Parnell's Pub To Celebrate The New Year, Ireland Time

At 7 p.m. Saturday, the crowd at will celebrate the New Year with a champagne toast.

That’s when midnight strikes in Ireland, where owner Declan Synnott is from. 

Synnott, 41, said the tradition started about five years ago when he was trying to boost business at his bar.

He doesn’t sell food, so he had to offer something a little different.

“When we started doing it, we had about six or eight people, but there are 70 people that come in consistently now,” said Synnott, who opened Parnell’s almost 15 years ago.

He tunes the radio to an Irish station, and the bar counts down to the New Year. Customers celebrate and clink glasses filled with complimentary champagne. 

“A lot of people will come in at 6 and start their evening, hang out until 8 or 8:30 and leave and go home,” he said.

Some go to avoid the crowds. Others are from England, Scotland or France, just to name a few, and want to kick off 2012 at the same time as their home countries.

“It gives me that sense of, OK, I’m back home for a second,” said Synnott, who is from Ashbourne, County Meath, and moved to the United States in 1994. “A lot of friends come around, so it’s real nice. It’s a good feeling.”

Synnott will have hats and other party favors on hand.

"I try to stay away from the noisemakers, but my wife, (Liz,) will bring them out," he said, laughing.

Doors open at 5 p.m. A champagne toast at midnight will follow the earlier celebration. For more information, visit Parnell's Facebook page.