Celtic roots find fertile soil throughout midcoast region

Story and photos by David Munson

It’s good to be Irish.

That thought seems to be the founding principal behind several local
businesses, each of which has seized upon the customer’s attraction to the Emerald Isle to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true.

While the Irish connection is certainly not the only thing that keeps customers coming back to the Midcoast’s Celtic-themed businesses, the traditional feel and old world quality of the goods and services provided help to make the businesses unique, and that uniqueness can make all the difference in a competitive marketplace.

The King Eider Pub and Restaurant has built its reputation on good food and old country charm, re-creating the public meeting house atmosphere of the British Isles in downtown Damariscotta.

From the hardwood floors to the exposed beams adorned with hand-thrown mugs, the atmosphere of the King Eider transports the customer to the true pubs of Europe, and the friendly, family-oriented service keeps customers coming back for more.

Rows of clay mugs add Irish charm to the rafters of King Eider Pub.

“A lot of bars and lounges call themselves pubs, but we are a true public meeting house,” said co-owner Todd Maurer. “We just have a different atmosphere here. We serve the freshest food, we know our customers by their first names, and we make sure they leave happy and satisfied—it’s what makes us who we are.”

Maurer and four partners opened the King Eider eight years ago, intent on bringing a different kind of eating establishment to Damariscotta’s popular downtown district. Since then, they’ve built a loyal customer base, many of whom have become King Eider Mug Club members by purchasing a $30 membership package which entitles the owner to various benefits and specials through the year, as well as the added bonus of owning a personalized, old-fashioned ale mug that hangs in a place of honor on the rough-hewn beams above the bar.

In addition to frequent specials and advertising, the King Eider draws considerable attention to itself by offering unique food and drink that isn’t available in other local venues. From bangers and mash to corned beef and cabbage, the King Eider staff prides itself in its fresh and delectable Irish meals, as well as an extensive list of other food items. The bar, too, offers patrons more than the typical tavern selections, and has built a reputation as a source for rare and exotic imported beers.

“A lot of our clientele has traveled, so they understand the concept of a pub,” Maurer said. “This isn’t a place to come and get drunk or to pick up women. People come here for a good time, good food, and excellent service. I really think that’s our strong point.”

Personalized attention in an Irish tradition has also helped put Rockport’s Claddagh Motel on the map. True natives of Ireland, Siobhán Gilmore and her husband Alex purchased the motel in 1997 and invested in extensive renovations—providing travelers with the comfort of a modern motel along with the type of good conversation that only genuine Irish charm can inspire.

The Claddagh Motel on Route 1 in Rockport offers visitors 19 rooms—including several suites—to choose from, as well as a pool and other amenities. In addition to the business’s unique Irish character, The Claddagh draws in many new customers through word-of-mouth and an aggressive advertising program.

“We fell in love with Maine, in part because its coastline is similar to Ireland,” said Gilmore. “Aside from our name, our business is Irish because we are authentic Irish people. People spot the shamrock and the claddagh, and I think that that does attract Irish Americans—it certainly doesn’t hurt.”

The Gilmores first found their entrepreneurial calling, and each other, in New York City, where they both worked in the bar business after moving to the states from Ireland. After extensive traveling in the U.S., the family felt what Gilmore describes as a “magnetic pull toward Maine,” and began looking into small business opportunities in the area. Their research led them away from their original intention to open a bar, and they decided that their future lay in the hospitality and lodging business.

Years of hard work and considerable investment transformed their ailing motel purchase on Route One into a modern retreat with old world charm. While the comfortable suites and swimming pool certainly add to the motel’s appeal, it’s the conversation that the Gilmores love that keeps their customers coming back year after year.

“Lodging is an enjoyable business because we love to talk,” Gilmore said. “Some people kiss the blarney stone, but I think we swallowed it.”

Sharing stories of Ireland and Irish family histories is a favorite pastime at the Shamrock, Thistle & Rose as well. Located in downtown Belfast, the clothing and gift store offers a broad range of products from Ireland, creating a connection to the old country that draws customers from miles around.

With new items arriving soon from McNally’s recent buying trip to Dublin and Glasgow, the Shamrock, Thistle & Rose is thanking local customers with a major sale in the weeks leading up to St. Patrick’s Day. From scarves to carvings to butter cookies, everything in the store is at least 20 percent off. The store is also offering a chance to win a trip for four to Ireland.

“Our Irish connection makes us stand out from other gift shops,” said co-owner Joanne McNally, adding that she has customers that drive nearly 40 miles for a bottle of imported steak sauce. “There are so many beautiful products made in Ireland—it’s a real draw for people with an Irish heritage.”

The business, which will be celebrating its fourth anniversary this May, was the vision of McNally and her business partner Sharron Walsh, who, like the Gilmores, were attracted to the Midcoast by its similarities to the Emerald Isle.

“The terrain—and the people, too—remind me of Ireland,” McNally said. “Like the Irish, people here have a gentleness and good humor about them—they’re not too inflated, if you know what I mean. And with a name like Belfast, it just seemed an appropriate place to open an Irish store.”

A native of Chicago, McNally enjoys dual citizenship in the U.S. and Ireland, and travels to Ireland regularly to purchase clothing and gifts for the store. In addition to the many items imported from Ireland, the Shamrock, Thistle & Rose also sells a number of locally-made products with an Irish connection, such as traditional, hand-carved wedding spoons made by Rockland’s Port Chaplain Don Clifford. Maine-made scarves, paintings, and other items also compliment the store’s Irish products.

In addition to its growing popularity with the summer tourist crowd, television advertising and off-season sales draw a loyal Maine clientele, which helps to insulate the store from seasonal fluctuations as it builds its connection to the community. People travel from as far as Bangor and Augusta for specific purchases, McNally said.

Fans of Irish music will go to great lengths to hear their favorite Celtic tunes as well. Blending traditional songs with new riffs and an upbeat tempo, the Napper Tandies have taken the songs of Ireland to a new level—and drawn in plenty of fans along the way.

The Napper Tandies have been bringing their brand of Celtic music to fans in Maine since 2001. They have a number of shows coming up as St. Patrick’s Day approaches.

Following a number of musical evolutions, the band came together as the Napper Tandies two years ago, and found a welcoming fan base ready to move with their Celtic groove. Playing their unique music in venues across the state, the Napper Tandies use their Irish connection to draw people in, and their fun, high-energy approach to keep them coming back for more.

“The Irish style draws a big crowd,” said guitar player Rich Ruggerio of Rocky Bay Brewing Company fame. “The fans are a quite a mix of old and young. By making the traditional songs a little upbeat, we have a style of music you can really dance to, which was huge at the folk fest.”

While Ruggerio keeps his hands full with Rocky Bay and the Waterworks in Rockland, playing guitar only occasionally with the band, Randy Billings on base, Matthew Smith on banjo, and Chris Brinn on accordion keep the show on the road—satisfying Irish music fans across the state.

Whether it’s at the Bangor Folk Festival or the corner pub, the Napper Tandies have found that an Irish theme is as popular in the music business as it is in food, lodging, and retail gift enterprises.

Wherever that entrepreneurial road may lead, one thing is for certain, the luck of the Irish has helped lead some local business people to their pot of gold.

FMI: King Eider’s Pub, 2 Elm Street, Damariscotta, Maine 04543 Phone: 207.563.6008 Open year round.

Claddagh Motel, U.S. Route 1 Rockport, Maine 04856 Phone: 207.594.8479 Open year round email: <innkeeper@claddaghmotel.com>, www.claddaghmotel.com.

Shamrock, Thistle & Rose, 48 Main Street, Belfast, Maine 04915 Open year round. Winter hours through June 30 Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Phone: 207.338.1864, Toll free 1.866.624.6438 email: <support@shamrockthistlerose.com>, www.shamrockthistlerose.com.

Napper Tandies, Randy Billings, 207.266.9567, email: <info@thenappertandies.com>, www.thenappertandies.com.