Where To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day In Lower Merion

LOWER MERION, PA — St. Patrick’s Day is on a Friday this year. Entertainment districts in the Lower Merion area will be swimming in Kelly green, and perhaps flashing red and blue lights if people don’t behave themselves.

And devout Catholics may have to consult their parish priest before they dig into a plate of corned beef and cabbage.

Some of the places in the Lower Merion area to celebrate the March 17 holiday are:

• McCloskey's Tavern
• McSorley's Ale House
• Jack McShea's
• Kelly's Taproom
• The Crossbar
• Gullifty's Restaurant
• Paddy Rooney's Pub
• John Henry's Pub
• Hilltown Tavern
• The Grog Grill

And for those planning to get into their cups this weekend, Lower Merion Police will be out in force cracking down on impaired driving.

Police will be conducting roving patrols around the township now through March 24.

Devout Catholics abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, a sacrifice that recognizes Jesus’ death on the cross on a Friday.

Luckily, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced practicing Catholic can eat meat on St. Patrick's Day thanks to a special dispensation

The dispensation is in line with the church's Code of Canon Law.

Catholics are encouraged to give up something else as a penitential act in lieu of avoiding meat on St. Patrick's Day, according to the archdiocese.