While celebrating St. Patrick’s Day is one of the most popular things to do in Oklahoma in March, you don’t have to wait until spring to look for the luck of the Irish.
Here are the places where you can find a taste of Ireland in Oklahoma, from towns to restaurants to pubs.
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Map of Irish Places in Oklahoma
Ways to Find Ireland in Oklahoma
Unlike Irish immigrants in the Northeast, who created their neighborhoods in large urban areas, the Irish in Oklahoma intermarried very quickly.
Ten percent of Oklahomans claim Irish ancestry, but you have to know where to look for places to celebrate Irish heritage in Oklahoma.
Here are the places in Oklahoma with the closest ties to Ireland, from Irish towns to Irish pubs and beyond.
Visit Irish Towns in Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s Italian towns might be more famous, but we do have two Irish towns in Oklahoma that you can visit.
Erin Springs
The most famous is Erin Springs. Named after the Emerald Isle, the town is one of the only place names in Oklahoma with a direct lineage to Ireland. It puts the O in O’Klahoma, so to speak.
There’s not much left of the town’s Irish heritage today (they don’t even do a big St. Patrick’s Day event), but you can visit the Murray-Lindsay Mansion, the ornate home owned by Irish immigrant Frank Murray, who named the town.
Shamrock
Another Irish town in Oklahoma doesn’t harken back to Ireland at all, but it’s still a great spot to host an Irish-themed photo shoot.
Surprisingly, Shamrock, Oklahoma is named after Shamrock, Illinois. However, the town did play up its non-exactly-Irish heritage. Its two original newspapers were the Shamrock Brogue and the Shamrock Blarney.
You can come and take pics in front of the famous green Shamrock Museum. Note that the town voted to incorporate in 2010 and is listed as “disappearing” on Abandoned Oklahoma due to depopulation. There are many abandoned buildings and ruins in the area you can explore if you enjoy this kind of tourism.
Celebrate at an Irish Festival
I listed some of the most popular St. Patrick’s Day festivals in my guide to what to do in March in Oklahoma, but here’s a rundown of the most popular Irish festivals.
Note that I’m only listing annual festivals, but you will need to see the event’s page (linked below) to find the exact date each year.
Every Irish festival I can find is a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. If you know of any that are held in other parts of the year, let me know!
Annual Bangers and Mash Lunch (Downtown Claremore – March)
Celtic Festival (Grand Lake – March)
Celtic Festival (Grove – March)
Lilac District St. Paddy’s Party (Downtown Claremore – March)
Shamrock the Rose (Broken Arrow – March)
sham-ROCk the Garden (Myriad Gardens in OKC – March)
St. Patrick’s Day at Arnie’s Bar (Tulsa – March)
Stockyard City St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Stockyards OKC – March)
Eat at an Authentic Irish Restaurant
There are lots of Irish pubs in Oklahoma (more on that later), but it’s harder to find restaurants that specialize in authentic Irish cuisine.
Sean Cummings’ Irish Restaurant
Sean Cummings’ Irish Restaurant in Oklahoma City specializes in Irish fare, with a menu full of dishes you’d find all over the Emerald Isle. From full Irish Breakfasts to Bangers & Mash to an Irish Boxty.
They also have traditional pub food like burgers and sandwiches if you want to come down with friends or family who aren’t as excited about Irish food as you are.
Address: 7628 N May Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73116
Kilkenny’s Irish Pub
Another spot that mixes a pub atmosphere with Irish cuisine is Kilkenny’s in Tulsa. With an entire Boxty section and a menu chock-full of Ireland-inspired fusion dishes, you can get a taste of Éire through both traditional dishes like corned beef and cabbage and non-traditional dishes like the Irish nachos.
Address: 1413 E 15th St, Tulsa, OK 74120
Black Raven Irish Pub
The Black Raven Irish Pub in Harrah’s looks like you are stepping into a pub in Dingle or Galway, so you might be shocked that you’ll find this gem in Harrah!
With a menu of Scotch eggs, shepherd’s pie, and Irish bread pudding, their menu matches the decor.
Featuring live music and almost two dozen Irish whiskeys, this is as close to heaven (or Ireland) as you can get.
Address: 1878 North, 1878 Church Ave, Harrah, OK 73045
Share Some Craic at an American Irish Pub
If you aren’t familiar with the term Irish Craic, it’s sharing the kind of gossip, wit, and joke-cracking that make you want to spend all night out with friends. And that’s exactly the kind of atmosphere the best Irish pubs in Oklahoma seek to emulate stateside.
For a pub to be listed here, they have to strive to be a traditional Irish pub, but the food they serve is more Americanized without an emphasis on Irish cuisine.
J Farley’s Pub
J Farley’s Pub in Claremore gives a nod to Ireland with a small Irish cuisine section, so you can still get your bangers and mash here, but it’s served beside Oklahoma food staples like fried okra and chicken fried steak.
With weekly events like live music and bingo, the lively Irish Pub atmosphere is alive and well here!
Address: 820 S Lynn Riggs Blvd, Claremore, OK 74017
James E. McNellie’s Public House
James E. McNellie’s Public House is a trio of Irish pubs in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. With a menu of mostly modern American fare with a few nods to Irish cuisine, everyone will find something to love.
While the food is a mix of traditions, the culture strives to be straight Irish, with monthly pint nights that feature a rotation of beers with familiar names like Smithwick’s and Guinness.
Address: 1100 Classen Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73103 | Address: 409 E 1st St, Tulsa, OK 74120 | 7031 S Zurich Ave, Tulsa, OK 74136
Cheer on the Fighting Irish
As the daughter, niece, and cousin of many proud Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School graduates, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that you can pop down and cheer on the Bishop McGuinness Fighting Irish.
You can buy tickets to sporting events on their website.
Address: 801 NW 50th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73118
Frequently Asked Questions about Irish Oklahoma (FAQ)
These are the questions most commonly asked about how to find Irish culture in Oklahoma.
What Irish towns are in Oklahoma?
Erin Springs was founded by Irish immigrants and named after Ireland. Shamrock was named after Shamrock, Illinois, but is a fun road trip for some Irish-themed photography.
Where did the Irish settle in Oklahoma?
The first Irish immigrants moved to Oklahoma in the 1870s.
Which town is well known for being an Irish enclave in Oklahoma?
There aren’t any true pockets of Irish immigrants in Oklahoma today, but 10% of Oklahomans across the state claim Irish ancestry.
What are Irish Festivals in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma is home to several large St. Patrick’s Day festivals celebrating Irish Heritage. I’ve listed some of the largest or most consistent events above.
What are the major factors that led to the settlement of the Irish in Oklahoma?
The first wave of Irish immigrants came to work in the coal mines of Southeastern Oklahoma.
What is the population of Irish in Oklahoma?
While ten percent of Oklahomans claim Irish heritage, there are not many Irish immigrants or first-generation Irish Americans in Oklahoma. According to the Oklahoma Historical Society:
In 1970 the state had 491 residents born in Ireland and 2,093 with one or both parents born there.
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Stephanie Craig is a born-and-bred Oklahoma mom and travel expert who has been to over fifty countries. After traveling all over the world, Stephanie moved back to Oklahoma to explore more of her own backyard. Her favorite things to do in Oklahoma include visiting the Blue Whale of Catoosa, the Arcadia Round Barn, and the Talimena Scenic Byway.