Many Irish immigrants settled in Milwaukee over the years, and a number of neighborhoods were identified as "Irish." The result is a thriving Irish Fest every summer, the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center and a plethora of fine pubs pouring Guinness, Harp, Murphy's and more, as Celtic music issues forth from speakers.

Here's a guide to Milwaukee's Irish pubs:

Brocach Irish Pub & Restaurant
1850 N. Water St., (414) 431-9009
brocach.com
Brocach began in Madison and made its way to Milwaukee in late 2007. The two-story pub and restaurant feels authentic, with an array of framed beer art and romantic paintings that lend a quirky, pub-y feel and soft red cushions make seated guests want to stay a while. There are two full bars -- a smoking one downstairs and a smoke-free one with a fireplace upstairs. There is also a second-story outdoor terrace. The kitchen is open daily from 3:30 p.m. until 2 a.m. The kitchen is open until midnight, but only serves a late-night menu after 10 p.m.

Bub's Irish Pub
N116 W16218 Main St., Germantown, (262) 255-1840
bubsirishpub.com
Ireland comes to the heart of the Northwest Side thanks to the dad of one of the Trinity Irish Dancers and his 15,000-sq. ft. pub!

Caffrey's Pub
717 N. 16th St., (414) 933-9047
caffreyspub.com
A Marquette hide-out that straddles the line between college bar and Irish pub. In the site formerly occupied by the Ardmore Bar, where The Replacements rocked Marquette back in the day.

Champions
2417 N. Bartlett Ave., (414) 332-2440
championspub.com
Tucked away a few blocks off North Avenue, Champions serves up a proper pint in a cozy neighborhood tavern. Formerly located on Murray Avenue, the bar is now more than 50 years old.

County Clare
1234 N. Astor St., (414) 272-5273
countyclare-inn.com
A pub, a restaurant and an inn. They serve up great food, wonderful beer and Irish music. Root soup, wonderful meat loaf, smoked salmon and of course, corned beef are all favorites on the menu. Stop in for a bite and a pint!

Derry Hegarty's
5328 W. Bluemound Rd., (414) 453-6088
A stadium-area pub and Milwaukee institution, well-loved by Irish pub fans and Brewers game regulars. Guinness and Harp are on tap and have been for years. It is also the meeting place for a number of the city's Irish clubs.

Fitzgibbons Pub
1127 N. Water St., (414) 278-8847
This pub is a turn of the century building that has housed bars since 1933. Much of the original bar is still intact, and old-time photos of Milwaukee's heyday line the walls. More than 25 bottled and tap beers and several fine scotches and whiskeys add to the charm.

Flannery's
425 E. Wells St., (414) 278-8586
flannerysmilwaukee.com
OK, so it's a bit more than an Irish pub and restaurant. But, it has an Irish name and it's where you see "everyone you know."

Halliday's Irish Pub
1729 N. Farwell Ave., (414) 278-9290
It's not the fanciest of bars, but it's one the few Irish pubs in Milwaukee that looks a lot like something you'd actually see in Ireland. A corner tap with a lot of character, they have a great outdoor patio and friendly staff.

The Harp Irish Pub
113 E. Juneau Ave., (414) 289-0700
Ah, The Harp. It's patio is a Milwaukee legend and its food backs up its tradition in the Milwaukee pub world.

House of Guinness
354 W. Main St., Waukesha, (262) 446-0181
houseofguinness.com
In the heart of downtown Waukesha, House of Guiness has 15 beers on tap and is smoke-free every Saturday. Like any good Irish pub, there's live music most weekends.

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Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by MILWIRISH on March 25, 2009 at 5:25 p.m. (report)

SORRY TO SEE THAT THE OLDEST OF ALL MILWAUKEE IRISH PUBS WAS LEFT OFF. JIM HEGARTY STARTEDE IRISH BARS IN MILWAUKEE. IT HAS A STORIED HISTORY

Posted by Aardvark on March 17, 2009 at 9:52 a.m. (report)

kinnickinnic - Wow a little salty, huh? Mo's is fine, try going today which is actually St. Patrick's Day. Milwaukee celebrates it on the day of (starting 6:00am) and Chicago does the south side on the sunday before. Saturday in MKE is just for the regular parade so relax.

Posted by kinnickinnic on March 17, 2009 at 4:02 a.m. (report)

MOs?? NEVER AGAIN! THE DOWNTOWN BRANCH OF THIS PHONY CHAIN HAD AT LEAST A THOUSAND CUSTOMERS SCREAMING FOR SERVICE DURING THE PARADE. AFTER AN HOUR OF PUSHING, GOT TWO SHOTS AND TWO BEERS FOR $22.00. NO THANKS!!!

Posted by alohamu on March 16, 2009 at 11:23 a.m. (report)

For actual Milwaukee - I always thought the best places were County Clare as restaurant and The Harp as bar. I think this is a good list. I am happy to see McAuliffe's on it! Best place for music and one of the BEST owners! Happy St Patrick's Day all! See you at Irish Fest!

Posted by swami says on March 19, 2007 at 6:10 p.m. (report)

Noel is a FINE bartender... she'll have you smiling from beer to beer.