The Irish owner of one of New York City's most legendary bars Jimmy Neary has passed away at the age of 91 in the United States.
The Sligo native ran the legendary Irish pub Neary's in Manhattan where he welcomed presidents, mayors and other well-known faces.
Hailing from Tubbercurry, he left Ireland at the age of 24 for New York where he worked as a porter and bartender before opening his pub.
Neary's opened on St Patrick's Day in 1967 and according to the restaurant, Jimmy was "New York's finest host" who welcomed everyone in the door "with his great Irish smile and charming personality".
He passed away in his sleep on Friday night, October 1.
A statement posted on the door of Neary's on Saturday night read: "We want to thank you all for being a part of his life. Dad loved you all and he cherished being with you for the past 55+ years.
"You were all a critical part of his family and enriched his life in countless ways. As he always said ‘I love my life!’"
Jimmy's wife Eileen, who died in 2007, hailed from Dublin and the couple raised their four children in New Jersey.
Neary's bar is a beloved New York institution that has seen some of society's most influential people step through its doors.
Actress Maureen O’Hara described Neary’s as her home from home, while author Mary Higgins Clark often mentioned Jimmy in her books.
It is a particularly popular haunt with politicians, with former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Clintons and Ted Kennedy all visiting.
Jimmy was even featured on TV network NBC last year about how he handled the pandemic, while the New York Times profiled him in 2019 on how he spends his Sundays.
The paper described him as an 'Irish pub maestro' and said Neary's is an "upscale Irish pub" consisting of "a peaceful cove of red banquettes, white-haired bartenders and an unchanging menu of conventional surf and turf".
It said: "Though small in stature, he is the biggest personality at Neary’s.
"Born in Ireland nearly 90 years ago, he still has a musical lilt to his voice, and wears a suit and tie every day, all custom made. He is always moving. If you think you see him sitting down, that’s not Jimmy."
The man himself said in the piece: "I talk to everyone who comes in here. I miss nobody."
His funeral will take place in St Patrick’s Cathedral on Saturday.
