A short history of the Pub Runners

For Three Decades, The Pub Runners have been entertaining audiences across the USA, Canada, and, most recently, Ireland.

Since 2018, The Pub Runners have guided hundreds of fans on Musical Tours of Ireland, singing their way across the Irish Countryside. Highlights of the tours include singing at the National Shrine at Knock, a Mayoral Reception at Carrick-on-Suir (home of the Clancy Brothers), a stop in Kilkelly to sing Letters from Kilkelly, and being featured in regional Irish newspapers such as the Kerry Eye and Clare Champion. Tour participants have said traveling with the Pub Runners is unlike any tour they have taken. The Group has open invitations to play in many communities they have visited in Ireland.

The band has performed in all of the Great Lakes states along with Tennessee, Kentucky, Las Vegas, North and South Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida and Canada. The Pub Runners have also performed at numerous Irish festivals including the Emerald Isle Irish Feile on Beaver Island. They regularly perform on world famous Mackinac Island and at festivals and concert venues throughout Michigan.

Meet the Band:

Jerry Belanger began singing as a youngster in and around the Flint and Mt. Morris Michigan area. Jerry 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 Belanger with a keen interest in Irish/Scottish music. Doug taught himself to play the guitar and they started to practice. The rest, as they say, is history. Doug takes great enjoyment in performing the sounds 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 his fiddle and mandolin.