PHOTOS The waiting of the green: Erin’s Isle celebrates ‘Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day’

MARCO ISLAND — At Erin’s Isle, every day is St. Patrick’s Day. Located on Collier Blvd. between U.S. 41 and Marco Island, the restaurant/pub is devoted to all things Irish.

But many people only think green, as in Celtic, once a year, on March 17. So, just like Christmas in July celebrations, Erin’s Isle held a “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” party on Saturday to keep the Irish flame alive in Southwest Florida, and incidentally drum up business during a traditionally slow month.

“I’ll do anything for a party,” said Erin’s Isle owner Mike Ward, playing to the traditional stereotype of the Irishman. “September in Naples is about as far from Ireland and St. Patrick’s as you can get. We have to bring it to Southwest Florida.” Erin’s Isle only reopened August 23 from a summer break.

“We’ll do about 150 dinners tonight. That’s double – yes, more than double –our normal Saturday this time of year,” said publican Ward. The Irishmen and Irishwomen, including the Irish-for-the-day, feasted on a variety of meals, including Irish stew, lamb shanks, and live Maine lobster.

But of course, the featured entrée was corned beef and cabbage, the traditional Irish meal that in New England would be called a boiled dinner. And while the diners, many of them Marco Islanders, were drinkers as well, and patronized the full range of the full bar at Erin’s Isle, the drink of choice for the evening was Guinness.

Ward himself tipped back a pint of dark red Guinness on draught, along with his friend Mike Joynt, donning a green plastic derby for the moment. Diane and Rick Hellyar of Marco Island dressed for the occasion, dazzling in emerald green, she in shamrock scarf and earrings, and he sporting a green sport jacket and sequined bowtie.

The company enjoyed, and occasionally sang along with, the three-piece grouping of Irish balladeers on stage. Bob Gideons played keyboards, Laura Leary sang and displayed an impressive command of the fiddle, playing traditional tunes including “Contentment is Wealth,” and harmonizing on tunes from “Those Were the Days” to “Danny Boy.”

“She’s a real Irish fiddler, direct from Clearwater,” joked Bob Leary, leading the band on banjo and guitar. “All right, how many of you would like to sing Irish songs all night long?” he asked the crowd. “And how many of you would prefer a poke in the eye with a sharp implement?” It was more or less unanimous; Irish songs won out.

Bob Leary urged the diners to “get their la la on,” and singled out Clayton Leitz for special ribbing. Everyone got their fix of the Auld Sod, and now only have to wait 180 days, plus or minus, for the real St. Paddy’s Day.