I should know. I'm Irish, I worked in Irish bars in high school and in college, and I spend a lot of time in them today — so I know that a good Irish bar isn't just a bar. It's home. It's a place where you can walk in, look around, and immediately feel at ease, even if it's your first time there.

The wood's gotta be dark, the beer's gotta be cold, there should be some sort of warm pot pie on the menu, and the vibe should be even warmer. The spirits should be strong, too — but the spirit of the ~place~ should be strongest of all.