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The lawsuit compelled New York City Mayor John V. Lindsay to sign an executive order prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex in bars and other public accommodations. At 3pm the next day, McSorley’s opened its doors to women for the first time. Kirwan was not present, explaining that she did not wish to break the bar’s tradition.
Turkey wishbones
I'm always a little hesitant about ordering bar food – you just never know what you're going to get, especially from places popular with tourists — but I was surprised by how much I liked the burger. Ahead of St. Patrick's Day 2023, I wanted to visit the bar given its rich history and connection to my heritage. My grandparents were first-generation Irish immigrants who later moved to England.
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h Street Bar
There are no TVs at McSorley’s and no ambient music—the only noises you’ll hear are the clinking of glasses and the muted hum of people’s conversations. Perhaps the most famous artifacts are the wishbones dangling from a gas lamp above the bar. After finishing a free meal at the bar, soldiers departing to serve in WWI left their wishbones—from turkeys, chickens, and one duck—intending to collect them upon their safe return. In 2011, a city health inspector insisted that the wishbones, encased in years of dust, be cleaned. McSorley’s is not the oldest bar in New York City—that distinction goes to Fraunces Tavern, open since 1762—although Shane Buggy, a bartender at McSorley’s, disputes this fact.
Time Out says
In a city filled with pricey craft cocktails and thousands of beers on tap, McSorley’s lack of choice—and the $5.50-per-drink price tag—is as refreshing as their light ale, which comes in pairs. John kept horses out back and his son, Bill, who eventually took over the bar from his father, was an avid reader. The two-glass policy evolved so father and son could tend to their hobbies in between pours. Health inspectors also had a problem with another McSorley’s regular—Minnie the Second, one of many cats who have called the pub home over the years.
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Prior to the 1970 ruling, the motto was "Good Ale, Raw Onions and No Ladies"; the raw onions can still be ordered as part of McSorley's cheese platter. He's also witnessed some of the greatest moments in Philadelphia sports history and served customers as they celebrated the Sixers NBA Championship, the Flyers Stanley Cup, the Eagles Super Bowl and the Phillies World Series victories. With alcohol of any sort outlawed, brewing operations switched to the basement of McSorley’s Old Ale House where it remained business as usual until Prohibition ended. After this dryest chapter in American history the Fidelio Brewery returned as official brewers of McSorley’s Cream Stock Ale.
Food and drinks – what’s on offer in New York’s oldest Irish bar
There was a strong sense of pride and camaraderie in the bar, with customers happy to let others through to the bar, introduce themselves, or tip their Irish bartenders. I felt more connected to my own Irish heritage than I have in years, and proud of the role Irish people have played throughout history in this country and in New York City. I enjoyed both the light and the dark ale, though I preferred the light, and thought they went down smoothly. When I visited McSorley's, the bar was teeming with people and there were very few places to sit.
McSorley’s Old Ale House
Above the fireplace is the McSorley’s motto “Be Good or Be Gone”, as well as a portrait of Peter Cooper, founder of Cooper Union. There have been few structural changes to the Old Ale House, the kitchen being a glaring exception. With the Supreme Court ruling of 1970 (allowing women entry into McSorley’s), the bathroom became coed.
“Good Ale, Raw Onions and No Ladies” – a former pub motto
"Every day is a blessing. I'm healthy, I feel good," Doyle said. "I met Chase Utley, Moose Johnston came in one night," Doyle recalled. "When I first started working here, I didn't know how long I'd be here. Then I got the job as a doorman, eventually, I became a bartender," Doyle said. Ah, yes, and Abraham Lincoln, who stopped by in 1960 while in town to give his famous Cooper Union address. Don’t go to McSorley’s hoping for a chilled glass of pinot, though.
At the very least, McSorley’s can claim the title of “oldest Irish pub” in the city. It’s no surprise that McSorley’s—with its green, shamrock-emblazoned storefront—is a popular destination on St. Patrick’s Day. Doyle earned a "Best of Philly" award in 2010 when he was named the city's best bartender, and his wife, Laura Doyle, said all these years later she doesn't mind sharing him with the rest of the city. As Doyle gets ready to turn 80, he's scaled back his schedule to one day a week, but he's now worked for three generations of owners, and his tenure has spanned eight Philadelphia mayors.
Above the bar, wishbones gather many generations worth of dust from their perch on the old gas lamp. Look closely and you’ll spot an original wanted poster for Abe Lincoln’s assassin as well as Babe Ruth’s farewell photo from Yankee stadium (a donation from the photographer-a regular himself). There’s plenty of that memory in the bar calling out for a focus. Plaques, unit markings, random war souvenirs carried home in some veteran’s kitbag.
He passed away just three years later, leaving the bar to his daughter, Dorothy O’Connell Kirwan. The change of hands was ironic considering that McSorley’s did not allow women on the premises at the time. Kirwan promised her father that she would not overturn that rule. She also vowed never to set foot in McSorley’s during operating hours – a promise she kept even after the establishment was forced to admit the fairer sex in 1970 thanks to a lawsuit brought about by two females who were denied entry. I could have spent hours looking at every piece of art and history, and it made me feel a sense of pride in my Irish heritage. It felt as if I were in a living time capsule, surrounded by people who were there for a great time in one of the most historic spots in the city.
That fact, in combination with my very Irish name, makes me proud of the close connection to my heritage. As well as regular New York punters, McSorley’s boasts among its clientele a who’s who of American history and culture. Former presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, and the aforementioned Lincoln would visit the pub when in New York. The ashes of seven different people are interred in various vessels—including a flask—behind the bar. If you’re a close friend of one of the seven, you can request that their vessel be brought out so you can continue to drink together.
As we sat there, inhaling the fug and sipping and smoking and talking about sentence structure, I would pick out one item or another and make up little stories about it. When Dorothy and her husband, Harry, passed away in 1974 and 1975, respectively, their son, Danny, inherited the bar. Just two years later, he sold it to night manager Matthew Maher, who still owns the tavern to this day. Regardless, McSorley’s asserts itself as “New York City’s oldest continuously operating saloon.” Other Big Apple bars, like Pete’s Tavern, may assert the same exact thing, but disputing the claim seems entirely beside the point.
She noted that the beer cost only a dime per mug in 1940, and in 1966, two of the half-pints cost 35 cents. I was also surprised by how low the prices were at McSorley's compared to what I usually pay in New York City. I ordered a hamburger and fries for $10, and two beers for $8. Underneath the gold record hangs a complete collection of John Sloan’s McSorley art works.
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