Sheepshead Bites is Irish Today

Ray Johnson -

Did you know that there is a place in Ireland called the Sheepshead Peninsula? I’ve never been there, but the pictures on the Hillside Walks on the Sheepshead Peninsula site and the Sheepshead Way site show it to be picturesque. The similarity in our neighborhood name and the Irish place, makes me think that the Sheepshead fish may have something more in common with the Sheeps Head Way.

According to Tom Fletcher on his New York Architecture site, 47 percent of Brooklyn’s population in 1855 was foreign-born and the Irish population comprised 55 percent. So, it makes good sense to head to the shores to find the Irish in Brooklyn.

For those of you wondering where you might get some real Irish atmosphere by the South Brooklyn shore, think Sheepshead Bay (or at least nearby).

There are still a few Irish businesses around our area you might like to try out.

Check out the Luck o’the Irish after the jump.

Get yourself a great roast beef sandwich (they have a parking lot!):
Brennan & Carr Restaurant
3432 Nostrand Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11229-5106
(718) 646-9559
Located at the corner of Gravesend Neck Rd & Ave U

Grab a gift for a friend at McGuiness Irish Gift Shop in Marine Park. They will be open from 9 to 5 on St. Patty’s Day:
McGuinness Irish Gift Shop
3609 Avenue S
Brooklyn, NY 11234
(718) 627-0009‎

Get a traditional Irish dinner at Buckley’s (also, in Marine Park):
Buckley’s Restaurant
2926 Avenue S
Brooklyn, NY 11229
(718) 998-4222

Sing All Through the Night ‘Cois Farraige’ (Gaelic for “By The Sea”) in Gerritsen Beach, then finish your night off with some Guinness Stout. In order to enter the site, you have to be over 18. That’s funny, when I used drink that stuff when I was under 18 (once in a while) — I thought it was a health tonic. Oh, it does have health benefits, so says Wikipedia.

Here are some taverns in Sheepshead Bay, Marine Park, or Coney Island:
Tamaqua Bar & Marina‎
84 Ebony Ct
Brooklyn, NY 11229
(718) 646-9212

LH Tavern‎
2713 Avenue U
Brooklyn, NY 11229
(718) 646-9365

Peggy O’Neil’s‎
1904 Surf Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11224
(718) 449-3200

Ashford Arms
22-82 Flatbush Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11234
(718) 377-9169

McMahon’s Irish Pub
2112 Flatbush Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11234
(718) 377-9535

All you need to do to catch some Irish atmosphere is take a little walk and look for the green Shamrock decorations — so, don’t think of this as a comprehensive list.

Be safe and have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!