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Popular Irish bar McNamara's in Donelson is going forward with its annual St. Patrick's Day celebration, despite admonitions from the government to keep "social distancing" to try to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, two white tents were erected outside the restaurant, and staffers were setting out loaves of Irish bread and setting up green T-shirts for sale. A McNamara's website post titled "3.17.2020" promised "Live Music All Day" for St. Patrick's Day.

The restaurant has held one of the city's most popular and best-attended St. Patrick's Day celebrations for each of the 10 years McNamara's has been open.

Owner Sean McNamara declined to comment Monday morning.

The Nashville health department has ordered restaurants to cut 50% of their capacity in an attempt to keep patrons apart from each other. Restaurants can hold no more than 100 people at a time, and there's to be no standing in restaurant bars, the orders mandate. The health department also has ordered all bars closed.

In a 2015 article, Sean McNamara told the Tennessean his establishment is not a bar.

"We're a pub, not a bar," he said. "We're a place for people to come and enjoy each other's company."

Whether bar or restaurant, many health experts, including Dr. William Schaffner, Vanderbilt professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases, are urging people to avoid groups as one way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

The Music City Irish Fest, which had been set to take place today for the Bicentennial Mall, was canceled last week.

Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com or 615-259-8384 or on Twitter @bradschmitt.