The Blarney Stone: Vancouver’s Biggest St. Patrick’s Celebration
 AT THE EMERALD ISLE BAR at the Blarney Stone are: (L to R) [Back Row] Chelsea Pine, day manager, owner Eddie Emerman, and Syndi Dame, bartender. [Front Row] Ashley Kipping, bartender. |
 STREET VIEW of the newly renovated front entrance to the Blarney Stone in Gastown. |
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER – Have you seen the newly renovated Blarney Stone in Gastown lately? In a word: “wow!”
I knew there were ongoing renovations and made a quick visit in January, but at the time there was still a lot of sawing and hammering underway.
Owner Eddie Emerman recently invited me down to see the finished product, and I almost drove by the building because I hardly recognized it.
The entire front of The Blarney Stone is now opened up at street level and just inside the front door is the Emerald Isle circular bar. They have really succeeded in bringing the outdoors inside.
Inside the beautiful old heritage building there is still the lovely polished dark wood and pillars, but recently added are new floors, tables, chairs and a stand-up bar. All of this makes the room brighter and more spacious.
The Blarney Stone was the first Irish pub in Vancouver and through its doors have passed the famous and not so famous.
Over the years it has never lost its appeal, mainly because of the fabulous Killarney Showband who kept packing them in with lineups every weekend.
The Blarney Stone is going back to its roots and will be open seven days a week with a new food and drink menu. There will be bands and DJs every night and you will also be able to watch all your favourite sports games and the Six Nations Rugby games.
The Blarney Stone kicks-off St. Patrick’s festivities with the weekend warmup on March 13-14 with live bands and dancers and free daytime events with children welcome throughout the day.
The big day – March 17 – is expected to be the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the city. It’s going to be a blast at the Blarney Stone – get there early!
The Blarney Stone is located at 216 Carrall Street in Gastown. For more information, call (604) 687-4322, or see: www.blarneystone.ca.
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