Claddagh Pub: O’Malley and actor Joaquin Phoenix came to Claddagh together in 2003, but neighbors of the Canton pub had been going there for almost eight years before that. Clarke opened Claddagh in 1995, and has been throwing the Meet in the Street party since. “We just wanted to take the celebration to the next level,” he says. This year, the tents will be bigger and heated — “We try to create the illusion that you’re actually inside the pub and not a tent on the street” — and there will be live entertainment, thanks to the band Mr. Greengenes. A few doors down, Looney’s (2900 O'Donnell St. 410-675-9235) will open at 6 a.m. on Thursday and will have a free breakfast buffet and happy hour drink price until 11 a.m. Meet in the Street is free; Mr. Greengenes performs Saturday at 2 p.m. 2918 O’Donnell St., 410-522-4220

An Poitin Stil: An Poitin Stil’s website is the giddiest we’ve seen for St. Patrick’s Day. There’s a digital counter marking down the days until Thursday, and a celtic harp providing the background music. The actual bar in Timonium also plays up its Irish bona fides. Its façade is supposed to emulate real pub fronts in Ireland, and strolling through all the rooms, An Poitin Stil seems to never end. Celebrations start on Friday there, and local Irish band the Spalpeens perform on Saturday at 9 p.m. The bar opens at 10 a.m. on Thursday and will offer Jameson drinks at $5 all day long, as well as $5 pints starting at 4 p.m. Forest Hill’s The ShamRogues will perform at the bar’s tent stage starting at 8:30 p.m. 2323 York Road, Timonium, 410-560-7900.

J. Patrick’s: Did you know that, behind U2, Ireland’s highest-selling musician is new-agey, soporific Enya? Well, you won’t hear anything like that at J. Patrick’s. It’s been said that a true Irish pub must host live music, or it is nothing but a sad imitation of the real thing. In Baltimore, that torch has long been carried by this Locust Point mainstay. The windowless bar near the Domino Sugar factory hosts sessions Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and live shows Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Not incidentally, J. Patrick’s also boasts of having Baltimore’s best Irish coffee. Proceed with caution. 1371 Andre St. 410-244-8613.

Mick O’Shea’s: There’s no denying this pub’s grip on the Charles Street corridor — on weeknights when other nearby restaurants are only part-full, Mick O’Shea’s is often packed. And on St. Patrick’s Day, it’s a madhouse, in the best possible way. Few bars offer a better view of the St. Patrick’s Day parade route. On Thursday, the Spalpeens will perform at 4 p.m. 328 N. Charles St., 410-539-7504.

The Tilted Kilt: Ah, the Tilted Kilt, the bar for the man who wants to spend St. Patrick's Day inside a Hooters. The national chain of Celtic-themed sports bars, whose typical  waitstaff is above (look at those mini-skirts!), has opened a White Marsh location. This year it will host its inaugural SPD party on an outside tent. The bar, which opens at 8 a.m. Thursday, has booked the Maryland band the Reagan Years for a special performance. 8133 Honeygo Blvd., White Marsh, 410-497-0792. 

James Joyce Pub: What’s the most authentic Irish pub in Baltimore? It’s a running debate in some circles. In one corner is James Joyce Pub, which was built in Ireland and shipped to Baltimore in the fall of 2002 to be installed in Harbor East. In the other corner is Patrick’s of Pratt Street (934 W. Pratt St., 410-980-3894), which claims to be America’s oldest Irish pub, continuously owned by the same family since 1847. We’ll let you be the judge. Either way, the Guinness and Jameson will be flowing freely at both. Live music is scheduled at both locations for SPD. 616 President St., 410-727-5107.

Sean Bolan’s: Sean Bolan’s, which moved from Federal Hill to Bel Air a few years ago, has a long draft list — some 16 brands, including Guinness, Harp, and Smithwick’s — and an equally long bottled beer menu. For that alone, it’s not just good on St. Patrick’s Day, it’s also an excellent all-around Bel Air destination. 12 S. Main St., Bel Air, 410-803-1173.

Ryan’s Daughter: The de facto pub for Belvedere Square, Ryan’s Daughter’s marquee even includes the traditional Irish greeting “cead mille failte,” which translates to “a hundred thousand welcomes.” And while the bar has the usual drink staples, it also has a menu of exceptionally good traditional Irish fare. Try the Guinness-battered codfish filet or the classic fish-n-chips. The bar will be open regular hours on St. Patrick’s Day. 600 E. Belvedere Avenue, 410-464-1000.

South Baltimore: Perhaps the most Irish bar south of Federal Hill is the newly opened Delia Foley’s, which, from its name to its décor, was designed to out-Irish all the others in the city. For SPD, they’ve teamed up with Muggsy’s, The Park Bench, Blue Grass, the Rowan Tree, No Idea and Don’t Know for one of the best specials of the week: A $5 donation Saturday through Thursday gets patrons drink specials at all seven bars. From noon until 11 p.m. SPD, all bars will have $4 Jameson drinks and $4 select drafts. Proceeds for the donation will go to local charities, according to the bars. You’ll recognize Delia Foley’s by its shamrock-y green exterior. 1439 S. Charles St., 410-685-8277.

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Photo: An Poitin Stil bartender Jerry Stone earlier this week (Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun); The Tilted Kilt website