Sitting on the corner of E. 29th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan is a pub that has been home to Irish music legends both past and present. Take one step through the pub’s signature red door to be greeted by notes of the Irish whistle, guitar, bass, bodhrán, uilleann pipes, and drums. The music overflows from the stage and captivates one to the point where more Guinness has to be ordered, because you just can’t leave the authentic Irish music. The name of this pub that has been such a vital component of the New York City Irish music community is none other than Paddy Reilly’s.
For 37 years, Paddy Reilly’s has been a staple in the New York City Irish music scene. Musicians, such as Paddy Reilly’s house band The Prodigals along with Black 47, Eileen Ivers, John Whelan, and Joanie Madden, have all performed at this pub. Global icon Jimmy Fallon stopped to sing a couple of songs himself in February of 2023. A month later, Hozier celebrated his 33 birthday at the pub, which just happens to coincide with St. Patrick’s Day. Videos of Hozier performing at Paddy Reilly’s quickly went viral, causing people to swarm to Paddy Reilly’s and pack the narrow pub, each person hoping to catch a glimpse of the Irish legend.
Celebrities have made stops at Paddy Reilly’s long before Fallon and Hozier did. Gregory Grene, lead vocalist of Paddy Reilly’s house band The Prodigals, reminisced when supermodel Christy Turlington and actor Jason Patric booked a party at Paddy Reilly’s. In the midst of the party, Turlington hopped on stage and began singing with the band. Good craic was to be found in every corner of Paddy Reilly’s.
Despite Paddy Reilly’s fame, the pub almost shut its doors permanently after the Covid pandemic. Like many other establishments, the pandemic and the subsequent stall of live music caused Paddy Reilly’s to take an economic hit. “We were looking at the end of an era,” The Prodigals singer Gregory Grene stated. Just as Paddy Reilly’s future started to look bleak, its previous manager Desi Murray along with Joshua Irwin and Aria Bai took over.
“We gave the bar a nice, big hug when we took over,” Desi Murrary, one of the new owners of Paddy Reilly’s, stated. The bar closed for two months from April to June of 2023 for renovations. “We restored Paddy Reilly’s charms, upgraded equipment, and kept the same cozy and authentic environment.”
Grene stated the three “reinvested without trying to reinvent.” The foundation and old bones of the pub were given new life while keeping the heart and soul of it intact. With the renovations complete, Grene stated, “The pub is thriving in a way that brings back the early days.”
Paddy Reilly’s was established in 1986. During the early days, crowds would line up out the door whenever Black 47 would play on a Saturday night. At that time, the pub was owned by Steve Duggan and his partner, Irish musician Paddy Reilly, who gave the pub a direct link to the music industry. It’s only natural then that musicians would conjugate at the pub.
One such musician who frequented Paddy Reilly’s was Joanie Madden. As the leader of all-girl group Cherish the Ladies, Madden is an Irish-whistle player who’s charismatic and friendly nature is bound to put a smile on your face. With her big personality, Madden became omnipresent in the Irish music scene, seeming to somehow have either played with or helped every band. Paddy Reilly’s house band The Prodigals is no exception.
The Prodigal’s lead singer Grene remembered booking his first gig at Paddy Reilly’s. At the time, the band consisted of Grene, Ray Kelly, Brian Tracy, and Andrew Harkin. Grene went to the pub and gave a warm County Cavan greeting to owner Duggan and asked for a gig around St. Patrick’s Day. Duggan turned to the one and only force of nature Joanie Madden and asked, “Well Joanie, what’d ya think?” She replied, “Of course, go for it!” With that, Madden helped cement The Prodigals as Paddy Reilly’s band for the next 27 years.
Live music has always played a vital part in Paddy Reilly’s success. Grene stated, “Owner Duggan recognized that Irish music played a unique role in the Irish society in New York and recognized the fact that to be proudly Irish in a city that welcomes eclectic, authentic culture was key.” Grene referenced authentic restaurants and bars in various parts of the city. He stated, “They survive and thrive by being so authentically themselves. They reach out beyond their own community. Steve Duggan did that with Irish music.”
The music is unapologetically its authentic self. Take the late Shane MacGowan, the lead singer of The Pogues. “He wasn’t trying to cater to some other crowd,” Grene stated. “He was trying to cater to his own truth.” Grene went on to say, “I think when you have music that speaks truthfully, it becomes extraordinarily translatable, because people hear it’s speaking of the human condition.”
By speaking to the human condition, classic Irish songs, such as “Black Velvet Band,” “Dirty Old Town,” and “Wild Rover,” speak to the soul, allowing them to remain popular throughout the years. Songs and tunes dating back to the 18th century are now continuing to be played in 2024 in Manhattan. Their universal themes allow them to remain mainstream for generations to come.
These songs truly speak to every generation. Just take a look at Paddy Reilly’s audience. “You’ll meet a 23 year old from California and a 38 year old from County Clare or a 75 year old from Galway,” Grene stated.
Paddy Reilly’s appeals and offers events for all. Every Wednesday night starting at 9pm, Niall O’Leary hosts Irish Traditional Night. Not only can classic Irish tunes be heard on Wednesdays, but a small stage is brought out for Irish dancing. If you know a jig or reel, hop up on the square stage to step dance. Or if you’re more vocally inclined, you can sing at their Open Mic Night every Tuesday at 6pm. As always, there’s live music every single night of the week. Irish tunes alongside rock, folk, alternative, and bluegrass continuously echo throughout Paddy Reilly’s walls.
To join in on the craic, head to 519 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10016. Enjoy the Guinness on draft, and sláinte to 37 more years of authentic Irish music at Paddy Reilly’s!
