The Irish eyes are smiling on the Selma-Dallas County Animal Shelter. Well, at least the eyes of the Tally-Ho Restaurant.

For the 30th year, the Tally-Ho will give the profits from its food sales on St. Patrick’s Day to a local charity, this time the shelter.

“It’s something we have done now for the 30th year,” Tally-Ho owner Bob Kelley said. “People have gotten used to coming to the restaurant on St. Patrick’s Day. They ask for the same table with the same waiter. It’s just a really good time.”

The restaurant has been giving to different organizations throughout the years and raises the funds through food profits, and door prizes auctioned off during dinner.

“It’s a real fun time,” Kelley said. “We have prizes, big and small. And with some of the bigger prizes I like to try to make an auction out of it from room to room.

I will go from room to room trying to raise money and it’s just a good time.”

Because of the work with charities around town, the Tally-Ho was the first restaurant in Alabama to be nominated as a finalist for the Restaurant Neighbor Award by American Express and the National Restaurant Association.

Kelley said it is Selma’s giving spirit that allows him to have such a great time doing fundraising events.

“This town is just great about giving,” Kelley said. “Look around in the spring and you can see all of the different things going on. It’s just awesome that the people here are so giving. I love it.”

Reservations are requested, but are not necessary. In the past, the restaurant has raised more than $1,000 for local chapters by “turning over the green.” For more information call 872-1390.