Shane Lynch and wife Sheena delighted after first St Patrick's Day in Irish bar

Crowds gathered at the D13 bar on King Street in Knutsford, where family and friends toasted the day in the outdoor 'Guinness Garden'.

The trio said they had been overwhelmed with support since opening last year.

Shane said: “This is unbelievably special, our first St Patrick’s Day in our own bar.

“It means so much to me to call it D13, the postcode from by home in Dublin. Everyone says they love the name.

“It is part of my heritage.”

Shane revealed how they had been looking for the right location for five years.

“We wanted to create a boutique Irish bar,” he explained.

“We want this to be a journey. When you come in, everything is old but there are no carts or horses.

“As you walk through, it becomes a lot more modern with contemporary art on the walls.

“Then there is a new Ireland on the terrace garden.”

Sheena added: “People were looking through the window giving us the thumbs up."

“We knew nothing about Knutsford before we came here but it was instant love.

“The town is so beautiful and the people are so kind and welcoming.

“They were really exciting about us opening.

“We want to give people a taste of Ireland – laughter, lots of love and a warm welcome. Just generate a great vibe.”

Business partner Nathan, who runs the day to day operation of the pub, said: “This is a brand new adventure for us. We have a great team here.

“This is my baby but it is a family-owned business, we are all very close.

“We have created something we all believe in.

“This has given me a balance. I can still go out and do films and enjoy crazy moments stunt riding with all its different challenges.”

Nathan performed for crowds of up to 15,000 people during the Fast and Furious European and Asian tours.

Shane said he received good luck messages from all the lads in Boyzone to wish him well on St Patrick’s Day.

Musicians played live music on the roof throughout the day.

Top athletes and sports celebrities, including racing driver Nick Hamilton, Lewis Hamilton’s brother, made guest appearances.

Shane said: “Today we have opened our back garden for the first time this year.

“Everyone is outside. The sun is shining, the Guinness is flowing and the bar is full of laughter.

“We want to thank the people of Knutsford so much for the welcome they have given to us.

“All the businesses, pubs, bars and cafes have also been so supportive, offering us advice and help.

“We employ around 15 bar staff but we are always looking for more,” said Shane.

“Most of the staff who started on day one are still with us.

“We have tried to create a family atmosphere.

“This has more than exceeded our expectations.”

The ‘boutique bar’ that centres around a 300-year-old building in the market town, has been transformed to take guests on a journey from "traditional to modern Ireland" when they visit.

With a capacity of around 240 people, the main bar area has traditional wood and glass lighting, and a red booth seating area and a multi-level outdoor space for customers

Guests are also able to visit the business' vast beer garden which has been painted all in black in honour of a pint of Guinness.

There's also entertainment at the popular bar which welcomes a mix of live music and DJs.

Shane told The Manchester Evening News that they pride themselves on being an "open house" for musicians who want to showcase their talents.

"The whole idea was to go from old Ireland through to modern Ireland,” he said. “I don't have to be homesick anymore.

Shane and Sheena - who is a cast member on the Real Housewives of Cheshire - had long dreamed about opening their own Irish bar with their long-time friend Nathan.

Shane said that they have been "really looked after" by the community in Knutsford, adding that "everyone has made [them] feel so welcome" within Cheshire

And asked about expanding the business, Shane suggested that at least for now, they are content with keeping the busy "cosy" and remaining with just the one site

He said: "D13 is a boutique Irish bar, and in Manchester there's some big establishments there that I don't think we could compete with really. So we are happy to stay here, we can keep it cosy.