Irish Eyes Will Be Smiling On The North Shore This St. Patrick's Day

BEVERLY, MA — Three years after bars, restaurants — and just about everyplace else folks could gather — were shuttered on the eve of St. Patrick's Day at the onset of the COVID-19 health crisis, a weekend of Irish food, beer and entertainment is set to return to the North Shore.

There will be Irish jigs, corned beef and cabbage, shepherd's pie and stew, pints of Murphy's, Guinness and many specialty brews (no green beer, please) from the region's craft breweries — as well as surely more than a few renditions of "Shipping Up to Boston" — on tap with the holiday falling on a weekend this year after three years of canceled or curtailed events.

Sully's Brand owner Chris Wrenn — author of the much-celebrated "Believe in Boston" shirts and owner of both the Sully's Brand and Bridge Nine Records retail locations on Rantoul Street in Beverly — has even designed a special edition "Beverly Shamrock" line of swag for the occasion.

Sully's will be onsite at Fibber McGee's giving away free Irish swag to guests from 1 to 5 p.m. where there will also be live Irish music from Tobin & Leahy. Those making a purchase of $30 or more from Sully's will receive a free Ireland flag.

On Sunday, Sully's will be at the Boston St. Patrick's Day parade — which returns to its full South Boston route this year for the first time since 2019.

"St. Patrick's Day is our Super Bowl so we're very excited to celebrate with folks at our new flagship store this week," Katherine Batten, of Sully's Brand, told Patch.

Fibber McGee's will be just one of the many spots hosting St. Patrick's Day events in Beverly this weekend with Backbeat Brewing Company featuring traditional Irish music Thursday, Friday and Saturday as well as special beer releases, an Irish food menu and an Irish breakfast on Saturday.

A & B Burgers has an Irish menu going through Saturday that includes Guinness beef stew, corned beef Irish egg rolls and the traditional New England boiled dinner.

Gentile Brewing will be opening at noon on Friday and offer pastrami sandwiches through Hill Country Market, as well as a "Barre Fight and a Pint" kickboxing class and a beer session on Saturday.

Backbeat and Gentile are teaming up for "Casks on Park" as they open a new cask of beer each day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The historic Cabot Theater will bring back its tradition of hosting the St. Patrick's Day Sojourn with Brian O'Donovan on Sunday.

More St. Patrick's Day weekend events in Beverly can be found at Beverly Main Streets.

Regatta Pub in Salem will be offering specials on Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with festive Irish cocktails and beer and a live stream of the annual Dropkick Murphys concert from the MGM Boston Music Hall at Fenway on Friday night on the Pub's 72-inch flatscreen.

One of the first town events to take place in the recently acquired Hawthorne by the Sea restaurant property will take place on St. Patrick's Day when Swampscott Recreation hosts a traditional Irish dinner to raise money for this year's Fourth of July fireworks fund for the July 3 event.

The inaugural St. Patrick's Day lunch will include live music, giveaways and a traditional Irish buffet meal of corned beat, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and Anthony's famous popovers. There will also be an Irish band and a chance to win Red Sox tickets, gift certificates to local businesses, and more.

There will also be a festive Irish dress contest with the winner earning a prize.

If you know of a special St. Patrick's Day weekend event on the North Shore in Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem or Swampscott, or if your bar or restaurant is hosting one, Patch invites you to list it in the comments section of this story or email details to Editor Scott Souza at [email protected].