This is a post by N&O restaurant critic Greg Cox:

Last year it was Doolin’s in Durham and Doherty’s in Cary. Hibernian opened a new location in North Raleigh while, just up the road, Saints & Scholars gave the area its first half-Irish, half-Mediterranean menu. In Wake Forest, Pat Murnane’s opened in the old Oh’ Mulligans space.

Now Chapel Hill is riding the wave. Fitzgerald’s Irish Pub (206 W. Franklin St.; 919-240-4560; fitzgeraldschapelhill.com), which opened last week on Franklin Street, is the second location of a popular Charlotte watering hole.

The new pub builds on the winning formula of the original: 24 beers on tap, lots of sports TVs, and a menu that covers all the expected bases from Reuben to fish and chips. The unexpected, too, with options including a Hawaiian entree salad, chicken “Riggies” (grilled with sweet and spicy peppers) and a selection of six variations on the slider theme.

Fitzgerald’s serves lunch on Saturday and Sunday (opening at noon for the time being), and dinner nightly.

Elsewhere, Murphy’s Law (in the form of construction complications) has delayed a couple of other Irish pub openings.

Sprinkler system changes necessitated by an interior makeover have pushed back the opening of a second Trali in Morrisville. Originally slated for March, it’s now looking like early- to mid-June.

Work continues on bringing the original Hibernian on Glenwood South back from the ashes, too. Owner Niall Hanley hopes to reopen a bigger, better version of the pub with a rooftop patio later this year.

Send restaurant news to Greg at ggcox@bellsouth.net. Be sure to tune in to Greg's radio show at 11 a.m. Saturdays on WPTF.

The fire that shut down the Hibernian Pub on Raleigh's Glenwood South earlier this year is not putting a halt to the pub's annual St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraising event.

The annual head-shaving extravaganza that raises money for pediatric cancer research will happen at 1 p.m. Saturday as a block party on North Street. That's the street next to the Hibernian, which hopefully will reopen next month.

The fundraising goal for the event is $300,000 with nearly 150 people already registered to shave their heads. Hibernian owner Niall Hanley will be among those who will go bald to raise money for charity. "It's really an amazing cause," says Hanley, adding. "I need a haircut."

In 2006, the Hibernian hosted its first St. Baldrick's event with 77 participants raising more than $75,000. Since then, Hibernian events have raised more than $1.4 million. To get involved, register to have your head shaved or sign up to volunteer, go to StBaldricks.org/events/RaleighHibernian
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This is a post by N&O restaurant critic Greg Cox:

It’s early spring and, right on schedule, Irish pubs are sprouting up all over the place. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve written that a pub opened “just in time for Saint Patrick’s Day.”

You can add the newest location of Hibernian (8021 Falls of Neuse Road; 919-803-0290; hibernianpub.com) to the list. The North Raleigh pub opened its doors with ten days to spare in the building that formerly housed Duffy’s for a decade. Owner Niall Hanley has given the space a complete overhaul to match the menu, a mix of Irish and American pub fare that now counts house-corned beef among its attractions.

Hanley is also fervently working on the restoration of the original Hibernian on Glenwood South, which was closed by a fire in December. He hopes to reopen by May with a few improvements, including a rooftop patio. I’ll keep you posted.

Meanwhile in Morrisville, the opening of a second location of Trali (3107 Grace Park Drive; traliirishpub.com) will miss its originally targeted St. Paddy’s Day opening by just a couple of weeks. According to chef-partner Eamonn Kelly, they’re now hiring staff and are shooting for an early April opening.

Send restaurant news to Greg at ggcox@bellsouth.net. Be sure to tune in to Greg's radio show at 11 a.m. Saturdays on WPTF.

Go HERE to read the review.

With St. Patrick's Day approaching, let me make a plea: don't drink green beer, drink good beer instead.

Dave Paulson, "the general manager of hoppiness" at Bottle Mixx, a craft beer shop in North Raleigh, sent along a few recommendations. None of these beers are green-dye ready and all still showcase a long Irish brewing tradition. To strech beyond even Guiness or Harp, here are Paulson's picks for American beers that closely emulate the ones from across the pond:

Irish Red Ale: Brownish red hue when poured with a mild hop flavor and a nice caramel balance.
• Moylan's Danny's Irish Red Ale: Novato, Calif.
• Epic Brewing Imperial Red Ale: Salt Lake City, Utah
• Harpoon Celtic Red: Boston, Mass.
Irish Ale: Rich Amber Color with a slight roasty malty sweet balance.
• Great Lakes Conway's Irish Ale: Cleveland, OH
Irish Style Lager: An almost Vienna style lager with a malty aroma balanced body with a clean crisp finish.
• Rogue Irish Style Lager: Oregon
Oyster Stout: Bold and silky with a slight briny finish that is honestly intriguing and flavorful.
• 21st Amendment Marooned on Hog Island, San Francisco, Calif.
Irish Stouts: Notes of roasted coffee and pours obsidian black with a nice tan tight foam head.
• Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout: Brooklyn Brewery Utica, N.Y.

Go HERE to read Greg's review of this new North Raleigh restaurant from the former owner of Solomon's in North Raleigh.

Just got a couple of press releases with some pretty big news:

Niall Hanley, owner of the Hibernian Irish pubs in Raleigh and Cary, is going to convert the former Rosie's Plate at 701 N. Person St. into as yet unnamed pub.

And Hanley is partnering with Carlos Salamanca, owner of Dos Taquitos, to open an authentic Mexican eatery in the former Diner location at 410 Glenwood Ave.

This news is based on press releases issued by Kimball & Company, a restaurant brokerage company. I'm waiting to hear more information from Hanley this morning. 

UPDATE: Today's Retailing column has the full story on Hanley's latest plans in downtown Raleigh plus opening another Hibernian pub in North Raleigh.

Greg’s Hot List: Irish Pubs

Sure, ’tis is that time of year again. Saint Patrick’s Day is still a week away, but since it falls on a Wednesday this year, you can bet a pot o’ gold that many of
these Irish pubs will begin celebrating this weekend.

Bull McCabe’s Irish Pub
427 W. Main St., Durham
682-3061
www.bullmccabesirishpub.com

Connolly’s
1979 High House Road, in Cornerstone Shopping Center, Cary
465-4458
www.connollysirish.com

The Hibernian
311 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh; 1144 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary
833-2258 (Raleigh); 467-9000 (Cary)
www.hibernianpub.com

Click READ MORE to see the complete list.