The haze over Tampa early Tuesday morning seemed to add to the ambience as St. Patrick's Day celebrations began.
Cliff Talbott and Kenny Frissell arrived at Four Green Fields about 10 a.m. and planned to make a day of it. "This is about as authentic as you can get in Tampa," Frissell said. "It's not like the other American-Irish pubs around town."
The two came early for a special Irish buffet featuring shepherd's pie, corned beef and cabbage and Irish soda bread.
Across the bar sat Derek and Lori, both unemployed but refusing to let that ruin their St. Patrick's Day celebration. They planned to keep partying "until the money runs out," said Lori, who was laid off in July. Derek, an electrician, has been unable to find work since being laid off in January. They did not want their last names used.
Lyn Lashley and her church group from Hyde Park United Methodist, just around the corner from Four Green Fields, filled the corner of the pub with laughter. "Methodists like to eat and have fun, too," someone at their table said. The women started their St. Patrick's Day with a traditional Irish breakfast, pints of Guinness or Irish coffee and fellowship.
"We did say grace before we ate, though," Lashley said.
Last year, Four Green Fields was at capacity throughout the day, and management expected the same Tuesday.
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