Midtown bookshelf: Irish Pub authors to visit Kelly’s

Kyle Kelly and daughter Colleen.

Kelly’s Pub in Westport is featured in a new book on distinctive Irish bars, and the authors will be in town Friday, Dec. 6 for a book signing.

Authors Robert Meyers and Ron Wallace visited Irish pubs across the country, and decided Kelly’s is one of the best.

Their new 335-page book, Irish Pubs in America: History, Lore and Recipes, was released this week.  The two will be in Kelly’s this Friday (Dec. 6) from 5-8 p.m. to unveil the book, sign copies, and christen them with a cold one.

Here’s a little history on Kelly’s.

Randal Kelly, the Irish immigrant who took over the landmark pre-Civil War building at Westport Road and Pennsylvania Street in the late 1940s, referred to his friendly beer joint that welcomed everyone from famous artists and politicians, to all-night bakers at the old Manor Bread factory next door, as “the Poor Man’s Playground.”

Randal Kelly passed away in 1988, but the pub remains in the family and is operated today by brothers Pat and Kyle Kelly and Kyle’s daughter, Colleen, and son, Mitch.

In their book, Meyers and Wallace call Kelly’s “An inspirational story of how one Irish immigrant, blessed with personality and perseverance, came to America, married, raised a family and established one of the most successful Irish pubs in the oldest building in Kansas City.”

Copies of Irish Pubs in America are available in Kansas City at Kelly’s and at select Irish shops and book stores.