NEED A TAXI? “I won’t be late for that important meeting”
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28th July 2015 • Volume 22, Issue 27 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. EirCode: K67 P5W4. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie • www.northcountyleader.ie
American TV Hit
Four Swords sisters have made a huge impact on American TV audiences, when the pub they jointly own in San Francisco appeared on one of America’s most popular reality television programmes. The sisters, Marissa, Leona, Danielle and Natalie Browne from Estuary Court in Swords shot to fame when their pub, The Patriot House, which is located in the financial district of San Francisco, was chosen to feature in the popular American TV show, Bar Rescue. The show is compered by top US TV personality, Jon Taffer, a Gordon Ramsey like person, who takes no nonsense. The programme is featured on Spike TV which is a premier channel, similar to HBO in America. The County Leader caught up with two of the
County Leader
EXCLUSIVE
By Patrick Finnegan sisters, Marissa and Danielle, who were on a short family holiday with their mother, Phyllis at her home in Estuary
Court. Marissa told our reporter about how this opportunity came about that has transformed the lives of the Swords girls. “The pub which was formerly called The
Pictured are the four Swords sisters, Natalie, Leona, Danielle and Marissa Browne, whose pub, The Patriot House featured on American TV
Holding Company, was a 40 year old restaurant, with an older clientele and dwindling sales and we took it over about 10 years ago.” “Bar Rescue come to bars and in about five days, they transform them and may end up changing the name and will teach owners how to operate in a businesslike manner. We applied to appear on the show and it took us about nine months and about 10 interviews to be chosen and we were delighted that it came about.” “Prior to this, we didn’t know if we were an Irish Bar, a tavern or a saloon. We really had no proper identity as such, even though we had Irish memorabilia on the walls. Jon Taffer came in and changed the name of
Pictured at the Starcamp Performing Arts Summer Camp at Malahide Community School on Friday last are, Keila Scott, Sophia Miller, Adam McGrane and Mila de Gand
the pub to The Patriot House and gave us a new Point of Sales systems, where systems are connected to the kitchen and the like. Prior to this there was a very oldfashioned system in place. They changed our menus and trained us on how to prepare different drinks, like cocktails and the like. Danielle said that what Jon Taffer gives you is a cohesive brand, all the way from front of house to the bar and this is what the four of us were struggling with,” she said. Marissa who is 39 years old first came to America
when she was 19 and she started working in a bar and opened her own bar seven years later. She owned this bar for 10 years before she joined up with her three sisters in the new bar. “We got lucky to have had the exposure of such a show. We are in an area that has poor exposure, but this has catapulted us to fame,” said Marissa. “Our sales have sky rocketed since the show and Bar Rescue.” “I think Jon Taffer is amazing and he has transformed our lives for the better and we have had calls from Kansas and other states in
America, where people want to come and visit the pub that featured on the nationwide show.” “I think the fact that the bar was owned by four Irish women was
certainly different and appealed to the TV company, particularly as this is still an area where men are more likely to be the owners,” said Marissa.
Progress On New Playground For Rush Plans are coming together to give Rush a new playground. Following a successful public consultation, the Council hope to soon proceed with the development and build of the playground. In the first quarter of 2015, the County Council in association with local community groups, Rush Playground Group and the Rush Liaison Committee undertook an examination of potential locations that would be suitable for the provision of a playground to serve both residents and visitors to Rush village. At Council level, it was decided that the best location would be centrally positioned at Harbour Park.
Earlier this year, the news of invited to provide submissions or progress on the development of the observations with respect to the playground was welcomed by local proposed plan. resident and Minister for Children Various issues regarding the and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly, proposed playground were raised in who told the County Leader these submissions. “This is he favoured the public a much needed welcome consultation as a playfacility to our town which ground was long-needed for has a growing population the town. and a large number of children who will avail of it. According to the County Families will have the opporCouncil, a location plan for tunity to play within their the proposed playground own town and to get there facility has now been Dr. Reilly TD by walking or riding bikes,” prepared. A public notice of the Proposed Plan was published said one resident. However, others and a site notice was also erected voiced concerns, among them fears on site. The public, along with that the hugely successful Harbour community organisations were Festival would not be able to take
place when the playground is built, and that the peace of the park where elderly folk walk or sit will be gone. “The footprint of the playground is small relative to the size of the park and will be complementary to the Harbour Festival activities,” the Council said in response. “The park will continue to be accessible and suitable for all age groups.” The Council added that out of 104 submissions, 100 were positive. The next step is that if all proposals are approved, arrangements will be made to proceed with the development of the playground, this was according to a Council meeting earlier this month.
A transformation is happening... All will be revealed on 31st July