St. Patrick’s Day events, nonprofits that benefit, continue to be affected by the coronavirus

Posted: Mar 5, 2021 / 09:38 PM HST
/. Updated: March 5, 2021 / 9:43 a.m. HST

HONOLULU (KHON2) – St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner and there won’t be any major celebrations due to COVID-19 for the second year in a row.

It’s another huge loss to businesses, but the ramifications go beyond that.

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“Irish bar owners call St. Patrick’s Day the 13th month, so it’s very busy.”

Don Murphy, Owner of Murphy’s Bar and Grill Murphy’s Bar & Grill St. Patrick’s Day Block Party has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns

Decorations for St. Patrick’s Day have already been set up in Murphy’s Bar & Grill. However, this year’s celebrations won’t look like they did before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In 2019 we had probably 12,000-15,000 people down here, and this year we’ll have maybe a thousand people all day, including take away. So that’s quite a difference, ”said Don Murphy.

A portion of the proceeds from the St. Patrick’s Day event is usually donated to nonprofits and charities. Murphy said they weren’t able to spend as much as they normally would since the pandemic.

“It limits those who we obviously donate to because there just isn’t that much money at the end of the day.”

Don Murphy, owner of Murphy’s Bar and Grill

The company would donate to about ten to 15 different nonprofits and charities during its pre-pandemic St. Patrick’s event, but they had to cut it down to just one in 2021.

“10% of our all day proceeds go to the Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation, with whom we have worked for approximately 20 years,” said Murphy.

He said there was hope for a big celebration in 2022 and an opportunity to give back to more organizations.

“You just get to know people and contacts and find someone you think needs help and try to help them,” Murphy said.

You also see positive changes when it comes to business.

“Today was the first day of lunch in a long time, there was a really good buzz,” Murphy said. “It’s a real one – for a restaurateur, that’s the sound you want to hear.” These are people who talk and have fun. That means a lot. “

Murphy’s Bar and Grill has special menu items for St. Patrick’s Day. Unlike 2020, they are open for indoor meals by reservation as well as take away. Click here to reserve a place for dinner or to check what’s on the website.