History

The traditional Irish pub is much more than just a place to have a drink - it is a crucial part of Irish culture. At its core, the pub is a feeling of welcome and comfort for the people of Ireland, functioning as a place for people to gather in celebration of life, mourning loss, meeting new friends and sharing in great food and drink. The Irish Pub builds, encourages, and nurtures community, camaraderie, and friendship.

The single most important thing that sustains the atmosphere of an Irish pub (aside from the Guinness) is the music. Traditional Irish music made its way into the pub scene in the 1960s with Ireland’s Great Folk Revival. Traditionally, musicians of all kinds come together for sessions where any of the patrons can join in spontaneously. These “Irish sessions” contain the whole gamut of human existence, and often they sing about the passionate affection for drink and its consequences. 

The history and comforts of the pubs in Ireland is what drove me to dream about opening a traditional Irish pub here in the States. So much so I wrote my first business plan (O’Sullivan’s Pub) in my early 20’s. The project was a bit ambitious for me as a young ‘publican’ and never came to fruition, but nonetheless I was not deterred. Fast-forward a little over 10 years later, now a bit older, and maybe a wee bit wiser, I started writing a new business plan for my dream pub. My vision of Coopershill came while staying at the beautiful Coopershill Estate in Sligo Ireland: an 18th century manor house built in 1774, owned and operated for 7 generations by the O’Hara family. I was inspired by the approach the O’Hara’s took in welcoming their guests, the honoring of traditions, the sourcing of ingredients, and the crafting of their food and drink.

After moving to Peterborough from New York City, I heard about an opportunity to lease a restaurant space in the “Depot Square” area. Once known as the Gem Theatre, the building was originally built in 1914, then converted to a restaurant in the 80s. The age, the history, and the location of the building made it a perfect setting for my vision. The pub officially opened in 2017 under the name “Cooper’s Hill Public House”.