Rumors may be flying around Waxhaw but soon everyone will be able to check out Mary O’Neills, an Irish pub and restaurant. Owned by Lee McShane, Ciaran Farrelly, Barry Leeson, Bill Carrol, and Denis McDonagh, Mary O’Neills will feature a family-friendly restaurant serving traditional Irish fare on one side and a traditional Irish pub on the other. The two are separated by a glass wall. The menu will serve a range of Irish classics including corn beef and cabbage, Shepard’s Pie, bangers and mash, and more family-friendly options. The bar will serve “all the good stuff” featuring Guinness, Smithwicks, Harp, other beers, wines, Irish whiskeys, and cocktails.
Mary O’Neills is named after McShane’s grandmother. Since it is a family name, they thought it would be fitting for their family-friendly restaurant. McShane, originally from County Derry, Kilrea, and Farrelly, originally from Dublin, have both lived in the Charlotte area for about five years. They met while they were working together at Connelly’s in Charlotte. Now starting their own restaurant, they chose Waxhaw because of the feel of the town.
“We looked for a place that felt like home,” McShane said. “When we saw the building in Waxhaw, we knew that this was the place.”
They loved driving past the farms and got a hometown feel about the area.
“There is no better place than down here,” McShane said.
And Waxhaw has received the friends with open arms.
“The town and the people have been unbelievably welcoming and friendly,” McShane said. “People keep stopping in and offering help and services.”
Even the local eateries were welcoming, including Provisions Waxhaw and Jefferson St Deli. Broome Barber Shop, next door to the new pub, has kept them entertained and they are thankful that they were understanding about the construction phase.
There was nothing in the building except the walls and the windows when they first took over the space. The construction started with an addition in the back to expand the kitchen and prep area space. They have been working around the clock to build everything from the floors to the ceiling from the front to the back. But it is all about to pay off when they open later in September. They are planning to have a soft opening to iron out the kinks before having an official opening in October with final dates still to be announced.
An executive chef helped set up the kitchen and built the menu. They have hired a kitchen manager and some staff but are still hiring for the front and back of the house and applications can be made online. Mary O’Neills will be open seven days a week, although the exact hours haven’t been determined. Most likely they will open at 11 a.m. every day and on the weekends they plan on staying open till 2 a.m.
Mary O’Neills – 116 W North Main St, Waxhaw, NC 28173
