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kilkennyobserver.ie
The Kilkenny Observer Friday 17 January 2020
News – KEEPING IT LOCAL
Our world famous publican dies JIMMY RHATIGAN EDITOR
• 1964
W
hile visiting Ireland Harry Kirwan’s car breaks down. He is picked up on the road by Matthew Maher. Harry promises him a job in New York. Matty goes to NY to work as a waiter and bartender at McSorley’s. •1969 McSorley’s Old Ale house is sued to allow women to enter. • 1970 McSorley’s under order of the court and law from the city council considers becoming a private club, but relents to the pressure and opens its doors to women. There are no restrooms for the women. Danny Kirwan wants his mother to be the first woman served. She refuses citing the promise she made her father. Predictions of the end of McSorley’s reverberate around the world. • 1974 Dorothy Kirwan dies.
• 1975 Harry Kirwan dies. McSorley’s old Ale house now belongs to their beloved son as Harry refers to him, Danny Kirwan. • 1977 Matthew Maher, night manager of McSorley’s buys the place from Danny Kirwan. It is now owned by the third family since opening in 1854. • 1986 Women’s restroom installed at the Old House. • 1994 Matthew Maher’s daughter, Teresa Maher de la Haba, becomes the first woman to work behind the bar • 2020 Matty Maher dies at the age of 80 THERE ARE hundreds and perhaps thousands of stories that could be fitted in between the bullet-points following the passing of perhaps the world’s most famous publican. Matty Maher, owner of McSorley’s Old Ale House in New York just happens to be a wonderfully proud son of Threecastles, four miles or thereabouts from our city.
Matty’s meteoric rise to fame could be written as one of the great success stories of world business, it could be penned as another fairytale of New York or it could be scribed as a life story that would have as many twists and turns as the roadway at Campion’s Bar, owned by the late Martin Campion. Leaning against the window of the latter pub you can decide to head for Kilkenny City, Freshford or Ardaloo. It was from this area that the late Matty Maher found his love for what he probably called the great game of hurling. He was GAA through and through and despite being hailed as a New York businessman, he retained the great love of place that ensured Threecastles was always in his warm heart. It is reported that Matty The Welcome Home sign is perhaps apt under the circumstances. Matty Maher always said his passed away peacefully on June pub was owned by his customers rather than by himself 11 surrounded by his five loving daughters and wife Tess. The choice of beers at McSorley’s was certainly uncomplicated. You could have light or dark beer. Today we salute one of our great sons who did us so proud on the world business stage.
This great photograph of Matty was taken by New York photographer Scott Jones
Matty Maher and his daughter, Teresa Maher de la Haba, McSorley’s first female bartender. Pic taken 1999
A beautiful place to be snowed in