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This establishment has the look and feel of class. In fact, you have a sense that you're stepping into an Irish museum when you enter the premises. It's also a huge operation. The patio has seating for 150 people and the pub and dining area can hold another 200 people. The ceiling of the pub area is very striking and catches the eye with a circular Celtic design. The bar area is in a blond wood design that gives the area a light cheery feeling. There are unique fireplaces that face into the pub and out onto the large patio. As you make your way around the bar and you move into the dining area, there is a more formal feel with its traditional dark wood and upholstered furniture. This sets the tone for the fine dining area. The millwork in the pub was done locally but the furniture, stained glass windows, tiles and bric-a-brack were all imported from Ireland in containers. An Irish design team came from Dublin to paint the Celtic designs on the ceiling and all the Celtic designs around the pub. Frank Doyle from Dublin, a specialist in the Celtic decor in traditional Irish pubs, travelled from Ireland to decorate. The Mahony brothers are Pete, Chris and Paddy. They are the general managers and day-to-day directors of operations at the establishment. The family is Australian-Irish and their parents, Peter and Leonie moved to Vancouver in the early Seventies and raised 11 children. Chris and Lisa were born in Australia and the other nine siblings were born in Vancouver. The large Irish Catholic family of nine boys and two girls has roots in Cork, Ireland when their great-great-great grandfather Barney was transported from Ireland to Australia in the 1800s for pick-pocketing. The Mahony involvement in the hospitality business started way back then when Barney lost no time in getting his own pub, called The Good Woman Pub, started. In Australia, the Mahony family maternal grandfather was also involved in the hospitality business, so the pub business runs in the Mahony clan blood. Back in the 1800s in Ireland, it was not uncommon for many Irish to be banished to Australia or Van Diemans land for very small offences which were often committed because the people were starving. Years later a study was conducted to learn what had happened to these people and, much to everyone's surprise, many of those banished were running the country or had become businessmen. Case in point ...the Mahonys. The Mahony family was involved in the hospitality business before moving from Australia to Vancouver, where they continued in the business. At the present time, some family members operate the Delta Lion Pub in Delta along with a liquor store called Big Pete's in North Delta. They have also owned other pubs in the past, so it's not surprising that given the family background, they've always wanted to open an Irish pub. Mahony & Sons Public House features live Celtic bands. The house band on Thursday nights is Ballyhooley, with Tim Fanning on uillean pipes. Saturday night the house band is Blackthorn, with various other Celtic bands on Friday nights. The brothers welcome the students but the pub is not an exclusive student bar. There are also a lot of residential, faculty, professors and hospital employees who make up their clientele. The Mahony brothers are very welcoming. The staff is friendly and helpful, the food is first- rate and you would be hard pressed to beat the atmosphere. Mahony & Sons Public House, Teach Tabhairne is located at 5990 University Boulevard in Vancouver. For more information, call (604) 827-4444, or visit: pgmahony@mahonyandsons.com.
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