Movie, bagpipe parade launching Molly Maguire’s grand opening

Molly Maguire’s will team up with the Colonial Theatre for a grand opening like this town has never seen!

At 4 p.m., Saturday, September 29. the Colonial Theatre will show a free screening of “The Molly Maguires,” (1970, starring Sean Connery and Richard Harris) at 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 29. After the film, head on down to the pub at the corner of Bridge and Main Streets to really celebrate! Set in late 19th-century Pennsylvania, this gripping social drama tells the story of an undercover detective (Richard Harris) sent to a coal mining community to expose a secret society of Irish-American miners battling exploitation at the hand of the owners. Based on a true story, the film accurately portrays the rebellious leader of the Molly Maguires (Sean Connery), and his will to stop at nothing-even murder- to achieve social justice.

After the movie, bagpipers will lead a parade from the Colonial to Molly Maguire’s, and at 6 p.m., there will be a ribbon cutting.

While you’re there, look for apothecary items from Seacrist’s, the news stand which operated in that building for more than 50 years.

The Phoenixville Regional Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to welcome Molly Maguire’s to Phoenixville!

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www.phoenixvillenews.com (Posted on Sun, Sep 16, 2007)

Work on Mollie Maguire's pub marches on

Work on Mollie Maguire's Pub along Bridge Street progressed Sunday as workers labored to put the final touches on the new location at the intersection with Main Street.

www.pottsmerc.com (Posted on Mon, Sep 3, 2007)

New pub prepares to liven up the downtown
By Brian McCarthy

PHOENIXVILLE — Conor Cummins and Declan Mannion want to bring some Irish hospitality to the area when their new restaurant, Molly Maguire’s, opens this month.

Cummins and Mannion, both of whom are Irish immigrants, are business partners who have been enthusiastically working on Molly Maguire’s Restaurant & Pub for roughly a year now. The project is a $3 million investment on the part of the owners in the borough of Phoenixville, and is nearing ever closer to completion, both within schedule and within budget.

The last phase of construction has commenced this week. Local millworkers will undertake the final installation work, which will recreate a Victorian-era style of architecture on both of the two floors of the Irish pub at 195-197 Bridge St.

Molly Maguire’s will have three bars with 12 beers on tap, two floors, and an outdoor seating area to culminate in a total seating capacity of 250 patrons.

The restaurant will serve up traditional Irish fare to its customers, which includes Guinness-braised steak pie and the classic ale-battered fish and chips. There will also be traditional American fare for the less venturesome eater.

For the owners, the hospitality and atmosphere of Molly Maguire’s will be just as important as the food and drink.

“[We wanted] to make Molly Maguire’s fun, cozy and comfortable,” Cummins said. “[We’ll have] good drink, good food, and live music, too.”

Molly Maguire’s has already enjoyed great success in hiring for all staff positions, including servers, bartenders, cooks and management. They have hired 55 people, all local residents.

According to Cummins, naming the establishment was an easy decision.

“The name seemed appropriate for the town,” Cummins said. “A lot of Irish worked in [Phoenixville] back in the day.”

The name Molly Maguire’s also has a controversial past. The Molly Maguires were supposedly a secret society of Irish coal miners and workers in Pennsylvania who throughout the late 19th century were thought responsible for intimidation and violence in labor disputes. Theory goes that they were named after a woman in Ireland who lost a husband and son to The Troubles.

Though the organization was thought to have broken up following numerous arrests and convictions in 1876-77, including the infamous hanging of four men in the Carbon County Jail in Jim Thorpe, it was an important predecessor of the national labor movement.

When asked about the history of the Molly Maguires, Cummins said, “It certainly adds a bit of mystique.”

Mannion and Cummins said of their business, “We see this as a significant enhancement to downtown Phoenixville and we are very pleased to be bringing a genuine piece of Irish hospitality to the area.”

Cummins adds, “This is a big event. It will add to the massive industry of Phoenixville.”

Molly Maguire’s Irish Restaurant & Pub will open on the corner of Bridge and Main streets Sept. 29.