In defense of O’Sheas

Kristian Hammerstad

It seems the Irish-inspired casino is lacking the luck of the Irish.

By Erin Ryan

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011 | 4:17 p.m.

The world is supposed to end around Christmas next year (again). So say the Mayans and their spooky calendar, but how could they forget to warn us about the more staggering blow that will come a few months earlier?

Mid-2012 is when my beloved O’Sheas goes into the light, a casualty of the $550 million Linq project. The suits behind Linq can try to soothe me with fluff about how the O’Sheas essence (cheap, loud, awesome) will live on inside the retooled, rebranded Imperial Palace, but this Irish girl isn’t buying it. I understand that change is the Vegas way and that hard times demand bold action, but Caesars Entertainment claims it’s catering to my demographic—30-something middle-classers who want casual drinks and fun. That’s exactly what O’Sheas provides, not to mention a place to play $5 blackjack and Beer Pong, dine at the Strip’s only Burger King, tempt Dirk Arthur’s cage-less jungle cats and pinch the salty cheeks of famed mascot Lucky the Leprechaun.

Facebook friends of O’Sheas posted comments about how devastated they’ll be to lose such a no-pressure, no-frills, good-times joint, including this gem: “O’Sheas should replace Caesars Palace.” It doesn’t make sense. Then again, neither does a 4-foot-1 man in a silky green suit, and I love him anyway.