Authentic Irish Pub Coming to Main Street

The owner of Donegal Square plans to change the traditional tearoom and café at the rear of his Celtic specialties and gift shop to an authentic Irish pub, with home crafted brews, whiskeys and single-malt Scotches.

This week, City Council approved the transfer of a liquor license from a shuttered sports bar in Northampton borough to 534 Main St., the address of Donegal Square and Granny McCarthy’s Tea Room, according to The Express Times.

The tearoom will thus become McCarthy’s Irish Pub.

Café owner Neville Gardner said he plans to begin serving alcohol in relatively short order. He also will extend the restaurant’s hours and expand the menu to include more “commercial” items, though the basic cuisine and current favorites, such as shepherd’s pie and fish and chips, will remain.

Long term, Gardner said he is hoping to do extensive renovation and expansion, to build an authentic Irish pub. But the specifics of that are still being determined, he said.

Gardner said he has hired Christine Ussler, an architect and principal at Artefact Inc. in Bethlehem, to design the expansion and ensure that it conforms to the city’s historic preservation laws.

Donegal Square and Granny McCarthy’s are within the city’s Central Historic District, which makes any external renovations subject to review by the Historic and Architecture Review Board and approval by City Council.

The application for liquor license transfer says that the pub will have a seating capacity of 120 patrons, including 30 in a new rooftop dining area. Fifty more customers will be accommodated on the second floor.

Among the items Gardner hopes to serve his pub customers is a new, specially crafted beer. He said he is working with Christopher Bowen, Bethlehem’s own master brewer and beer historian. Bowen, who started HammerSmith Ales in 2005, has won numerous awards for his handiwork, much of which is British-style ales.

Gardner and Bowen were planning to visit Ireland this weekend to do some research on Irish pubs. Gardner said.