Amy and Neil Walsh Transform Local Irish Pub

Morgan’s Publick House in Tappan is Rockland’s best kept secret. The Irish pub was purchased by husband and wife team Neil and Amy Walsh in February of 2024, and over the course of the 9 months the couple has been the official owners the space has become a must visit for Rocklanders of all ages. 

During the interview with RCT, it became obvious that family lies at the root of everything the Walsh’s do. Neil and Amy were both born in Ireland – his family hailing from Tipperary and Sligo, hers from Killarney. Neil grew up running around his father’s bar on Bainbridge Avenue in the Bronx, and Amy states that since she first met Neil it has been his dream to own a bar and craft it into his own. 

Both Amy and Neil set their hearts on a place that reflected their family values and Irish upbringing, a place where “…you tell stories, you sing songs, you make memories as family and friends and have these celebrations or moments in life”, stated Amy. Amy continued with her vision for the pub and how she wants “[the pub] to be cozy and inviting, [with] music and comfortable, casual food”. 

The renovations of Morgan’s to achieve these goals were, and are, a continuation of the family-first ideals the Walsh’s hold so dearly. Amy recalled how “the entourage just rolled in, and it was so great. We have such a great community of people that are supportive [of the pub]”. The family, alongside a strong contingent of chosen family, built up the gazebos with slats to make them feel cozier and more private, stained and painted everything, added a lounge area with white stone and firepits, and  installed flat-screen televisions playing any game you can think of. Amy added greenery and decor throughout the outdoor space, which is more than triple the size one would guess from just a glance at the storefront. Even one of the smallest Walsh’s got involved,their daughter staunchly questioning why no one was asking her opinion, seeing as it’s her restaurant too. 

The interior of Morgan’s has undergone an even more recent renovation. In the dining room, vintage doors patchwork one over the other to manufacture homey “rooms within rooms”. Amy said that several of the doors are over 100 years old and have been collected by Neil for years from projects around New York City. The idea for the doors came about in their early dating days, after the two visited a pub in Killarney that utilized refurbished materials in its decor. Now the dream has been brought to life, which alongside the multiple authentic cast iron signs dotting the interior, work to bring even more of the pair’s native Ireland to Rockland. 

The food at Morgan’s has experienced a renovation of its own. When Amy and Neil took over the bar, they made the switch to higher quality butchers and meat providers, while encouraging their chef Tony to experiment and elevate their existing menu items. Again, however, the Walsh’s return to family. “…We try to keep everything conscious of a family’s budget when [they’re] coming out to eat”, says Amy. With smashburgers, salads, pizzas, sandwiches and a plethora of gluten free options, everyone can find a mouthwatering meal at Morgan’s.

Amy laughs as she recalls one of Neil’s first challenges with taking over the bar. “He said, ‘Amy, women don’t come here’”. The two put their heads together to work out how they could make the space more inviting to the fairer sex. Their solution? Giving a Mother’s Day menu a try. Neil now had a new problem: “Neil said to me, ‘I have never run out of wine glasses here!”. It’s the best problem to have, right?,” laughed Amy. 

Following the success of their Mother’s Day event, the two continued with an Easter Egg hunt that had 2,000 eggs snatched up by Rockland kids in mere minutes. Amy stated that this event helped even more with advancing their goal of informing the community that Morgan’s is a place that puts family at the heart of everything they do. 

Right before Christmas, Amy hopes to make Morgan’s into a Christmas Village for families to make memories in during the holidays. “It’ll be where families can sit in and take pictures of the family… It costs a fortune with kids and holidays. We want to do pictures, go across the street, get your Christmas tree, come here, grab a bite to eat” shares Amy, mentioning the popular Christmas tree shop set up across the street from Morgan’s during the winter. 

“We love the idea of being a go-to destination for your family…[of becoming] the go to classic, staple neighborhood bar”, said Amy as the interview came to a close. “The community becomes a part of our family…we’re a part of their family”. 

While the Walsh family is hinting at an upcoming name change, the essence of this Irish pub is sure to remain the same. Whether it’s a first date, catching up with girlfriends, grabbing pints with the guys, or squeezing in quality time while the kids run around, there is room for everyone here. Oh, and try the wings. You won’t be disappointed. Sláinte!