OTTAWA – June 6th The High Kings of Ireland Larry Bradley & Pat Kelly sat under the white tent and let a lifetime of friends come to greet them.
The tent, set up in Ottawa’s historic ByWard Market, was part of the overflow capacity section for the big party set up on Tuesday, June 6, on the occasion of the Heart and Crown Pub’s 25th anniversary.
Pointing to the tent over his head, the County Tyrone native, who co-founded the pub with his Galway friend Pat Kelly – also his business partner with Bradley Kelly Construction – joked that, back home in Ulster, “we only had a wee small tent to live under! Now we’ve got a big tent.”
Since it was founded, the pub has grown, spawning satellite pubs all over Ottawa.
All told, there are 11 pubs run at five locations across the city. Other Heart and Crown locations include suburban Barrhaven and Ottawa’s Little Italy district along Preston Street, as well as the Aulde Dubliner and Pour House on the south side of the Market on William Street, and Peter Devine’s.)
The four affiliated pubs at the intersection of Parent Avenue and Clarence Street (The Heart and Crown, established 1992, The Snug Pub, 1997, and Mother McGintey’s and Roisin Dubh, the Black Rose, 2001) form “The Irish Village,” different Irish pubs, all under one roof.
There is a lot of love in the room – as well as the sounds of traditional Irish music – as one of his employees from the James Street Pub in Ottawa’s Centretown, comes over to wish him well.
“You’ll always be right here,” says the man, pointing to his heart.
It takes Bradley a moment to recognize him as he has lost some weight – and for good reason. His employee has undergone a health scare with his heart, and “we helped him through it,” said Bradley, after welcoming his employee back to work.
Bradley is ready with many ready-made quips when greeting well-wishers (“I’m a good looking guy – rough, tough, and hard to bluff!”) but he admits that when they set up on their corner of the market, there was not much action in the way of pubs and/or restaurants. Now, there are as many as 23.
“We pushed ahead when the opportunity came up,” said Bradley, as they simply started off with plans for just one pub – never envisioning a chain of them. Now, “people try to compete with me,” he said of his pubs. “Now the whole street is doing a good business.”
Part of the reason for his success, he says, is because “you have to be able to like people,” he said. “Not everybody can do it,” or do it for long, though it helps to “put on a good quality show.”
Words quickly comes from on high (literally, upstairs) that Ottawa’s Mayor Jim Watson has come over from City Hall to wish the Irish duo well. But, Bradley’s staff tell him, he will have to go upstairs to meet His Honour.
“Pat and Larry built this business on loyalty and love and friendship,” said Alex Munro, vice president business operations and development for the pub consortium, who first took the microphone that night to introduce the guests, having worked at the Heart and Crown himself for 12 years. The business had considered having a “black tie” event, but the staff and owners soon realized: “This is an Irish pub…come and enjoy the craic together!” said Munro.
Watson read aloud a proclamation that June 6 would be “Heart and Crown Pub Day” in the City of Ottawa, and he commended Bradley and Kelly who “have set the bar for their philanthropic work. Cheers to you both.” He added that the Irish community in Canada’s capital are “woven into the social fabric of this city.” Because of people like Bradley and Kelly and Ottawa’s Irish, “our city is stronger,” Watson said.
(After presenting the duo with the framed proclamation, Watson joked that “this certificate is worth one hour of free parking!”)
By: Desmond Devoy NCR Correspondent Celtic Canada
