Eddie settled on 'brilliant' coast
HE'S been a wild rover for many a year, but now he's happily settled in a Scarborough town centre alehouse! Eddie O'Murchu, who took over the licence of The Merchant in Eastborough, Scarborough's only Irish pub, from his cousin Lachlan, says he's happy to finally be settled on the North Yorkshire coast. Reporter Martin Herron talks to him about living in Scarborough and his roots in the Emerald Isle.
"You can't beat it," he said. "Just look around you at the seafront and the scenery – it's stunning. I love the people here and the countryside – it's brilliant to live on the coast."
But Eddie's had a long journey before he came to town – having grown up half American, he spent several years running bars in the Big Apple.
"I was born in County Mayo, but I went over to the States when I was very young – I can't even remember how old I was," he said. "My childhood was spent in Mayo and in Westchester in New York State. I loved both places but I have to say my heart was really in Ireland.
After a degree in computers and business at Dublin College, Eddie put his studies to good use – by getting a job behind a bar!
"Well, I've always liked pubs!" he said. "And I'm using the business qualification. I think Irish people are suited to running pubs – they like to make everyone feel at home and make sure everyone has a good time – that's why there are Irish pubs in every town in the world."
After having run Hyens bar on 23rd and 10th and The Blarney Stone on 33rd and 7th in Manhatten, Eddie felt the call of the hills of Ireland when an opportunity appeared out of nowhere.
"My cousin was setting up a business in Scarborough and asked me if I wanted to be involved," Eddie, who'll only admit to being "over 25", said. "I'd never even visited the town – or North Yorkshire – but I'd just sold a business in the States and I thought I'd take a look."
His Irish eyes began shining as soon as he pulled into town.
"I fell in love with the town the moment I saw it," he said. "I drove down onto the front and I just said 'wow'. After that it wasn't hard to make a decision at all.
"It might sound odd but Scarborough's a bit like Manhattan – you get to see an awful lot of new faces. Because both towns get a lot of visitors there are always new people to meet and that keeps things exciting.
People are pretty much the same wherever you go. There are also quite a few Irish people in both towns and it's always good to see them!
"And I grew up – or half grew up – in a small town in Ireland, so Scarborough's a bit like that too. I really love the way you keep bumping into people you know on the street."
Despite having bought a business in town at a challenging point in time – just as the credit crunch started to bite into people's leisure budget – he's confident about the future.
"I think Scarbrough will survive the recession," he said. "I reckon we'll see a lot of visitors this summer. With things being tight and the weakness of the pound people will be holidaying in England, not going abroad, that will definitely help the town."
So it will be business as usual on Eastborough this summer.
"I've not got any plans to change the pub," he said. "I just want to run a cheerful Irish pub – that's what people seem to like.
"I'll keep the music going – we've got bands on most weekends and we'll have a full programme of events for St Patrick's day, but really if it ain't broke, don't mend it – we've got a great atmosphere here and I just want to maintain that."
However, Eddie reckons that eventually he'll return to the Emerald Isle.
"I'm settled in Scarborough now and I'm very happy," he said. "I think I'll be here for a good few years. But I think I will go back home eventually – although I love Scarborough, I've still got an Irish heart!
"It's still my favourite country – it's still home. I get back there four or five times a year and, although I love Yorkshire, there's still a bit of me that wants to live there."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Scarborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North east
