Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill and Irish Pub, Butte

Smithsonian MagazineNov 2

How an Irish Backroad Tradition Is Rolling Into Small-Town America

With roots in County Armagh and County Cork, the sport of road bowling is finding new life stateside, both as a fun pastime and as a way for a group of Americans to honor their heritage

Popular pub in Butte, Montana

19 things in this story

Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill and Irish PubRestaurantPopular pub in Butte, Montana
World Museum of MiningMuseumPreserves Butte's mining history and culture
Elsewhere
West Virginia Irish Road BowlersPlaceWest Virginia, United StatesTeam that played with Jason Kelce for ESPN
Boston Road Bowling teamPlaceBoston, United StatesFirst road bowling team established stateside in 1996
Cornelius O’CallaghanPlaceBoston, United StatesFounding member of North American Road Bowling Region
North American Road Bowling RegionPlaceBoston, United StatesOrganization overseeing road bowling in North America
Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich Memorial Library and ArchiveMuseumArmagh, United KingdomLibrary with historic road bowls and archival books
King & Queen of the RoadsFestivalIrelandWorld's biggest road bowling championship
Road Bowls in IrelandPlaceIrelandFacebook page streaming matches
Bol Cumann UladhPlaceUlster, United KingdomUlster branch of the Irish Road Bowling Association
Kelly MallonPlaceArmagh, United KingdomMost decorated player in Irish road bowling history
Fergal CarrPlaceNew York, United StatesAll-Ireland champion who moved to New York
Bol Chumann New YorkPlaceNew York, United StatesRoad bowling league in New York
Irish CatskillsNeighborhoodNew York, United StatesMountain farmland with Irish pubs and dance halls
North American Road Bowling ChampionshipFestivalTennessee, United StatesTournament held in Tennessee
Ireland, West VirginiaNeighborhoodIreland, United StatesTown that looks like Ireland
West Virginia Irish Road BowlingPlaceWest Virginia, United States
Team WV Irish Road BowlingPlaceWest Virginia, United States
Bol Chumann na hEireannPlaceIreland

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Shawn O’Donnell’s American Grill and Irish Pub

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How an Irish Backroad Tradition Is Rolling Into Small-Town America