I have not been looking forward to this day.
No, I’m not talking about Barry’s Old School Irish’s last day, which is this coming Saturday. That’s going to be tough enough. But right now I’m talking about trying to figure out how to put into words everything that Barry’s Old School Irish has meant to me and my family.
When that unsightly corner was cleaned up 12 years ago, and we saw the first sign in the window announcing a new “pub and bakery,” no one really knew what to expect. No one had any idea how that little pub would change our village forever.
It’s not enough to say that Danny and Jessica Barry have become very good friends, and we have come to feel a part of not just the pub family, but the Barry family. There are so many memories, so many special days and evenings that have filled my family’s history at Barry’s, there’s no way I could list them all here.
But then I realized I’ve told some of those stories before in the various blogs I posted in advance of the pub’s anniversary parties. I tried — successfully, I think — to capture everything that Barry’s has meant to my family, and to the Webster community.
So, allow me to re-post snippets from some of those previous blogs. This first selection was from just before the pub’s first anniversary:
This evening, Barry’s Old School Irish Pub and Bakery on Webster’s 4-corners will celebrate its one-year anniversary. In anticipation of that happy event, I sat at my computer last night, poised to craft the perfect blog about what has become my very favorite Webster hangout.
Fingers at the ready, I started to think. What exactly IS it about Barry’s that makes the place so special? The beer? The to-die-for Guinness chocolate cake? The live music? There are just so many things about Barry’s that make it a pleasant place to be. But what is it that makes Barry’s unique?
It took me a little while, but finally it dawned on me. I realized why I go back there every Friday night. And some Saturdays and Wednesdays. And the occasional Sunday afternoon. It’s Mary Jane, Mike and Patrick. Tim, Jerry and Robyn. Debbie, Sarah, Chris and Julie. Kim, Mac and Maura, Brendan and Gordon. These are the people of Barry’s, and every single one of them has become part of my extended family.
Funny thing about these extended family members, though, is that I couldn’t tell your most of their last names. Plus, I didn’t know ANY of them a year ago. But thanks to Barry’s, I’m now closer to these people than to most of my “regular” extended family members.
You see, any Irish pub can serve a Guinness. Any restaurant/bakery can serve up great dinners and desserts. But there aren’t many places where you can walk in and immediately feel like family.
In 2015, just before the pub’s fourth anniversary, I recalled when I first met Danny and Jess:
I still clearly remember the first time I walked into Barry’s. Like most Webster residents, I’d been keeping a close eye on the building at the corner of Main and South Ave., pleased to see the old plumbing shop getting cleaned up, and wondering exactly what an “Irish pub and bakery” would look like.
Two days before Barry’s was to officially open, I stopped in to check out the new place, and met Danny and Jessica Barry for the first time. (This was also when I took the iconic photo of them holding the sign that would soon grace the outside of their pub.)
They struck me right away as very friendly, very enthusiastic and very young. They talked to me of their passion, how they wanted to model their new pub after the public houses (a.k.a. “pubs”) they had frequented in Ireland on their honeymoon just months before. The walls were bare, the taps hadn’t been installed yet, and they had little more than coffee to sell in the bakery. Yet they envisioned that their little corner pub would someday become a genuine community gathering place.
It didn’t take long for Danny and Jessica to realize that dream, and they continue to live it every day, by nurturing the kind of atmosphere that makes Barry’s unlike any other place in the world.
It’s a place where pretty much every patron is welcomed by name, with a smile and a wave; where the owners KNOW if it’s your first time, and make a point to introduce themselves; where young couples get engaged and older couples celebrate their anniversaries; where patrons will clear space at their table on busy nights and pull up an extra stool for a stranger, and new friends are made over pick-up games of euchre; where there’s an actual COUCH in the bar for people to curl up in with their pints, and on New Year’s Eve, the pub crowd cheers each time a new patron comes in; where the owner will order-in pizza at 1 am for the handful of remaining patrons, rather than kicking them out for the night; where celebrating Irish heritage through music, dance and literature is an opportunity, not a gimmick; where the entire pub will toast to birthdays, special events, happy occasions, sad occasions, or just because Notre Dame is winning.
Where everyone who walks through the door is instantly part of the family.
Those of you who know and love Barry’s as much as I do (and if you’ve read this far, that’s you), you recognize a lot of these memories. Sure, there have been many changes through the years. The couch and fake fireplace are gone, the furniture has been swapped out a few times, trivia night was added, and Barry’s Runners was established, just to name a few. Dear old friends have moved away or passed away, and so many new friends have discovered the pub that it’s hard to find a place to sit most nights.
But beneath all that, Barry’s Old School Irish hasn’t changed a bit. It’s remained the chosen spot for people who want to meet up with friends while listening to traditional music, host their celebrations, have a pint after work with colleagues or after dinner with family. Where everyone is welcome and everyone joins the pub family just by walking through the door.
Because through all these years, one great truth has remained constant. It’s all about the people.
I’ve taken hundreds of photos at Barry’s and the events held there over the years. Here’s a selection for your enjoyment:
Barry’s Old School Irish’s last week
Naturally, Danny and Jess have some big plans for the last week in their current location.
The week’s festivities begin on Tuesday Sept. 5, when they’ll open at 4 p.m. The pub hasn’t been open on Tuesdays for a year, so this will be a nice treat. Plus, Barry’s Runners will be having their final run from the pub that night, and everyone is welcome to join, even if you want to walk. Also, families especially are invited for one last night out with the kids, and Shirley Temples will be on the house for all the lads and lassies. The three young Barry’s kids will even be there to help out.
On Wednesday Sept. 6, the final Barry’s Trivia Night will take place beginning at 6:30 p.m. This week’s questions will run the gamut of all the favorite trivia nights over the years. The bonus questions will test your knowledge of Barry’s Pub history. You’ll want to call ahead to reserve a table for this one.
Thursday Sept. 7 is Guinness Toast Night, when everyone gets a pint on the house.
Friday Sept. 8, Kevin Reynolds will set up in the music corner beginning at 7 p.m. for one last evening of Friday night Irish tunes.
Saturday Sept. 9 is the Barry’s Forever Celebration. The doors will open at 9 a.m., there’ll be live music all day, bagpipers, dancers, and a special return performance by Barry’s Crossing, the duo who have the honor of being the first band ever to play at Barry’s (they even named their band after the pub at the crossroads of Webster) and will be the final duo to play at 2 West Main St.
Click the links for more information about all these events, and see you at Barry’s this week!
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(posted 9/3/2023)
Tags: Barry's Crossing, Barry's Old School Irish, Local business, Missy Rosenberry, Village of Webster, Webster NY
