A devoted Donegal dad has bought his lucky daughter the ultimate birthday present – a pub!
Seamus Gallagher, 59, has lived in Carlisle in England for the past 24 years.
He wanted to get daughter Bridie a job and a present rolled into one so he bought her a bar in his hometown of Bothergate.
The bar, which is now known as Gallagher’s, was formerly The Golden Lion.
Seamus said: “Some people get a car for their 21st but Bridie got a pub. She didn’t have a job so she was over the moon. It was always my intention to retire at 60 and buy a pub and that is exactly what I’ve done.
“It gives Bridie a job and a career in the pub trade to follow.”
“There hasn’t been an Irish bar in Carlisle since Finnegan’s Wake and so we thought why not? Irish bars are all over the UK and in Benidorm and Ibiza.”
Shocked Bridie said all she thought she would get form her dad would be a card – if she was lucky!
“I was really shocked when dad told me he’d bought me a pub. I was in Turkey for my 21st and I wasn’t expecting anything except a card.
“It’s going well and I am enjoying being back in work. I am just getting experience at the moment and my dad is helping me.
“Since we got the keys we’ve been painting and decorating and making it nice and green and Irish.”
The pub shows Sky Sports and has pools, darts and dominoes teams.
Seamus added “Once Bridie gets more experience I’ll leave her to it but I’ve been helping her out a bit to start.
“We’ve taken on five bar staff and a cleaner.”
And so far the new pub seems to be going down a storm.
Bridie said: “Lots of the customers pop in and say they remember me from when I was a baby and I haven’t a clue who they are.”
The pub sells a range of Irish liquor including whiskeys and pints of Caffreys and Guinness.
It is decorated with traditional Irish barrels, some of them from Dublin.
Plans are also underway for karaoke and live music and singing evenings and an extra special celebration on St Patrick’s Day next year.
“That will be a special night,” said Seamus.
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