O'shy's Irish Tap House - Truly a Community Business, written by Tanya Galloway

Bellair resident, Jennifer Landry hails from Chicago, Illinois who is no stranger to authentic Irish Pubs. Jennifer has always paid close attention to her surroundings when visiting pubs, taverns and restaurants and even coffee houses, keeping notes of things that she liked and things she did not. With her heritage being Irish and Czechoslovakian, she feel that she truly has something different to offer and always wanted a place to call her own.

The opening of O'Shy's Irish Tap House in Largo, Florida didn't just appear at the end of some rainbow, but through hard work and her dedication to having a place where people could just 'come and hang out', 'like a coffee shop but with beer'.  For a first time business owner, opening a business can be quite a difficult task. Well, she wasn't going to make any mistakes doing so and her voice was well heard by local city officials who not only listened to her but made changes in the way of the assistance for business owners.  Now her dreams of her place to call her own, is no longer an idea or a dream, but a reality put into motion. With the politics out of the way, she was now able to focus on opening the doors not only to the new business, but to her dreams as well. Being a single parent, Jennifer was concerned of how she was going to be able to build the place she wanted.  While renovations commenced, much needed items were being donated by other local businesses and people within the community that had heard her story and wanted to pitch in.  Her boyfriend Eddie and longtime friends, Marty and Josh and many others were close at hand, putting countless hours into painting, building and plumbing to helping this amazing woman open the doors to her dreams and to her new business, O'Shy's Irish Tap House, which is named after her daughter, Shyan. 

O'Shy's Tap House not only offers 46 different beers on tap from around the world, but many bottled beers and fine wines as well as specialty beer drinks that are dazzled with chocolate and raspberries too.  

Jennifer opened O'Shy's Tap House officially on March 5th, 2011 with a packed house, making new friends. She also shares plans for a "Fighting Irish" wall, which will honor Irish police offers, fire fighters and first responders from her hometown of Chicago and her home in Florida.  She says she isn't done yet!  She wants to open additional businesses in the area such as a Pizzeria and an upscale liquor bar and promises her son the pizzeria would be named after him.    

O'Shy's will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day in a more unique fashion.  Of course, there will be beer and live music, but they will also be offering Shephard's Pie, green snow and some other special surprises!  Guess you will have to stop in and see what they are! 

O'Shy's Irish Tap House is located at 80 Clearwater-Largo Road South in Largo, Florida on the southeast corner of Clwr-Largo Road and West Bay Drive.  Hours are from 11am until 2am. 

Cash is King at O'Shy's (ATM inside)

Outside patio 

For more information give Jennifer a call at 727-588-4444. 

O'Shy's Irish Tap House Online  or Add O'Shy's on Facebook!

Photos by Tanya Galloway of Wandering Star Photography