Dreams of gold: How Barry Lynch went from Ireland to Gracie Mansion to the Poconos
It’s not all about shamrocks and green beer.
Think of it as a smidgen of Irish luck when you talk to restauranteur Barry Lynch about how the natives really celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
From musings about his upbringing as a young lad in Galway to the first time he sampled America’s take on Irish eats, his stories (paired with brogue and a hearty laugh) are both endearing and entertaining.
“It’s totally different in America than when I grew up in Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day was a holy day of obligation. You would go to Mass and local small towns would have a parade with a local band. It was very low key and was considered more of a family day. Since I left Ireland it’s become very Americanized. Like they do in America, it’s turned into a big party day.”