Mary O’neill’s: A New Irish Pub in Waxhaw, NC
By Simon L. B. St.John ~
If you have not been lucky enough to have already discovered this delightful new Irish Pub in Waxhaw, NC, then don’t wait any longer. It’s located in the historic downtown Plyler Building @ 116 West North Main Street.
Ireland is often referred to as the Land of a Thousand Welcomes, and Mary O’ Neill’s is no exception. The moment you step inside, you can feel the warmth and genuine friendly demeanor of the staff and the ever-present owners. Inside, the bar area is on one side and a dining area on the other, separated by a glass wall.
The five owners are all Irish and have been friends for quite some time. Lee McShane is from County Derry, and it’s his grandmother the place is named after. Ciaran Farrelly, Barry Leeson, Bill Carol, and Denis McDonagh are the other co-owners.
The Pub and Restaurant opened in mid-October of 2017 and was an instant success. They wisely started out with a limited menu so as to not over stress the process but have since slowly expanded the menu to include a lunch and dinner offering. Their Potato and Leek soup and Mary’s Classic Reuben along with Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash, Beef and Stout Stew, Irish Chicken Curry, and Drunken Salmon are some of their favorites. Their Shepherd’s Pie (Lamb)/Cottage Pie (Beef) combo is extraordinary. Ask for their Soda Bread Biscuits served with three different flavored butters … delicious.
The bar has an excellent selection of Irish and local beers and a superb selection of Irish whiskeys.
Trivia Note: 2017 was the 200th anniversary of the first shipment of Guinness to America. Records show that eight hogsheads (512 gallons) of Guinness Porter was shipped from Dublin to a certain John Heavy in South Carolina back in October of 1817. The tradition continues today with the USA being the third largest consumer of Guinness in the world. Only Ireland and the United Kingdom have the USA beat.
The owners of Mary O’Neill’s have managed to do what many Irish pubs have failed to recreate. It is not the bricks and mortar or internal trappings that make a true pub. It is the people, both patrons and staff. The true pub is, after all, in its native land, an extension of one’s own living room. A place to go and meet friends and strangers alike and indulge in friendly conversation, good drink, and fine food. They have done this brilliantly. This is a vibrant, popular, fun place with excellent food and drink. It is an excellent edition to this charming historic town of Waxhaw just eight miles from the SCCL front gate over the NC state line.
Mary O’Neill’s is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week 11:00 AM – 2:00 AM (704) 256-7800. No Reservations. You can also peruse them on Facebook.
Simon St.John is a native Brit and a current resident of Sun City Carolina Lakes. He is a frequent contributor to Living @ Sun City Carolina Lakes magazine where this review was originally published.
