Irish pub names in America: a brief lesson in history, geography and culture

I’ve been a fan of Irish pubs since my 21st birthday. The quaint decor, friendly ambiance, and absence of deafening Drake songs have made me a regular at these establishments. I never thought twice about the name origins of these pubs in America. Until I moved to Dublin. 

As I soon learned, most of the Irish pub names in America are not made up Irish sounding words (although some are), but derived from actual people, places, and things in Ireland. Here’s the backstory on the name of a few of my favorite Irish haunts in the U.S.:

Kildare’s Irish Pub, Philadelphia Area, PA (Multiple Locations)

Kildare’s is an Irish-themed sports pub in suburban Philadelphia, serving up Irish classics like Shepherd's Pie, corned beef w/ cabbage, and buffalo shrimp tacos. 

When I first moved to Ireland a co-worker told me she’s from County Kildare, and I replied “you mean like the pub in Philly?” I assumed the county named itself after the restaurant chain since it’s Irish Craic Nachos are to die for, but apparently it’s the other way around. 

The Kerryman, Chicago IL

The Kerryman is more club-like than most Irish pubs, located in the trendy River North section of Chicago. Let’s just say they serve more Jager Bombs than Guinness and their packed dance floor grooves to the sounds of Nicki Minaj, not trad. 

Turns out a Kerryman is a man from County Kerry - who knew?? Kerry is located in the southwest of Ireland, and contains some of the most breathtaking mountains and forests in the country, which is why locals refer to it as “The Kingdom.” Kerrymen are known for their excessive pride in their county, particularly when it comes to GAA sports, in which they are objectively a powerhouse. It’s still a mystery to me why the term Kerryman is common vernacular, but residents of other counties don’t use the “man” suffix as often - I guess "Clareman” and "Mayoman" don't have the same ring.

The Blarney Stone, Philadelphia, PA

This watering hole near Penn’s campus was a favorite of the college crowd until it closed, alas, but I still chose to write it up because undoubtedly other “authentic” Irish American pubs derived their name from this iconic tourist trap. 

The Blarney Stone is an actual stone in the Blarney Castle in Cork. As legend has it, if one kisses the stone they are given the “gift of gab” - eloquence. As a practical manner, the Blarney Stone is a huge tourist attraction where you wait in line a few hours to lie down and touch your lips to a rock...the same way the 500 people in front of you did. The quintessential COVID-friendly activity!

The River Shannon, Chicago, IL

A relaxed, dog-friendly neighborhood pub (before dog-friendly became trendy) on a residential street in Lincoln Park, Chicago. 

You may have guessed that it’s named after a river in Ireland, and you are correct. But did you know that it’s the longest river in Ireland? And that cruising down it in a houseboat is a popular holiday? Well, now you do. 

The Liberties, San Francisco, CA

This was the closest pub to my Mission apartment during my stint in San Francisco, the perfect spot for a burger and a pint on a weeknight. 

Turns out it’s named after a historic Dublin neighborhood. The Liberties has a storied brewing and distilling history, home to the iconic Guinness brewery, Teeling, one of my favorite Irish whiskies, and my friends at Artisan Brew Academy. This neighborhood has become “hot” over the past few years, evidenced by the volume of hip coffee shops (a tried and true economic indicator). 

Fadó, All over the U.S. and Abu Dhabi (?)

After frequenting Fadó for years in Chicago, I was shocked to find out it’s a chain. They have eight locations in the U.S. and one in Abu Dhabi. I was not shocked to learn it was started by a group of Irish entrepreneurs, creating an authentic Dublin feel (ok, more authentic than most American Irish pubs before I get attacked).

Fadó is Irish for “long ago,” a common phrase to kick off a story - and the Irish love a good story! Smart move by the owners to choose an Irish word that’s pronounced phonetically for the American audience. Anseo (“Ahn-shaw”) Sin e (“Shinn-ay”), two of my goto pubs in Dublin would not have gone over as well. 

Finnegans Wake, San Francisco, CA

This neighborhood pub in the less trendy (but still cool!) Cole Valley section of town includes a spacious patio and ping pong, what more could you want?

You may have known Finnegans Wake is a literary reference, and the cultured folk are aware it’s written by fabled Irish author James Joyce (Ulysses), but only the true erudite book worms have actually read the work. I tip my cap to anyone who’s read it, since it’s widely considered among the most difficult pieces of literature ever published. The novel deliberately has no clear beginning, middle or end - oh and Joyce uses his own idiosyncratic language throughout (i.e. he makes up words). The novel’s central theme is that history is cyclical, and to demonstrate that he ends it with the first half of the first sentence of the book. Sorry for the spoiler, but let’s be real, you weren’t going to read it.