Some
bars are like an old pair of slippers—from the moment that you step
into them, you know that you are home. Most certainly this can be said
of Maloney’s Pub! Since the first
day of January 2001, this endearing
little tavern, located on the south end of Keuka Lake, the jewel of the
Finger Lakes, has brought a touch of the Emerald Isle to the friendly
and charming village of Hammondsport, New
York.
There is a sublime simplicity to Maloney’s.
The pub’s floor plan
consists of a front parlor with a pool table, and to the rear an
inviting cozy room with an elegant old wooden bar. The original
structure was built in 1870, and since prohibition four other taverns
have occupied the space. Prior to this failed attempt to promote
abstinence from alcohol, the building housed a laundry, a photography
studio, and a number of private residences. Sitting here one can almost
feel the residual energy of the diverse mix of humanity that has dwelt
within the walls of this very fine public house.
Like most places that can boast of ties to the old country, Maloney’s adorns its walls with
the usual wit and wisdom of the
Irish, and the
tributes to some of those fallen descendants of Erin that have
faithfully supported the American cause since our own revolution. There
is of course the iconic image of John and Robert Kennedy, and of a more
personal nature, photos and documents honoring First Sergeant Daniel H.
Maloney who served multiple tours of duty in the Persian Gulf and who
was instrumental in the training of the cast and crew of the film We
Were Soldiers. Unfortunately, this gallant gentleman lost his
life in a
motorcycle accident in March of 2006.
In spite of those sad days and setbacks that befall any business
venture, Maloney’s has prevailed over the
past decade and has gone on
to establish itself as a vital social and cultural force in this tight
nit community. And to the thousands of visitors who come to the Finger
Lakes each year to embrace the regions rich history, to explore its
natural beauty, and to partake in the luscious fruits of the vintner’s
labor, the pub provides a warm and welcoming break from what can be a
rather hectic itinerary along the New York State wine trail.
On at least three occasions during the last few years, I’ve interrupted
my own travels around the area in favor of a leisurely layover at Maloney’s. Besides the good
service, good company and good drink, there
was always a wealth of good music. Quite frankly, what more could one
want from a great Irish pub—other than perhaps being met at the door
with an old pair of slippers?
A Benediction for friends
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