Irish eyes will be smiling in Snohomish County

Shawn O'Donnell says his Irish family tree went from two people named Bridget and Patrick — to 144.

"We had a reunion in Fort Worden in 2000, and 305 people came," said O'Donnell, whose ancestors came from Ireland in the early 1900s. And when he opened Shawn O'Donnell's American Grill & Irish Pub last October in Everett, after a fact-finding trip to the Emerald Isle in 2006, he knew he'd have to be authentic.

After all, his family portraits festoon the menu, which features Irish cuisine every day in addition to American fare.

"No green beer here" on St. Patrick's Day, he says. Instead, it's eight types of draft beer, including Harp lager and Guinness Stout.

Today, about 650 pounds of corned-beef brisket will start cooking for Saturday's big corned-beef and cabbage buffet. And he has scheduled three Irish folk bands for the day: The Cutters, a family band; the Stout Pounders, a Seattle-based Irish folk band; and the Kenmore & District Pipe Band.

O'Donnell hosts many clubs and fundraisers at the restaurant and he says in Ireland, pubs are central to social life. "It's about community," he said. "It's kind of a cross between a tavern and a coffee shop. You feel like you have to stop by just to see what's going on."

Here's a list of St. Patrick's Day events. There is no cover charge unless otherwise noted.

Friday

Flying Pig Brewing Company: 2929 Colby Ave., Everett. Irish Dinner and Dance Show. Traditional corned-beef and cabbage dinner, and a show at 5:30 p.m. Tickets $50; to reserve, call the Everett Theatre at 425-258-6766.

Friday, Saturday

Mick Finster's Pub & Grill: 24001 Highway 99, Edmonds, next to the Burlington Coat Factory. 425-775-2121. This longtime Irish pub features corned beef and cabbage, Irish bands, drummers and bagpipers Friday and Saturday. mickfinsters.com.

Saturday

Billy McHale's: 18430 33rd Ave. W., Lynnwood. 425-775-8500. Irish bagpipe music at 7 p.m.; karaoke, corned beef and cabbage dinner, beer specials. Open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Fred's Rivertown Ale House: 1114 First St., Snohomish. 360-568-5820. St. Patrick's Day menu of lamb stew, shepherd's pie, corned beef and cabbage, Irish "nachos" and traditional Irish beers. Open 9 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.

McMenamin's: 13300 Bothell-Everett Highway, Suite 304, in the Mill Creek Gateway Shopping Center. 425-316-0520. Serves a dry Irish Stout, brewed at McMenamin's. Irish stew, Irish soda bread, shepherd's pie, corned beef and cabbage, Irish "nachos" and special cocktails. Open 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.

O'Brien Turkey House: 2310 Highway 530 N.E., Arlington. 360-652-7522. Corned beef and cabbage and soda bread. No alcohol at this family-style restaurant. Open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

O'Houlie's Pub: 21919 66th Ave. W., Mountlake Terrace. 425-776-1833. Irish dinner at 6 p.m. Irish beers; karaoke and Irish music. Open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Rory's of Edmonds: 105 Main, Edmonds. 425-778-3433. Bagpiper and drums at noon and 5 p.m.; corned-beef platter and other Irish menu items, green beer and drink specials. Open 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Scott's Bar & Grill: 8115 Lake Ballinger Way, Edmonds. 425-775-2561. Special Irish menu all week, including stew, corned beef and cabbage and special cocktails. Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Shawn O'Donnell's American Grill & Irish Pub: 122 128th St. S.E., Everett.425-338-5700. Irish pub games, shepherd's pie and Guinness beef stew and other Irish cuisine, and live music by the Cutters (noon to 5 p.m.); the Kenmore & District Pipe Band (4:30 to 5:30 p.m.); and the Stout Pounders, (9 p.m. to midnight.) www.shawnodonnells.com.

Diane Wright: 425-745-7815 or dwright@seattletimes.com