Tucked into the corner of an otherwise empty part of Berkeley is a crowded, spirited pub. There are two doors to enter, solidly surrounding any customers with a vibrant, warm air sharply contrasting the outside street.
The Starry Plough was founded in 1973 by eight Irish immigrants. Originally, the Plough was established as a non-profit organization intended to raise money for the families of Irish political prisoners, but it was changed into a business shortly afterwards. A few months following the Plough’s founding, long-time Berkeley resident Francis Hughes joined the Plough’s staff, and she later bought the pub in 1985. Hughes immigrated from Ireland herself in 1959, moving cross-country with her family from Boston to establish herself as an iconic Bay Area rest stop for incoming immigrants.
Since 1985, the Starry Plough has remained a family run business—now in its third generation under Hughes’ grandson Shahin. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, over $60,000 were raised to keep the beloved pub in business. The pub is clearly valued by locals—with its posters about ongoing events, animal adoption notices, and memorials for cherished community members.
Offering events essentially every day of the week, the Starry Plough keeps devoted customers and newcomers wanting to come back with the promise of live music, Céilí dancing, trivia, and karaoke. Once a month, Gaelic lessons are hosted.
Monday evenings at the Starry Plough are absolutely packed—partially due to the Céilí dancing lessons and open dance floor later in the night. Starting off with an intermediate class for returners, and followed by a beginner class that leads straight into dancing with a live band, everyone is able to join. Dances alternate between waltzes and a Céilí “farmer’s jig,” packing pub-comers into a circle so tight, moves and spins have to be carefully executed as to not smash any toes. Lessons are enthusiastically taught by long-time Céilí dancers and are accessible and welcoming to all that join.
“[Here] it just evolved into its own little style,” Shahin shared when describing the Starry Plough’s unique type of Céilí dance. “Everyone has their own kind of style and these dancers have kind of evolved over time and…created their own.”
Beyond honoring its Irish heritage, the Plough still participates in political activism, using its bar space for charity events. Recently, a fundraiser for those that suffer from police brutality was held.
“[It] was kind of the idea to use the Irish culture and music to raise money and to create a welcoming space where people could come and promote…awareness to [the] issues and injustices in the world that need to be addressed,” Shahin commented.
Despite the evening events, Shahin thinks the community is what keeps people coming back time after time. Though sheepishly admitting the Plough was not the best way to run a business, he expressed, “[the Starry Plough is] a space for the public to come, and why push people to have to buy food or drinks if they just want to come and enjoy a show or enjoy community? I don’t think it’s right to make people pay for that.”