By Jerry Fink

Published Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 | 6:22 p.m.

Updated Thursday, Oct. 30, 2008 | 2:14 p.m.

McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon, a sort of Irish pub, had a grand opening at the Rio this week -- in plenty of time to warm up for St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.

The dueling pianos weren’t playing Irish tunes, but the crowd didn’t seem to mind as they downed Guinness and pilsner and tried finger foods like boneless buffalo wings, stuffed mushrooms and fried macaroni and cheese. From the menu you can order a variety of dishes, Irish or not -- from shepherd's

pie to nachos.

This is the first McFadden’s west of the Mississippi River -- a dozen or so are concentrated in the Northeast, including New York City, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

McFadden’s is located in a 7,000-square-foot corner of the Rio in space once occupied by another pub -- the Tilted Kilt.

There is no shortage of Irish pubs in Las Vegas where you can celebrate St. Paddy’s Day year round -– among them McMullan's (4650 W. Tropicana Ave.), Jack's (inside Palace Station), JC Wooloughan's (in the Rampart), Kavanaugh's (3290 W. Ann Road, North Las Vegas), Nine Fine Irishmen (inside New York-New York), Molly Malone's (11930 Southern Highlands Parkway), Quinn's (Green Valley Ranch in Henderson) and Sean Patricks (8255 W. Flamingo Road).