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Madden's Irish Pub
Madden's Irish Pub
302 Railroad Street in Elroy, WI has been a bar for over 125 years. George Madden opened and ran it as Madden’s Bar in the late 60’s through early 80’s. Continuing the tradition, his grandson, Christopher Madden, re-established Madden’s as an Irish pub in July 2023 to honor his family’s history.
A Bit o' Madden History
Madden and O'Madden derive from the Irish Ó Madáin, which comes from the Gaelic madadh, meaning hound, and translates roughly to “son of the hound.” The Madden family crest features a falcon violently seizing a mallard.
The Maddens descend from Madadhan, a mighty, 10th century chieftain, who settled in east Galway in Ireland. Madden castle at Meelick was destroyed in 1595 by Cromwell, because the English had so much trouble overtaking the Maddens. Their other strongholds still stand in Ireland and our family remains numerous in the area.
We Maddens immigrated to America in the 1800s and eventually ended up in Elroy, Wisconsin. George Madden opened and ran Madden’s Bar in Elroy in the late 60’s through early 80’s. Continuing the tradition, his grandson, Christopher Madden, re-established Madden’s as an Irish pub in July 2023 to honor his family’s history.
A Sign
At Madden's, we celebrate tradition in every detail—starting with our hand-painted sign, crafted by our very own chef, Anna Madden!
For centuries, hand-painted signs have been a hallmark of Irish pub culture, especially in rural areas. We're proud to continue this tradition.
Unlike mass-produced signs, ours is a unique work of art that reflects the spirit of our pub and our deep connection to the community. It’s a personal touch that brings warmth, authenticity, and character to Madden’s.
Madden's
Our sign of trust, reputation and quality. Just like in Ireland, our name on our establishment conveys that we stand behind the service, atmosphere, and overall quality of our pub.
The display of our name means that we have a sense of personal accountability. Our name means that we take pride in our pub and we’re there to engage with customers.
That's why we're called Madden's—it's a nod to our roots in Elroy and Ireland and the spirit of family and tradition that shapes everything we do. Come join us and be part of the story!
Our Building
Did you know our building has been a bar for over 125 years? It's seen many owners, including George Madden, the current owner's grandfather, who ran it from the late 1960s to the early 1980s.
Check out this Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from the turn of the century showing Elroy—and yes, our building is right there! These historic maps were used to assess fire risk and offer a fascinating glimpse into the past.
Music Tradition
The tradition of live music continues at Madden's Irish Pub
For over 125 years, our building has been a place for music and community. Run by George Madden as Madden’s Bar in the late 60s through the early 80s, his grandson, Christopher Madden, bought the building back and re-established Madden's as an Irish Pub in July 2023, honoring and continuing his family's legacy.
Check out George Madden with the Whiskey River Band and Chris Madden with the Windy Kilts from Milwaukee from a recent event—two generations carrying the torch of incredible live music!
Mark your calendars for our next events: Upcoming
We've had: The Tooles, Paddygrass, Andres Transo, Jeff Corle, the foxfire affiar, The Tinker Boys, The Lilies of the Midwest, Soundbillies, Dublin O-Shea, Hearthfire, the Amadans, The Whiskey Farm, The Windy Kilts, Ian & Jaeger, the Evan and Tom Leahy Band and many more Irish, Celtic, folk, and bluegrass bands and artists.
Join us at Madden's to keep the tradition of live music going strong!
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