Dusk 'til dawn: Pub o' the Irish

A visit to an Irish pub almost always guarantees a night of good fun. Beer, cider and whiskey, pop music and quizzes, football and rugby, old-fashioned Irish breakfast, lunch and dinner, all of that in a usually cosy bar with a wooden interior, barrels and often stained glass windows.

On Thursday, 17 March, Irish pubs across Brussels and Flanders will celebrate St Patrick, Ireland's most famous missionary, having freed the country from snakes and all that. Dress in green and pop into your favourite Irish pub for a night of booze, pub food and partying with complete strangers, who will be your friends before morning.

With about 70 Irish pubs to choose from, this is a small selection. (But a good one.) Head's up: in student towns, which all of these are, Thursday is the traditional night for students to go out on the town. So this could be one 17 March to remember.

St Patrick's Day wouldn't be St Patrick's Day to Gentenaars without Patrick Foley's. They're offering a free drink to anyone called Patrick on 17 March and have live bagpipe music all day. Watch U2 and Riverdance on the big screen until karaoke takes you into the wee hours. On Sunday, 20 March, the pub serves a full Irish lunch and dinner (including salmon and black pudding). The afternoon features live music and whiskey tasting. www.foleys.be

At Thomas Stapleton in Leuven, you'll see footage from St Patrick ceremonies in Ireland. At 20.00, an Irish band will play, followed by a DJ and a party all night through. www.thomasstapleton.be

Kelly's in Antwerp, meanwhile, plans a full St Patrick's week, which kicks off with a free comedy show at 19.15 on 16 March. The next day starts with an Irish breakfast at Oud België (downstairs Kelly's), Happy Stout Hour from 15.00-17.00, live music and bangers and mash food stands all afternoon and evening. Saturday, 19 March is Paddy's Big Party, a day filled with breakfast, football, bagpipes, live bands, DJs and Irish beef burgers and fries. Unwind on Sunday with Irish breakfast (again) or Sunday roast and live music. www.kellys.be

Finally, De Valera's in Brussels throws a big party on St Patrick's Day with all sorts of green gifts distributed throughout the night. And if everything goes as planned, there will be green beer, as well. www.flagey.eu

Looking for an Irish pub near you? Visit www.cafe.be

(March 9, 2011)