Kansas City is blessed with some great Irish pubs, and I've been known to frequent one or two. But there's only one granddaddy. Kelly's Westport Inn.
Kelly's feels like family and home to me. When the bar opened its doors at the corner of Westport and Penn in 1947 my father was with Lafferty-O'Gara Distributors selling Randal Kelly Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. My older sisters went to school at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Westport with the Kelly boys. Another set of younger sisters babysat Pat Kelly's kids. Like most people of my generation in Kansas City, my first stop upon turning 21 was Kelly's for a 50¢ glass of Old Style...I think the price has gone up a little. That was a few years ago. Randal Kelly was at the church for my father's funeral before my family was. And of course I worked for years with Kyle Kelly on Irish festivals in Wesport and K.C. Kelly's is a treasure. If you've ever spent any time in Kansas City, you know that.
So when was the last time you were there? Months? Years? Time to remedy that. How about tomorrow night? Friday, November 14th K.C. Irish Fest performers Flannigan's Right Hook will play at Kelly's for a puny $2 cover.
Make a pilgrimage this Friday night to Irish holy ground. It's been voted our town's best nightspot two years running in the Visitors' Choice Awards. Come early, have a slice of Joe's pizza and a bag of peanuts. Have a pint of Boulevard, even if it costs a little more than 50¢. Hear some great music. And remind yourself why Kelly's has been Kansas City's Irish home for 61 years.
Your Guide to the 17th Annual Kansas City Irish Fest at Crown Center. www.KCIrishFest.com
About Me
- Danny Regan
- Danny is a founder, past president, and creative director of the Kansas City Irish Fest. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri, the greatest city in America. He's authored Tir na Blog since 2006.
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5 comments:
Come on Dan, you know you can't go to Kelly's for just a pint.
For the ultimate Kelly's experience, buy yourself a 44oz beer (that's right - 44 ounces - we call em 'Fatties'), some peanuts and hunker down by the jukebox.
Nothing better than blowing off an afternoon sitting at Kelly's, watching the world go by!
My parents met in Kelly's so I guess I owe my existence to them.
That's great. Did every Irish kid's parents either meet in a bar or church? My parents met at the now defunct Boots'& Sully's on Troost and got engaged at The Peanut on Main.
Barney's exactly right of course. A Fatty in that enormous paper cup is the Kelly's way.
Danny: My parents met at a wedding. My mother said it was the beautiful brides maids dress she wore. Dad said it was all the beer at the reception.
My Dad did however in his early days tend bar at Boot's & Sully's on Troost. Maybe he served your folks. Be sure to ask me about Ash Wens at the bar. It is too politically incorrect to publish.
Ed Scanlon
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