Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here Are 6 Excellent Puget Sound Irish Pubs

SEATTLE, WA - Anyone can slap a shillelagh on the wall, serve Guinness, and call their bar "Irish." But a real Irish bar (the ones in America, at least) have a certain charm, warmth, and atmosphere that you can't really get anywhere else.

Here are six great Puget Sound-area Irish bars that you can enjoy this St. Patrick's Day - or whenever you're in the mood for a pint and a good conversation.

Churchkey Pub, Edmonds - If you've ever been to Ireland, you'll recognize the ChurchKey. It's basically cut out of some little hamlet in County Kerry. The inside is all dark wood, and there's a little wood stove in the corner. But they also serve a nice variety of good American beers from the likes of Firestone Walker and Caldera.

Doyle's Public House, Tacoma. This is a great place to kick back with a beer (very reasonably priced) and watch football - and by football, we mean soccer. In fact, the whole point of Doyle's seems to be beer and soccer, although the food is good, too.

Sully's Snowgoose Saloon, Seattle. This place doesn't scream "Irish" at you, but with a name like "Sully's," it definitely counts. Not only is this a great Irish bar, it's hands down one of the best bars in Seattle. It's a cozy place for a beer with friends; it's hard not to feel comfortable here.

St. Andrew's Bar and Grill, Seattle. OK, so this is a Scottish bar. But! If you whiskey is what you're after, Irish or other, go here. It's also another hardcore soccer bar. Plus, the Scots and the Irish are, historically, linked by their hatred of the English!

Wilde Rover Irish Pub, Kirkland. It might not be this year, it might not be next year, but at some point, it will be nice out on St. Patrick's Day in Western Washington. When that happens, you're going to need an Irish bar with a nice patio. Wilde Rover supplies the patio, plus all the other Irish accouterments you're looking for (Guinness, Jameson, fish and chips).

Beach Tavern, University Place/Tacoma. What does it mean to be an Irish pub? If it means having shamrocks on the wall and a name like Kelly's or Delaney's, then the Beach Tavern does not qualify. But if Irishness is measured in hospitality, Beach Tavern is one of the most Irish places this side of the Cascades. Plus, the spectacular view of the Tacoma Narrows somehow makes the beer taste better.

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