Once upon a time, there was a wee little freshman who moved into the dorms very excited and very nervous for her first year in college. Coming from a small town, she didn't know what to expect about not knowing anyone or anything to do with the little college town of Norman, OK.
Upon meeting her roommate (whose name was Meridith), she discovered that the new roommate was normal, and that the year should bring on lots of adventures. Little did she know that the adventures together would begin that night. Meridith had a boyfriend who was already a student at The University of Oklahoma, and he invited Meridith and her new roommate to join him at a little Irish pub called O'Connell's. The freshman and Meridith then began to take showers and get ready for a night out, shaking their booties to "Ms. New Booty" by Bubba Sparxxx.
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| O'Connell's, Lindsey Street location, across from the football stadium |
If you couldn't tell, I am the freshman. I LOVE the O'Connell's location on the corner of Lindsey and Jenkins. However, at the very end of my freshman year, the horrible University bought the land out from underneath the location. Since then, they have been "closing" 7 different times. I have been very sentimental about this place, as I have had some amazing memories there. Not only that, but the pub itself has stood in its location, across from the football stadium, since 1968. My roommate's parents drank there when they were in college.
O'Connell's is really closing its doors tonight. Tomorrow they are having an auction and auctioning off almost everything inside the pub. The O'Connell's franchise has opened another location on Campus Corner, but it's just not the same. This one is more of a pub feel, whereas the one on Campus Corner feels like just another bar on Campus Corner.
So to celebrate the last week, I went and visited my original watering hole on Wednesday for Karaoke and $5 pitcher night, and then returned there last night for 99 cent happy hour specials from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. (I wasn't there for 12 hours I promise!) My friend Kaitlyn and I had decided when we were roommates for Fall 2009 that we wanted to do the Aggie tradition of a ring dunk. I wanted to do it at the old O'Connell's (the Lindsey St. location) just because of the history of the bar. What an Aggie ring dunk is, from what we both understand, is for each person with a class ring to get a pitcher of beer, drop the ring in the beer, and chug (don't swallow the ring!) Well, we aren't that hardcore so we just got a pint and did a ring dunk. We were at O'Connell's from about 7:00-12:30, enjoying the various 99 cent specials (such as chips and queso at 8 p.m.).
I love this bar. I don't want it to close, but I'm so glad that I had all the friends there with me to celebrate my last night in the first bar I ever went to. Thank you to Kaitlyn, Katy, Rachel, Michelle, Matt, Lance, and Rockie and Craig (for the couple hours or so you were there) for helping me make my last night memorable.
And thank you to the old O'Connell's for hosting many memories throughout my college years. I truly will miss the pub atmosphere of the place.
Thank you readers for letting me tell you a story about me breaking the law when I was 18. Please don't report me ;-)
p.s. You know what today is. Fab Friends Friday at For the Love of Blogs. So head on over and find some new great reads! You won't be disappointed!
You make me miss my old college bars (and college bar specials, 99cents, holy cow!). I am glad you spent the last couple of nights with this old friend of yours. I'm sure you will never forget it :)
ReplyDeletePS - totally haven't forgotten about the wonderful award you linked me too, just had other posts lined up. You'll have to look for it on Sunday. Shout out time!
I'm kind of sad that I can't bid on some O'Connell paraphernalia... Had my 21st there. The t-shirts knocking around a storage unit somewhere.
ReplyDeleteThe Campus Corner site is okay, cool even when they open the windows... but not the same, really.
Great post.
Allow me to tell you a story:
ReplyDeleteThere once was a grad student who was dumped by her college boyfriend of nearly four years. As her birthday and graduation approached, she searched for what she wanted to do to embrace her independence and celebrate the friends who had stood by her in the difficult time she had been facing. So, for her 24th birthday, she decided to go out for the first time to get an O'Connell's t-shirt. You see, when dating this boy for almost four years, the girl did not drink. While there is nothing wrong with choosing not to imbibe, it was the reason she had for choosing not to that was wrong. So, off to get an O'Connell's shirt she was. Well, after seeing the Men of Playgirl at a local club and getting a lapdance, but that's a different story :-) Anyway, with her friends gathered around her, she enjoyed their company and many adult beverages. Later that evening she navigated the room well in her 3 1/2 in. spike heels while not in her best mind. She spent time talking with an attractive male friend on his porch while drinking wine. She jumped on her roommate's bed to wake her up when she got home because her roommate told her to. And the perfect venue for this? Old O'Connell's.
It will be missed.
THANKS MAL!! I wish you could have come.. damn school and it keeping all my friends away :(
ReplyDeleteI passed O'Connells on my way to Logans hahahahaha. You know, my favorite place. Crazy to think it's shutting down.. But hey, it's leaving on your last semester. At least it's not your first!!
Much love sweetie.
It's always sad when sentimental places get closed. This one place me and my great grandmother used to go to for dinner got closed shortly before her death last year and it got relocated. We never went to the relocation because it just wasnt the same.
ReplyDeleteIm glad you had all of your friends to celebrate with. :)
<3Chelsea Elizabeth