The Pub Runners - About Us

For nearly thirty years, the Pub Runners have been entertaining audiences across the United States, Canada and in Ireland.

In 2018, the Pub Runners began hosting Musical Tours of Ireland singing their way across the Irish countryside. Over the years, hundreds of fans have accompanied the band. Highlights have included singing at the International Eucharistic Shrine at Knock, a Mayoral Reception at Carrick-on-Suir (home of the Clancy Brothers), a stop at the Ballintubber Abbey, where we sing (the letters from) “Kilkelly, Ireland” plus at stops in Cong, Doolin, Spancilhill, Dingle, the Dingle Peninsula, Galway, Oranmore, Newport, Killarney and many other small towns and villages along the way. The group has open invitations to play in many communities they have visited in Ireland upon their return.

The unique tours have been featured in regional Irish newspapers such as the Kerry's Eye, Tipperary Star and Clare Champion. Those who have accompanied the band have said travelling with the Pub Runners is unlike any tour they’ve ever taken. The group has been in the news in Michigan as well.

The band has performed at a long list of venues Ireland, in all the Great Lakes states as well as in Tennessee, Kentucky, New York, Las Vegas, Florida and Canada. They’ve performed at numerous Irish festivals and in historic theaters. They recently began their 25th year of performing on Mackinac Island in northern Michigan. Their program includes traditional Irish ballads, haunting songs about the Great Irish Famine and emigration, as well as toe tapping pub tunes and sing-along songs. They also feature the stories and humor of Ireland. They have produced two CD recordings and have nearly 90 videos on their YouTube Channel, many of them recorded in Ireland.

In March, 2025, the band performed at the historic Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, MI, where they presented a "Musical Tour of Ireland" based on the group's experiences while on their tours.

"Meet the Pub Runners"

"Live at the Ramsdell Theatre"

See where we've performed

MEET THE BAND

Jerry Belanger began singing as a youngster in and around the Flint and Mt. Morris, MI, area. He was especially impressed by the Clancy Brothers, but it was his family who influenced him the most. The large Flynn Clan nurtured the Irish culture for all of the youngsters and supported their performances, along with, most importantly, Jerry’s parents, Frank and Margaret.

Doug Berkshire has always had an interest in music. He teamed up with Jerry with a keen interest in both Irish and Scottish music. He taught himself to play the guitar and he and Jerry began to practice together. The rest, as they say, is history. Doug takes great enjoyment in performing the music of the Emerald Isle, especially the ballads that tell great historical stories.

Michael Francis began his musical career years ago specializing in French Canadian music. He has a keen interest in Quebec history and a love of Celtic music which shines through on the fiddle and mandolin.

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