Pubs green with pride

Muldoon’s Dublin Pub and Celtic Bar has a special St. Patrick’s Day celebration planned for four little Irish lasses visiting America for the first time.

Their aunt, Mary Murphy, who is general manager of the restaurant, will be watching the 6-year-old Murphy quadruplets — Kellie, Katie, Shauna and Amy — receive a courtyard induction into the Guinness/Muldoon’s Wall of Fame at 1 p.m. Saturday.

There are only seven recorded cases of quadruplets ever born in Ireland, Murphy said. Her nieces are the only set of quads born in County Cork.

Special events manager Richard Kaplan said that fact gives the girls their place in Irish history, earning them their spot on the Wall of Fame.

“That’s noteworthy, and I’m always fascinated by being able to say someone is the first of anything,” Kaplan said.

The girls’ older brother Cian, 8, celebrated his first birthday in America, but all the children are now at a perfect age to visit America, especially California. Murphy said the holiday coincided with their spring-break vacation from school.

Along with their parents, Patrick and Brenda, the kids will visit Disneyland, Sea World and the beach, and this season shouldn’t be too hot for her “fair-skinned Irish relatives,” Murphy said.

Ireland celebrates the holiday with a traditional parade, and Murphy said the kids were very disappointed to learn there wouldn’t be a parade in Newport Beach. “They have all the gear, including ‘Kiss me, I’m Irish’ buttons.” In lieu of the parade, she’s hoping maybe they can entice Amy, an Irish jig dancer back home, to “lead the way and do an Irish jig” at the celebration Saturday.

The award presentation will be an informal gathering with family, friends and Muldoon’s employees.

“Everyone at Muldoon’s has been hearing about the quads for the past six years, since they were born, and everyone there is dying to meet them,” Murphy said.

Ivor Murphy, Mary’s brother and a Newport Beach resident, will be at Muldoon’s Saturday and said it will be fun to celebrate with his visiting relatives.

And with so much attention focused on the girls, Uncle Ivor made sure to schedule some “guy time” alone.

“My friend, Phil Leviene, is a former Marine, and Cian and I will go down and spend the day at Camp Pendleton,” Murphy said.

But for one day, the focus will be on his famous sisters, who will receive a plaque with their picture on it that will hang with those of other celebrities on Muldoon’s Wall of Fame.

Expecting the tykes to tire quickly, Muldoon’s start its St. Patrick’s Day weekend later in the afternoon.

There will be live entertainment in the evening, and some celebrating on Sunday as well, but the real party starts Monday, with live music playing as soon as the doors open at 10 a.m.

“For everyone that arrives early, the first thing they’ll hear is live entertainment right away, something festive for the morning crowd,” Kaplan said.

The band Shenanigans will take over later in the afternoon and play into the evening. As far as the libations, Kaplan said Muldoon’s prides itself on not having green beer.

The pub has been certified for what Guinness calls “the perfect pull.”

“It’s a specific G-force,” Kaplan said. “Someone actually comes from Ireland to certify that you’re pulling the perfect pint. We’ve been doing this for 34 years, and we’re very serious with our pull.”

Other local venues celebrating in style include:

The Harp Inn, 130 E. 17th St. in Costa Mesa will start its celebrations Thursday night at 8 p.m. with entertainment by local band Rick Boyle. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this month, the Harp Inn will be partying all weekend, serving traditional Irish fare through Monday. The lineup of live music features Under Cover at 9:30 Friday night; Tijuana Dogs at 9:30 Saturday night; Gypsy’s Kiss from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday with Rick Boyle taking over from 8 until midnight. The festivities on St. Patrick’s Day begin at 1 p.m. with music by Rick Boyle. The bar will be pouring Guinness, Harp and Smithwick’s, and the Creepers will entertain later on in the evening. For information, call (949) 646-8855 or go to www.harpinn.com.

Trying to stay sane on St. Patrick’s Day, Skosh Monahan’s steakhouse and Irish pub at 2000 Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa will open at its regular time, 4 p.m., and offer its daily menu of traditional Irish fare, which includes bangers and mash, corned beef and cabbage, Irish lamb stew and Irish coddle, banger, bacon, mushrooms and onions with red potatoes and gravy. No green beer this year, but Skosh’s says it has 28 brands’ worth of Irish whiskey in Southern California. They will also be pouring Guinness, Harp, Smithwick’s and its premium well vodka from Ireland, Boru. Call (949) 548-0099.

IF YOU GO

Muldoon’s Dublin Pub and Celtic Bar is at 202 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach. For information, call (949) 640-4110 or go to www.muldoonspub.com

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at sue.thoensen@latimes.com.