Irish couple brings a taste of the Emerald Isle to Mount Pleasant

An enterprising Irish couple is bringing a taste of the Emerald Isle to the Mount Pleasant area with the opening of the Celt Irish Pub, a bar and music venue located at 2700 N. Highway 17.

ine and Danny Burns are both musicians who played in Irish pubs in the Washington, D.C., area where they lived before moving to Charleston.

“We played the Irish bar circuit and at Irish Embassy,” said ine, who plays guitar and sings.

Danny is a Nashville recording artist and record producer in the bluegrass and country music industry and is signed to Bonfire Music group, according to ine.

Both ine and Danny learned their way around the hospitality industry while living in Ireland.

“Danny worked in hotels and restaurants in Ireland and when he visited New York during summers, he was a big fan of Rocky Sullivan’s,” said ine, mentioning the popular bar opened by musician Chris Byrne and journalist Patrick Farrelly in 1996.

ine also brings to the table experience fostered by her parents. “They own a pub in Ireland, so I know how these things operate,” she said, explaining that opening a bar/music venue was something the couple has always wanted to do.

When the Burns moved to the area, one of the first places they visited was the address at 2700 N. Highway 17.

One of the first things the couple tackled was constructing a new stage.

“We found a great Irish carpenter and he built us a stage, while Danny extended the bar to seat 30 patrons,” said ine, adding that the couple also borrowed a few ideas from her parent’s pub in Ireland called The Chasin’ Bull.

The pub, which seats a total of 110, features regular bluegrass sessions where musicians gather around a table and jam. At other times, customers are likely to hear anything from rock, to Americana and, of course, Irish music.

The couple also sells a selection of Irish merchandise like chocolates, Irish Barry’s Tea, Coleman’s pepper sauce and more.

ine said that she’s breathing easier now that the business is officially open.

“We thought we’d be open by February, then by March, but we had some issues with our license in that we missed a deadline and had to go through the process of a new retail license, liquor license, fire inspection. We were so close and ended up spending quite a bit of money, while at the same time paying rent; there were lots of challenges until April when we opened,” said ine .

The pub, which operates with a staff of 12, is open seven days a week and serves both lunch and dinner.

Some of the more popular dishes on the menu include wings, chicken curry, and beer-battered fish and chips served with tartar sauce, a side of kale coleslaw and steak fries. Also popular is an all-day Irish breakfast which includes Irish sausage, bacon, black and white pudding, hash browns, fried eggs, sauteed mushrooms, beans and toast.

“Danny’s main focus, after the music, is the food and he is looking forward to expanding the menu at some point,” ine said.

As for dcor, ine said that the walls are festooned with Irish artwork, historical photos, scenes from Irish television shows and a very special photo. “In 1916 when Ireland went to war with the English to retake their country, one of those who were part of the uprising included my great aunt, so we have a photo of her up on the wall as well,” said ine, adding that the ladies’ bathroom is also decorated with goddesses and Irish women of note.

ine said that the area has welcomed the new business.

“We’re just a mom-and-pop business not a franchise and we’re getting a great response so far, so we’re looking forward to what the future brings,” she said.

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