On a breezy day last May
a friend and I took off for Lewisburg, WV, intending to have dinner at a place called Julian’s.
We had no other plans, but afterwards, we made a fabulous discovery.
We came upon it while strolling the dark, chilly streets, tagging along with a ghost tour and eyeballing women in hoop skirts who were part of a Civil War Re-enactment.
Walking back toward the Great Oak Bed and Breakfast, we spotted a sign outside a Washington Street store front that said "Irish Pub."
We looked in — the long narrow room was brightly lit. Seats were available at tables and the bar. Irish music — live Irish music — blared onto the street.
We went in and sat down.
This is where I discovered Harp lager on draft. But neither that nor the old-time barroom nor the Irish touches on the walls proved to be the biggest attraction.
That was Patrick O’Flaherty, an Irish native whose first language was Gaelic until he traveled from his home in County Galway to England in his teens.
O’Flaherty, 58, is a widely known Irish musician who, among other things, has run pubs in Washington and New Orleans and performed with such Irish bands as The Celtic Folk and the Poor Clares (a name taken from an order of Catholic nuns).
He plays six instruments, sings a good folk tenor and seems to know a song for every breath he has ever taken.
Some of the songs were in Gaelic, some in English. Some were timeless tunes of yore, and some were his compositions.
All I know for sure, other than that I drank two pints of Harp, stayed out late and kept my eyes on the sidewalk as we headed back to the B&B, is that there was no cover charge and the music was, under the circumstances, unbelievable.
This was no American knock-off of an Irish pub trying to get by with some shamrocks, shillelaghs and a couple of kegs of Guinness.
This was the real deal. O’Flaherty performs five nights per week and brings in outside talent. On Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m., there is a sort of brunch with blues, Irish jazz and other music.
Sunday nights at 6, an Irish "session" takes place. Anybody who wants to can play an instrument, recite poetry, do an Irish dance — whatever.
"You don’t have to be good," O’Flaherty says. "It’s just like you’re in Ireland."
He, his wife Andrea and her parents, Willa and Pat Izzo, are equal partners in the operation. The Izzos, both physical therapists (Willia is retired and also is a Master Gardener), have lived in Lewisburg for 11 years.
Andrea O’Flaherty taught literacy at Gallaudet University in Washington prior to taking on the pub’s business side, while her husband plays music and supervises the cooking.
Clearly they work themselves hard — the pub is closed only on Mondays, and O’Flaherty and others were there today, getting the place ready for the rest of the week.
Asked to talk about pub’s success, O’Flaherty points not to himself but to two other things: "No smoking and no televisions."
You know he’s Irish by his accent and by his simple philosophy: "We encourage conversation."
In their 10 months of operation he has seen people who merely nodded to each other on the street begin to banter from to table to table as they eat and/or drink.
"People look through the windows," O’Flaherty says, "and start doing an Irish jig outside. I think everybody’s flabbergasted."
All I know is that I had more fun watching people, talking and listening to the music than I’ve had a long time.
"We get lot of compliments from everybody," O’Flaherty says. "People I’ve never seen in my life tell me how beautiful the bathrooms are."
In truth, they are plain but clean — but that, too, is a bit of a rarity in many establishments, and just another bonus at Lewisburg’s Irish Pub on Washington Street.
For more information, go to irishpubonwashingtonstreet.com or call (304) 645-7386
16 responses so far ↓
You’ve described this Pub so distintivley (even to the clean bathrooms which is a must) , it’s obvious you loved the atmosphere and who wouldn’t enjoy walking the streets of downtown Lewisburg?
Now that Andrew had provided us also with all the information possible, lol, even to home brewing.. now I know where I’m gonna have my first Harp, as it’s only natural to want to experience something different in the perfect place.
Thanks for all the info Joe. With beautiful weather this week, I’ll be there by friday for sure! I’ll get back to your site with my review, tho it will be nothing compared to your writing talents.
Keep up the variety here, it’s very nice & different .. a good change.
My mothers side is Irish(McDowell) but I have never gone to an Irish Pub. Just might have to try it. Never been to Lewisburg either so I might try that too and if they have clean bathroom, then they got my vote.
How is the job hunting? How about the Roanoke Magazine. Just a thought.
I toadly recommend the pub. Nothing fancy, but everything real.
Lewisburg has neat shops reaturants and galleries, and the Greenbrier Valley, and Pocahontas County, are beautiful. It’s about an hour and 40 minutes away.
Annette, I ‘toadly’ recommend all the neat shops too and take plenty of money or debit card if you’re one to get carried away.. they’re so many and close together too !! lol.
If I don’t like the Harp, at least I’ll enjoy the atmosphere & some good food, hopefully.
Already have my plans made & need to make a trip back to mapquest for other places……. women drivers, hey we’re good, we’re fast, ( guess that’s why the signs fly by).
Katherine,
Does sound like a good trip. Boy it does not take you long to decide when you go on a trip. I have to plan too much and then something always gone wrong.
Joe, thanks for the new place to go. Maybe this fall. Are you sick of being off yet.
Hi, Annette,
Actually, I was thinking about writing about that tomorrow. I’ll try to remember to do it. But the Redskins are on and I’m missing them. Let’s just say nothing tangible got done today.
Lets go Redskins! I really hope they do good this year and win tonight. Gotta look forward to this story tomorrow Joe. I’ll log on as usual, the paper can sit.
Annette - been planning on going, just didn’t know exactly when, but I gotta check this place out since it’s been a pretty big topic here.
My biggest ‘plan’ is what to wear.. will it be 70 and feel like 80 or will it be 80 and feel like 65? so a few of diff switcheroos will go with me! We got it rough in the fall, especially with “shoes”! lol
Redskins, Yuk
just kidding
look forward to your new blog tomorrow
have a good night
Having spent many a night in many Irish Pubs (both real and surreal), I am holding reservations on visible authenticity until I visit Gunther O’Malley’s downtown. As far as being a Traditional pub, those are hard to come by - although I wish it were different.
I am glad you found one, and should I ever get over that way - will be sure to hit it.
What amazes me is the lack of recognition the ethnicities that built this town - St. Patrick’s day is a catch all to replace all the civic parades once held.
Has Roanoke been white-washed of it’s heritage? Will we ever get a true Irish Pub? (see Trasna for a true Gaelic band)…
Stay tuned folks.
Just gotta tell this.
Went to a certain store today to get groceries. As I headed inside, there was a man in between of the doors at a stand with newspapers on top and a sign below reading “The Roanoke Times”. He smiled & I kept walking.
As I was leaving, there he was, with no one around him (still).. This time I couldn’t help myself as I looked at him while strolling close by with my cart. He asked me “Would you like a free newspaper?” I said “free?” He said yesss.
well, um.. I then asked if Cuppa Joe was in it. He said no.. I said “no?” He proceeded to say that he was gone. I then replyed with ” I know and that’s why I don’t want one!” lmaf
By the way, I bought a 6 pc of guiness draught in the bottles.. didn’t know which to buy, but I promise I will not have any until I return from the Pub (if I like it).
Then…. I stopped by a gas station to fill up. I saw a channel 10 News truck outside, with a man waiting in the drivers seat.. didn’t think anything of it. When I went inside, I saw someone I will not name. I said hi to her (evidently they were on a story somewhere).. I asked her if she knew the Roanoke Times was giving away free newspapers, she said no… I told her where to go get one if she wanted. hee
oh geez, mine is STILL in the living room unread?
JK-
Being off has its advantages and its disadvantages. When I’m working really hard at my singing gig and the schedule’s brutal, all I can think of is my next day off. Then when I do get time off, all I can think of is when do I work again — or if I will ever work again when the contract is over.
And somehow “the universe provides.” I quote my Hawaiian niece in this sentiment.
It’s the trusting that is difficult.
MK
The Irish Pub was Beautiful in Lewisburg, as the trip was also. Oh, and the Harp , wish I could’ve had 2 but I was driving! As we shopped abit then decided it was time for lunch, I was disappointed to see the sign on the door that said “open at 3:00″ and lunch was served on Fri & Sat. (should’ve looked at the website Joe so plainly put here)! I was starving so we ate a few doors up called Wild Bean…very good wraps & paninis.. not greasy either!
So , did more shopping & visiting then looked forward to going back .. I didn’t need a beer at 1:00 in the afternoon anyway with my long day planned!
I don’t blame them for not opening until 3, they do stay open till 1:am. Can’t leave out the bathrooms (Annette)… Very nice & Very clean! Wouldn’t mind having that tile floor in my house and wow, beside the pretty soap dispenser was a hand lotion dispencer and colorful tissues too in a box sitting beside the nice faucets! When we first walked in & saw that beautiful long bar, I had to sit there. Drinking my Harp, I looked at the menu and really wanted one of those cheese & tomato served on sourdough, the way they explained it!! Looking around, I had to get up and take a closer look at all the pictures to see all over the walls. Walking around (being the talker I am at times) , I asked a woman sitting at a table, obviously working on her laptop if she was Andrea. Introduced myself as I told her I had to stop by after reading Joe’s story here. She was very nice, said she had looked it up also. I missed Patrick.. I wanted to hear his accent ! We talked abit & she reminded me later to come back in the evening for the live music. Told her I would on my next visit when I plan to stay overnight.
I still can’t get over it… personal hand lotion too ? And the Harp was lighter than I thought.. was impressed with everything and I really wanted that cheese & tomato before heading home!!
Katherine,
Wow, I was thinking you were going this weekend. Sounds great and excited about the bathrooms(I am a little strange) The people really sound friendly. I will try and go up there maybe in October and check it out. If the beer is that good, I think I will be spending the night or my son can drive me back.
Did you take pictures?
Hi
Joe
HA .. Annette!
Sorry, didn’t take my camera this time. Tho I do think photography just might be my next profession. I have to head back to Ritz tomorrow (my zoom is “?”)
Hey Joe, can we post pictures here? hee
Seriously tho, Annette, you will LOVE the ladies room ‘and’ the Harp ‘and’ the atmosphere ‘and’ all the shops, everything.
Hi! I know it’s been a while since the Irish Pub in Lewisburg was discussed, but I wanted to write and say thanks Joe and it was nice to meet you Katherine…I just got a chance to sit down and respond…
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