year?*
 “Not nearly as many as my wife or employees did, so let's just leave it at that.”

 *St. Patrick’s color, Green or Orange?*
 “Erin is the Emerald Isle... it's definitely green.”

Mr O’Brien hopes to have a petition ready to put out for interested citizens to sign at his establishment, and the front desks of many other fine merchants by the end of the month.