The Harp Gets a Facelift, But Keeps the Same Spirit
What truly makes a pub, a pub? The decor? The overall vibe? Simply serving Guinness and Jameson? Dom McMahon, the new owner of The Harp Bar, has an answer.
“What makes a pub, “a pub” comes down to ambiance and attitude.”
The Harp has been a fixture in Wilmington for 15 years. It is beloved by locals for its down to earth vibe, fun promotional events, and acts as the home of the Cape Fear Gooners (Arsenal supporters group) on matchdays. Now, it is moving into a new chapter under new ownership.
The idea for Dom to purchase a bar in Wilmington was spurred four years ago, when he was on a deep sea fishing trip with a good friend. When they were having a few drinks following the trip, Dom joked that “It would be funny if I owned a bar down here… that would be even better for drinking!” This past year, when he found out about the opportunity to acquire The Harp, he jumped on it immediately.
The renovations include a new bar area that pays homage to Northern Ireland with the banners lining the trim.
“A pub back home (Northern Ireland) is the heart of the community. ”
Dom (originally hailing from Belfast) noted how traditional Irish pubs typically do not have TV’s, and are constantly filled with many people from the neighborhood. “You could walk into a pub by yourself, know 20 people in there, and have a great night,” he says. Drinking in Ireland isn’t centered around the act of “getting drunk”, rather its a means of how to communicate and socialize.
The Harp has championed this “proper Irish pub” attitude since it opened 15 years ago, and Dom was excited by the opportunity to refresh this well known dive.
Following the acquisition, Dom quickly went to work to renovate. The bar was closed to the public for over a month, and the the ceilings, kitchen, TV’s, garden area, and back bar were all repaired or replaced. “The entire interior was effectively gutted,” said Dom. Notably, the paint job was changed to a bold red and yellow scheme, meant to liven up the building and draw more eyeballs to the location. A new menu was crafted, and The Harp reopened its doors in May.
The new ceiling in The Harp following the renovation.
Dom made it clear these changes mark improvements to the already existing Harp, not a departure from what made it great. Not much will change aside from the cosmetic adjustments - and like traditional Irish pubs, the core idea idea will be to remain a meeting place for all within the local community.
“Everyone is welcome. When they walk through the door, they’ll be made as welcome as we can possibly make them. ”
The new exterior and garden area of The Harp.
With just four months down since the opening, Dom plans to add more to the interior decor, and add further items to the menu as time goes on. He also plans to host watch parties for additional European sporting events coming up - notably the Ryder Cup, Rugby, and of course the FIFA World Cup next year.
Dom reassures The Harp will continue to be the official home of the Cape Fear Gooners and will host the group for all matches, but hopes other soccer fans can make their way over on match days to catch some action.
Check out the video above of a full match day experience at The Harp!
Be sure to follow The Harp on Facebook for upcoming events and promotions here.
The Harp: 1423 S 3rd St, Wilmington, NC 28401