Clancy's To Hold 10th Annual St. Patrick's Day Bash

St. Patrick’s Day may not yet be a national holiday in America, despite the best efforts of Guinness. But try to convince anyone at Clancy’s that St. Paddy’s isn’t worthy of a day-long celebration.

There are never any shortages of bar bashes on St. Patrick’s Day, the unofficial drinking holiday of the year. We mentioned a few at the bottom of this story. But the king of St. Patrick's Day parties in Bradenton is clearly Clancy’s – officially , 6218 Cortez Rd. W.

The bar celebrates its 10^th St. Paddy's party on Thursday and, like usual, it's pulling out all the stops. With 1,000 pounds of corned beef and cabbage, a shipload of beer, more than a dozen bagpipers and an all-day musical lineup closing with Billy Rice Band and , Clancy’s is once again making its claim for the area’s ultimate St. Patrick’s Day party.

"With Billy Rice and Pitbull Toddler playing this year we believe we’re going to have a huge draw,” said Rayma Stowe, who, along with her husband Mel, bought Clancy’s in September 2000. “We’re hoping, praying and anticipating that this is going to be a really successful event.”

St. Paddy’s Day events at Clancy’s typically draw anywhere from 3,000-5,000 people throughout the day, so prepare for a crowd. Clancy’s prepares with more space: It sets up a 3,200-square-foot tent east of the bar for the live music in addition to several other smaller tents on the property.

There's no shortage of live music. The band Just Friends opens at noon, followed by authentic Irish music from Tommy Devine and Paul Williams from 3-6 p.m. Music continues from 6-7 p.m. with the bluegrass/country tunes from Manatee County Cloggers followed by bagpipes from 5-8 p.m. Billy Rice Band, one of the area’s most popular country rock groups, plays from 7-10:30 p.m., and closing out the evening will be rock/heavy metal band Pitbull Toddler of the Cowhead Radio Show on 102.5 FM The Bone.

Clancy’s never charges a cover, but you must be at least 21 years old to get in. That includes the St. Patrick’s Day party.

Life is a little less crazy at Clancy’s on a typical weekend evening, although live music, karaoke and Clancy’s food and drink menu keep the crowds coming back for more. It boasts the “biggest and best tiki bar” in town, which is quite a sight. The “Freaki Tiki," as it’s called, is a semi-outdoor deck with its own full bar with ample seating and a Caribbean décor. Overhead fans provide some relief on hot summer days.

Clancy’s lives up to its billing as a sports bar with its numerous televised sports packages featuring baseball, football, golf, racing and the Big Ten Network. Happy Hour (4-7 p.m. Monday through Friday) specials include $2 wells, $2 domestic bottles and $1.50 16-oz. domestic drafts. The menu includes reubens, calzones and its acclaimed Cuban sandwich.

Draft beers include Guinness, Stella Artois, Yuengling, Michelob Ultra, Budweiser, Miller Lite, Killian’s Irish Red and AmberBock. The bar accepts cash and credit cards and also has an ATM.

IF YOU GO:

Clancy’s Irish Sports Pub & Grill, 6218 Cortez Rd. W., is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 2 a.m. Check out their website at www.clancysirishsportspub.com.

AROUND BRADENTON FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY:

Looking for somewhere other than Clancy's to party? Check our this week's Patch Picks, which runs down the .