A Second Chance after Sandy: The Claddagh Reopens its doors in the Highlands

My parents have owned the Claddagh, the Highlands's only Irish pub for the past seven years. In October, our restaurant was completely destroyed by Sandy along with many houses and other businesses that stood in her way.

My family was completely devastated when we walked in the bar for the first time after the storm. We had prepared for three feet of water, remembering that after Irene we only had a few inches inside the bar, so we had hoped three feet was being overly- cautious. We quickly realized that three feet wasn’t going to cut it. In the end, our bar received about five feet of water on the inside, just about destroying everything.  Heavy kitchen equipment, refrigeration systems, and kegs were strewn about the bar as if they had been light as a feather. We figured out that the back door was the culprit; the pressure forced it to burst open, filling the entire bar with water. Everything from glasses, to chairs, and kitchen equipment had to be thrown out. The salt water destroyed everything.

I remember coming home from college in NY, about a week and a half after the storm to see the destruction for myself. When I stepped foot in the bar I immediately began crying. I realize how very fortunate I am not to have lost my house, but this bar felt like our second home, and it was mercilessly destroyed. I was flooded with worry for my parents, wondering if or how they would re-build, how much time it would take, and how much money it would cost. It was unfair and my parents didn’t deserve this extra stress in their lives. Instead of crying over this spilled milk situation, they took a take-charge attitude and began working as soon as they could, emptying out the place so it could be completely gutted. My dad worked weekends and evenings since he also has a full time day job.  He and a very small crew of about three other dedicated workers fixed the entire place themselves. They did everything from moving walls, to re-wiring, and adding windows. Miraculously they were able to save the one of- a- kind murals that give the bar its true character. Trust me when I tell you, this was no easy task. 

We opened this past week on July 30th for the first time since the storm. It took 9 long months but we were able to open for the weekend of the Highlands Clamfest. The public greeted us with open arms and happy faces. My parents received the praise they deserved by everyone. They could have given up when faced with this challenge but instead they continued to persevere and rebuild their dream. I am honored to be their child and feel that this is a success story that deserves to be shared. They are an inspiration to the people of Highlands and hopefully soon to all of Monmouth County. They are the perfect example of what dedication, hard work, and patience can bring even in the aftermath of such a tragic event.

We still have much to work on to bring our bar to where it needs to be, but each day we are making huge strides and continue to look for the silver-linings.