A Dubliner "didn't have a clue what he was doing" when he opened a majorly successful Irish pub in the States almost 30 years ago.
Fergus Carey moved to the US when he was 24 after he became disillusioned with the humdrum of his work and daily routine on the north side of Dublin. The 59-year-old publican-restaurateur initially began his Stateside adventure in Texas, but moved to Philadelphia just two weeks in after "finding his groove" in the city he describes as "a cultural hub".
After working in pubs across Philadelphia's city centre, Fergie opened his own spot five years later - it is now known as Fergie's Pub. There, customers can tuck into home favorites such as Guinness onion soup, corned beef and cabbage and an all-day Irish breakfast.
Fergie told the Irish Star : "In 1987, Ireland wasn't a good place to be. I had a crabby job and unemployment was 25 percent. I got the chance to escape and I'm glad I did. I had a friend in Houston, so I went to join him with no green card and no money. I hated it there, though. Philadelphia is where I found my groove.
"I worked in a fast food place called Burgerland then I was a house painter and an artist's assistant. I then started bartending in a place called McGlinchey's which was the cheapest bar in Center City. I got to know everyone there and then in 1994, at the age of 31, I opened Fergie's Pub."
The pub took off immediately, he said. "It was the first new thing that people knew to be happening in the area in a while so they really took to it. I didn't have a clue what I was doing but there was a line around the block for us opening. At the time, you couldn't get a decent burger and drink in a safe environment in South Philadelphia so everyone came up to eat at the bar. It's all gone really well."
Popping into the pub on a quiet Wednesday afternoon helped to paint a picture of how Fergie's has become so well-liked by its punters. Drinks were flowing at a steady rate, delicious-smelling food was being whipped from the kitchen onto hot plates and Fergie himself flitted between regulars, engaging them in jokey conversation about learning Irish on Duolingo and what they'd been up to at work.
One couple had even stopped by for a pre-flight drink before catching a plane to Ireland that night, suggesting that to them and presumably many others, Fergie's may be the next best thing to the homeland itself.
"Another thing about the pub is that we don't have TVs", Fergie continued. "That was my own selfish decision. It's like when you're on a date and you're talking to someone and the TV is on behind you. You're automatically drawn in. I didn't want that. I wanted people to talk - to have a decent pint of Guinness in a local pub with no TVs and no jukebox. I think after three decades in business, we've achieved that."
Open seven days a week, Fergie's hosts poetry nights, quizzes, a live band karaoke, traditional Irish music sessions, Irish ballad sessions and an open mic where aspiring comics are invited to 'bring their best five-minute set'. And the vast array of entertainment stems from Fergie's own heavy involvement with the arts scene in the City of Brotherly Love.
The dad-of-two, who also owns three other venues, sits on the board of Inis Nua Theatre that produces new plays from Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, and his admiration for those who take to the upstairs stage is clear to see. On a Sunday night after Philadelphia's St Patrick's Day Parade, for example, Fergie can be seen taking his place in the crowd to cheer on the acts and shout words of encouragement from the sidelines.
His support is clearly reciprocated in the form of loyal custom and a cracking atmosphere - which Fergie invites tourists and residents alike to come and experience for themselves.
He added: "We have cultural events all the time in the pub. From Wednesday nights to Saturday afternoons, there's always something going on. If you like a good pint and good music, it's the place to be."
Read more:
Dublin business owner's plea for help after thieves steal food trailer
'The evictions ban saved my family from homelessness - but now we've been served notice to quit'
St Patrick's Day 2023 Dublin: Celebrate at Dublin Zoo with special snake exhibitions
Former HSE chief Paul Reid could be paid €650 a day in new Citizens' Assembly role
Baby boy's exciting delivery as gardai rush to help mother with motorway birth
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
