Muskegon judge visits Ireland’s National Pub of the Year near Dublin

Each September – six months from St. Patrick’s Day, some of Ireland’s greatest musicians come to Muskegon to perform at the Michigan Irish Music Festival.

Muskegon retired judge Neil Mullally returned the favor recently by visiting the Emerald Isle to lift a proper pint in Eire. In order to do that, Mullally sought and found Ireland’s National Pub of the Year.

“Over 6,500 pubs in Ireland, Gleeson’s Pub was selected as the top pub,” Mullally revealed. “Gleeson’s is located in Booterstown, next to the Black Rock area of Dublin. Their cuisine is the best and they also have a boutique hotel.”

Mullally had plenty of time to fully experience Gleeson's. It turns out the pub is right down the street from the home of Mullally’s son Erin and his wife Amy, who live there with their 19-month-old daughter Saoirse. In addition to now having a daughter-in-law who is from County Cork, Mullally has Ireland in his blood – he’s the co-founder of the Michigan Irish American Hall of Fame – an entity I am honored to have been inducted into.

Mullally phoned into my radio show from Ireland with John Gleeson, who co-owns the pub with his brother Caoron.

“We’ve established a tab for visitors under the name ‘Michael Patrick Shiels,’” Mullally insisted. “I knew you’d be honored.”

Gleeson then joked that anyone who makes the pilgrimage to his pub uses the code word “Michael Patrick” will be served a pint of Guinness on my tab at Ireland’s National Pub of the Year − a distinction Gleeson is modest about.

“I don’t know why we won but we were surprised and thrilled. I suppose Gleeson’s Pub ticked a lot of boxes,” he said with a shrug. “We have a great pint and a great community, with great food and bedrooms. People like the ambiance of going into a pub and having a pink of Guinness, which is still king here. He added, "75% of the drink we serve is Guinness.”

Mullally said lots of international tourists were now seeking out Gleeson’s but the pub has plenty of locals, Gleeson explained. “Booterstown is a very local community surrounded by ‘chimney pops,’ as my father used to call them.”

Dublin’s renovated airport has become a hub for international travelers, but for those not ready to get to Ireland, the recent award-winning film “Banshees of Inisherin” took moviegoers there virtually. The remote village of Inisherin is fictional, but spectacular scenes were shot on the Aran Islands and in County May. Gleeson said there is a huge amount of pride in Ireland about the Hollywood stardom of Banshees of Inisherin stars Brendan Gleeson (no relation) and Colin Farrell – both nominations for Oscars.

“The acting is super and the scenery is amazing. The storyline is unusual but it captures life very well and how tough it was in Ireland in the 1920’s. The movie deserves all the credit it’s getting because it captured it so well,” Gleeson insisted. “It shows why the Irish emigrated to places like Michigan.”

If you’re looking for more “Irish fix” films at St. Patrick’s Day, I recommend “Belfast,” which was previously also nominated last year for Best Picture; “Waking Ned Devine;” and best of them all, “The Quiet Man” starring John Wayne.

Otherwise GoIreland.com will help you plan your trip with a “cead mile failte:” one-hundred-thousand welcomes!

Welcome to our annual special St. Patrick’s Day radio broadcast of Michigan’s Big Show…starring Michael Patrick Shiels – co-hosted by Michigan Catholic Conference CEO Paul Long, on March 17 from 9 to noon on WJIM AM 1240.

Contact Michael Patrick Shiels at MShiels@aol.com  His radio program may be found at MiBigShow.comor weekday mornings from 9-noon on WJIM AM 1240

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Shiels: Muskegon judge visits Ireland’s National Pub of the Year near Dublin