By MATT WICKENHEISER
Sun Staff
LOWELL -- The walls appear
unfinished at first glance, as subdued
yellows give way to patches of Celtic
scrollwork and mythic creatures, bits
of artwork from The Book of Kells
peaking through, breaking the surface
of the flat planes.
A closer look reveals the artist's intention, to create an image of antiquity, as if plaster is peeling from the walls and revealing an Irish treasure beneath.
After the walls, eyes are naturally drawn to the imposing yet inviting structure of the bar itself, a traditional Irish design that could be well at home in Dublin or Kilkenny. A plethora of potent poisons line the back shelf, with several prominent brands of Irish whiskey displayed, from Jameson's to Power's. The bottles sit against a backdrop of stained glass, dark woods, an Irish hurling-team jersey and frosted mirrors.
The bar proper is home to a nicely stocked tap, with various brands of beer flanked by two taps of Guinness, the Irish standard.
Sitting on the bar are two pints of the murky nectar, a perfect complement to the dark wood. Standing next to the glasses are the two new owners of The Old Court, two men whose Irish brogues are as thick as the stout just coaxed from the tap.
Jerry Murphy and Finbarr Sheehan, 26 and 32 respectively, have been working on their first joint venture since July. They had a soft opening for friends this past week, and they plan to open to the public on Feb. 21.
The Old Court sits at the corner of Middle and Central streets, the site of the old Press Club. Location, however, is the only thing the two bars have in common.
The layout is totally changed from when it was the Press Club with the intention, said Sheehan, of making a comfortable, inviting space inside, complete with nooks and crannies perfect for intimate talks.
"Conversation, we want to be the main focus," said Sheehan. "We basically want it to be a really comfortable place where anybody coming in feels relaxed."
Each of the men has worked in a variety of Irish bars, and The Old Court's aesthetics is a product of that experience.
Murphy was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Irish parents. They moved back to County Kerry, Ireland, when he was 7, where the young Murphy grew up in the family bar, Nora Murphy's Pub, named after his grandmother.
"I've been pulling pints of Guinness since I was 8 years of age," said Murphy.
Nora Murphy's was a traditional Irish pub -- nice and cozy with views of the Atlantic Ocean's Brandon Bay. Inside, as in most Irish pubs, there was a turf fireplace that filled the pub with the musty, smoky smell of burning peat, said Murphy.
Murphy studied hotel management in college and came to the United States about five years ago for an internship at the Sheraton Tara in Braintree. He fell in love with Boston and never left, working later at several Boston-area Irish pubs and hanging out in the Celtic scene.
That's where he met Sheehan, who left County Cork more than eight years ago to work for the summer in Boston. He also stayed, earning a degree in English at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and working until recently at The Claddagh in Lawrence.
The name of the bar comes from a landmark in Sheehan's hometown, McCarthy Castle, which is nicknamed "The Old Court." The image etched on the mirrors behind the bar and on the front sign is actually that of the castle, said Sheehan.
What is it about the Irish and running bars?
"It's in the genes," said Sheehan.
Murphy said it's the Irish traditions of story-telling and practicing the lost art of conversation that make many suited to and successful at the life of a barkeep.
Sheehan said they plan to have typical "pub grub" for lunches and at evening, but with an Irish bent, and with specials every day. Music will be folk and acoustic, said Murphy, and plans are to develop the upstairs as well for larger performances.
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This story ran in The Lowell Sun on 2/10/2001.