a n ew York State of Myers

A DUNDALk man has realised a lifelong dream by opening up his own bar in the city that never sleeps. Conor Myers alongside his friend Archie Dolan from Darndale in Dublin are the proud new owners of Bartley Dunne’s bar and the duo have vowed to change the vision of what modern Irish bars should be.

The grand opening of the bar last week saw MMA star Conor McGregor pop in for the launch party with the pub gaining exclusive rights in New York to pour the MMA fighter’s Forged Irish Stout which he has launched as a competitor to Guinness.

Conor, originally from Hackballscross, cut his teeth in Eno’s restaurant in Jocelyn St before moving to Dublin where he quickly became head bartender in the upmarket Exchequer Bar in Dublin city centre. He made a name for himself nationally when he decided to participate at the prestigious Bac- ardi Legacy Cocktail Competition where his creation ‘Electric Avenue’ earned him first place at the national finals.

Conor then moved to New York where he quickly established himself as one of the best new bartenders in the city but Covid disrupted his plans in the Big Apple and he returned home to Dundalk where he set up Mac’s Coffee in Castletown with his sister. According to Conor the plan was al- ways to return to New York and last April he went back where he linked up with long time friend Archie Dolan to open a brand new Irish bar in the city. The duo are being backed by Pat and Michael McNamee of PMac’s Hospitality, the group behind iconic New York pubs such as The Mean Fiddler and Haswell Green’s.

“This was something that we were planning for a long time but unfortunately Covid ruined our plans,” explains Conor.

“The blessing in disguise was being able to come home and live at home for a while where we got Mac’s Coffee set up that me and my sister run. Once a new location came available I moved back to New York last April.

“That whole process wasn’t easy to be fair after being back at home for so long. I went back working insane hours in two other bars to help get me up and running again while planning the build out and stuff of Bartleys.

“The rest is history now. We’re up and running and doing very well. Summer is traditionally the quietest time in New York but we’re holding our own and expecting big things this autumn/winter.

“The city is back up and better than ever. Lots of old bars and institutions closing unfortunately, but on the flip side, there are about twenty new venues including ourselves that have been opened in the last year by young Irish people I know well. Which is incredible and fantastic to see. A new generation of Irish pub- licans in NY. Anyone from the town who comes over please pop in. 2 blocks from Time Square, 2 blocks from Central Park. Bring Sing Li please!,” laughs Conor.

Michael McNamee of PMac’s Hospitality who are backing Conor’s new venture sang

Conor’s praises stating that the Dundalk man ‘has his finger on the pulse of what the bar and restaurant business needs.

“First off, Conor’s personality is very strong. You need to have balls to work in this business. It’s a crazy hard business in several ways,” stated Michael.

“He’s not your ordinary person. He’s artistic in how he thinks outside the box. He knows his music, he has a good head for interior design and is always the life of the party. You want to come in and see and get away from all the bullshit life throws at you. His finger is on the pulse of what bar and restaurant business needs,” he added.

“To be in this business you need to be on top of all of that. Lighting, music, decor, food and team-leader for the right staff. Conor thinks with a marketing brain. Who’s our target of customers etc

“He also is a chef in that he is trained to know how to balance a drink. People don’t realize you have to balance the booze, with sweet, sour etc. He’s worked on this menu for 12 months. Brewing up syrups at home using spices and herbs and all types of sugars and liqueurs trying to get the right balance. So in a nutshell he loves the business. And that’s what made him a partner with us. Hungry for more,” concluded Micheal.

??? QUIZ ???

1—Which multi-grammy award winning singer, who had hits such as i left my heart in San Francisco and because of You, died in his home city of new York this week?

2—Julius Robert oppenheimer is known as one of the pivotal people in developing what?

3—With a population of over 270 million people what is the most populated island in the world?

4—in 1955, Rosa Parks (‘The First lady of Civil Rights’) became famous for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger in which the Stinker—Who was the first female singer to achieve a UK number one hit with a selfwritten song? ushb (In 1978 with Wuthering Heights) —answers—

American state?

5—At the start of the 1970’s, there were two cinemas operating in dundalk. Can you name both of them?

6—Can you name the oldest city in ireland?

7—if something is described as a ‘Magnum opus’ what does it mean?

8—The Fall of Constantinople marked the end of which empire?

9—if you multiply the amount of pints in an irish gallon by a score what number do you get?

10—What does the acronym YMCA stand for?

1—Tony b ennett, 2—Atomic bomb (He is often credited as the ‘Father of the atomic bomb), 3—Indonesia, 4—Alabama, 5—Magnet and Adelphi cinemas, 6—Waterford (believed to have been established by the Viking agnallr in 914 AD), 7—Great work (generally considered the writer/artists best ever work) yzantineb8— mpire,e 9—160 (8 pints in a gallon x 20), 10—Young Men’s Christian Association. The tinker:s Kate