Irish breakfast is typically huge, setting you up for a big day of hard work or merriment. However, for those who’re game they’ll begin serving lunch from midday. As you’d expect, traditional fare again dominates, as is the norm at the Dan O’Connell.
If at any point you find yourself sated on Guinness and on the look-out for an alternative libation, the venue have teamed up with Moon Dog brewery especially for St Patrick’s Day. The result is their very own drop: Ápple Corrs and the Cranberries. Talk about invigorating, this beverage is a cranberry and apple kolsch, perfectly suited to a sunny autumn day and liable to trigger plenty of blarney among eager sippers. To wholly savour, why not plonk yourself down in the Dan O’Connell beer garden, or else relocate out front where there’ll be a live entertainment stage setup.
St Patrick’s Day is a special occasion – it only comes around once a year, after all – and the Dan hasn’t stopped at just one special brew. Courtesy of Wolf of the Willows comes Mac Tire, a lovely barrel aged Irish red ale (which you could think of as a sweeter, toffee-laced cousin of stout).
Now about that live entertainment: before the real shebang kicks off, The Go Set will be playing an acoustic set in the beer garden in the early afternoon. The main stage will then take over, rolling out a programme of craic-inducing entertainment throughout the evening. This includes (but isn’t limited to) Irish Dancers from the Christine Ayres School of Irish Dancing, Tim Scanlan, The Drunken Poachers and Claymore.
You probably already recognise the Dan O’Connell as the home of Melbourne’s best pint of Guinness, and that alone deems it worthy of a visit. But with a couple of extra special Paddy’s day beers on the menu, as well as traditional Irish grub, you’d be hard pressed to find a more authentic and uplifting St Patrick’s Day experience in Melbourne. Plus, the party kicks on until 1am.
