As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, I am reminded of how much I enjoy the Irish bar experience. There are, however, real differences when one is asked to define a genuine Irish pub.

Having just returned from a trip to Savannah, Ga., where there is a large Irish Catholic population, I was able to experience a few of the more popular Irish pubs. The trip reinforced my own set of criteria for what I consider a real Irish pub. Savannah is home to three Irish bars – Kevin Barry’s, O’Connell’s and Six Pence Pub – which I would consider excellent candidates for comparison. I left out McDonough’s and Molly MacPherson’s, as the latter is a Scottish bar and McDonough’s was less pub and more restaurant. Six Pence Pub, to be fair, is more British than Irish, so I would not categorize it as a true Irish pub. However, it did have many of the attributes one would associate with an honest pub experience.

Rule No. 1: It is not a true Irish bar if there is no Guinness. Guinness is the quintessential common denominator when it comes to Irish libations, second only to Irish whiskey.

Rule No. 2: It is not an Irish bar if the only whiskey offered is Canadian or Old Grandad. Preferably, there should be more than one Irish whiskey. Most good Irish bars offer several Irish whiskies. If the pub has a diverse selection – i.e., Tullamore Dew, Jameson, Red Breast, Powers, etc. – you’re in the right place.

Rule No. 3: The bar should have character. O’Connell’s reminds me of some the finest Irish pubs in Ireland. It’s especially reminiscent of a bar called Connolly’s in Kinvara, with it’s cozy bar and bench seating. Connolly’s also boasted regular Irish music sessions. Irish music is not a prerequisite for being considered a true Irish pub, but it doesn’t hurt. Irish music never hurts when one is looking to get that Irish pub experience. Kevin Barry’s was recommended to my wife and me due to the nightly Irish entertainment, and we opted for dinner there after our first full day in Savannah. We were not disappointed, and the Irish stews and corned beef were fantastic, as was the Irish music.

Rule No. 4: Not all real Irish pubs have food, but if they do, some sort of Irish fare should be on the menu.

There are plenty of Irish pubs here in our neck of the woods, all with their own credibility. It might be the owner’s lineage, the incredibly poured Guinness, the music or the character of the bar.

Some of my favorites around the area are O’Connor’s, The Press Box, Quinn’s, Funky Murphy’s, Patsie Dugan’s, Smitty’s, Breen’s, Fiddler’s Green and The Banner.

Moynagh’s Tavern is considered by some the oldest Irish bar in Worcester, although Moynihan’s has had some disputes with the claim and is another true Irish bar with decades of service on Main Street.

No matter what your criteria, Worcester has a good number of Irish pubs worth visiting all year long.

By Chris Reddy