Gibney's bringing the spirit of Irish social life to Manhattan

Irish pub's move to New York is the “fulfilment of a long-time family goal”

Dublin pub Gibney's, which dates back to 1937, is opening two outlets in Manhattan and Greenwich Village, New York.

One of Dublin’s most venerated pubs is crossing the Atlantic to bring its classic Irish vibe to not one, but two locations in New York City. 

Gibney's, the family business located in the seaside town of Malahide and which dates back to 1937, is opening a pair of public houses in the Manhattan Midtown district as well as in the bohemian Greenwich Village area. 

Having run the thriving Malahide location for four generations, the move to New York is the “fulfilment of a long-time family goal”.  

Tony Gibney, who took over the business in 1972 at the age of 22, has long nursed an ambition to spread the family spirit to New York: “The idea has been in the pipeline for a number of years, it was always a location we felt Gibney’s unique style would do well in. My sons and nephews have all worked in New York over the years, and are all well familiar with Manhattan from having already managed and worked in bars there. It seemed logical to set up shop in a community of young Irish people making a life for themselves in New York and other places along the East Coast.” 

While Tony is a ready fund of life experience and business advice for the younger generation, he is happy to let youth have its head in the exciting venture across the Atlantic. 

“The business is very much a young person’s game and I am very happy to hand over the reins and support the next generation in any way I can in the States.” With Gibney’s already well established 39th Street in Manhattan, Tony is pleased to report the first pub is doing very well: “We're lucky to have created a buzz on social media, and people have clearly identified with the new pub. The location is very good for tourists in Midtown, and we feel the West Village will be equally good for the younger clientele. They are two very interesting and different locations.”

Lorcan, Tony's son, will look after the Midtown location along with bar manager Jack Leddy, while Ciaran Harrison, Tony's godson, will manage the West Village location when it opens. “We've had a great start in Midtown,” says Lorcan. “A huge number of Irish Americans have come in to wish us well and enjoy the atmosphere, the support has been there from day one.” 

Having worked in the family business from a young age, Lorcan is well accustomed to the demanding aspects of the pub business: “I've worked for Gibney's my whole life so I've come out here as an ambassador from home to be the face of the place. I've met around 30 people already who share the surname Gibney — they are probably a relative somewhere down the line.” 

With Gibney’s in Malahide having many young people working in it during the year, many of them go to America on student J1 visas, are are available to Lorcan for the busy summer months in Manhattan. 

“A lot of our lads have already worked in New York, so they are well versed in how business works over here,” Lorcan explains. “Our building in Midtown is a lovely two-storey with a roof garden, which will go down very well in the warm summer months.” 

The frontage is painted in the familiar Gibney’s red, with the interior bedecked with much Irish memorabilia, low lighting, exposed brick walls and intimate interior spaces.

 “It is of course great to see the Gibney’s name flourishing in Manhattan,” says Tony. “It is firmly in the hands of the younger generation now, as it should be, and I have every confidence they will be very successful in this exciting new venture for our family.”