One last craic: Irish pub will not go quietly on St Patrick’s Day
When the men died, their wakes, with music and story-telling, were held at The Quiet Man.
Jenna Molan, daughter of publican Anthony Molan, says in 1998, when her family bought the former Palace Hotel and renamed it The Quiet Man after a 1952 John Wayne movie set an Irish village, they wanted to create a community.
Just like home: Irish tourists Peter O’Connor and daughter Elizabeth, and John Malone and daughter Margaret were at The Quiet Man on Sunday. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
She feels they’ve succeeded, by showcasing traditional music, poetry, dance and food and sponsoring a Gaelic football team.
But The Quiet Man’s story, and the Molans’ run as licensees, ends at the end of St Patrick’s Day this year, after a day of celebration, starting with Irish breakfasts being served at 9am, and bands performing from noon.
The pub was heaving with customers on Sunday, including Lauren Cave, of Ivanhoe, who said she was “devastated” at the pub’s closure. “There’s a piece of my heart in the building,” she said.
The pub nearly closed in 2017 when a developer bought it and planned to demolish it and build an apartment block.
Here’s to good craic: Lauren Cave, front right, with friends (from left) Bella Kelly, Tom O’Sullivan and Joey Rebakis.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
The permit lapsed, and last December the pub was bought by Zengal Hospitality Group which has Irish-born directors, James Gallagher and Zenita O’Neill.
Gallagher, a former chef and manager at The Quiet Man, told The Age that he and O’Neill will re-open it as an Irish pub in July, with a new name, after a renovation. It will feature a new functions space and cocktail bar upstairs, but retain traditional music and food and the bar that the Molans imported from Ireland.
Jenna Molan is sad to leave but excited to see what the new owners will do. She said: “Hearing people’s stories, like people who met their spouses here, it’s been beautiful.”
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The Molans will continue to run the Clifton Hill Brew Pub they have owned for 40 years.
The Quiet Man opened during Melbourne’s 1990s Irish pubs craze and many venues didn’t last.
But Paddy O’Sullivan, Victorian CEO of the Australian Hotels Association, said there was “still plenty of life” in the category, citing popular pubs like Bridie O’Reilly’s in South Yarra, and P. J. O’Brien’s in Southbank.
