McSorley's Old Ale House, Established 1854

A Saloon Steeped in Soldier Stories

“‘Be Good or Be Gone’ isn’t just a motto—it’s an Irish American ethic, forged in grit and loyalty.”

McSorley’s Old Ale House, nestled at 15 East 7th Street in Manhattan’s East Village, is the oldest continuously operating Irish tavern in New York City. Founded by Irish immigrant John McSorley, the bar was originally called The Old House at Home. It quickly became a working-class haven for laborers, artists, and soldiers alike.

During the Civil War, McSorley’s was already a fixture in the city. Though direct diary entries from Union soldiers mentioning the tavern are rare, it’s believed that Irish American regiments, especially the famed 69th New York Infantry, frequented the ale house. “The Irish Brigade, known for its green flags and fierce loyalty, likely found solace in McSorley’s before marching into history.” The bar’s proximity to Cooper Union and its Irish roots made it a natural gathering place for men in uniform, many of whom toasted their comrades with McSorley’s dark ale before heading south.

McSorley’s Old Ale House, founded in 1854, became a sacred stop for soldiers heading to war, its walls still echo with the stories of

Civil War veterans and World War I doughboys who left behind wishbones, memories, and handwritten tributes. “The scent of ale and sawdust still lingers, unchanged since Lincoln’s era.”

“As the world braced for war, McSorley’s became more than a bar, it became a ritual of farewell.”

By World War I, McSorley’s had become a ritual stop for young men shipping off to Europe. Before deployment, regulars were treated to a turkey dinner at the tavern. After the meal, they would hang their wishbones on a pipe above the bar’s light fixture—a symbolic gesture of hope for safe return. Those who survived the war came back to break their wishbones with the bartender.

But not all returned!

“Each wishbone is a silent toast to courage, and each pint poured is a nod to those who never came home.”

Today, 22 dusty wishbones still hang above the bar, left by soldiers who never made it home

McSorley at McSorley's I 15 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003

“Be Good or Be Gone” McSorley’s house motto, painted on the wall and echoed by bartenders since the early 20th century

Legacy That Lives On

McSorley’s has survived Prohibition (by serving “near beer”), the Great Depression, and the cultural upheavals of the 20th century. It remained a men-only bar until 1970, when a court ruling forced it to admit women. Yet through all its changes, the tavern has preserved its sawdust floors, vintage memorabilia, and Irish mottos like “Be Good or Be Gone” and “We were here before you were born.”Today, McSorley’s is more than a bar—it’s a living museum of New York’s Irish American legacy and a quiet memorial to the soldiers who once raised a pint before marching off to war.

Handwritten Memories and War-Era Tributes

While no single war diary has been universally published with McSorley’s references, historians and collectors have uncovered handwritten notes and letters from soldiers who mentioned the tavern in passing—often as a place of camaraderie, last drinks, or quiet reflection. These artifacts are sometimes featured in exhibitions or historical blogs. You can explore some of these handwritten mentions and visual tributes through curated sources like:

“McSorley’s is a place where time stands still, and the ghosts of New York’s past still raise a glass.”

McSorley’s Historian Interview

Celebrating the 170th Year at McSorley's 2024

“We were here before you were born.”

Another McSorley’s motto, a nod to its 1854 founding and timeless

presence in New York’s East Village

“A pint at McSorley’s is worth two in the boroughs.”

A New York-Irish saying, playing on the value of tradition over trend, often heard from longtime patrons.

15 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003

May You Sail a Gentle Sea

Irish blessing, featured in McSorley’s 170th anniversary celebration decor in 2024, blending maritime and Irish heritage.

“Erin Go Bragh—McSorley Forever.” – A hybrid toast heard during St. Patrick’s Day festivities, combining Irish patriotism with pub loyalty.

We are Getting Shamrocked

“A good friend is like a four-leaf clover—hard to find and lucky to have.”

Be Good or Be Gone

McSorley's 170th Celebration

"A Good Friend is Like a Four-Leaf Clover, Hard to Find and Lucky to Have"

The Luck of The Coin

Received this Good Cheer on the 170th Year of McSorley's Celebration 2024

James McSorley, James McSorley, Scott McSorley

Dedicated to the Memory of My Father and Grandfather - "Watch the Roads"

Kearny Boys

“Wishbones for the boys who never came home.”

Refers to the wishbones still hanging above the bar, left by soldiers

heading to Europe in WWI. Those never removed are for the fallen

McSorley's Old Ale House, Established 1854

“A Regiment of Resolve: Fighting Tyranny Then and Now” “The Will of the People, The Heart of the 69th”

The Fighting 69th Today: Guardians of Democracy

From Antietam to Afghanistan, the Fighting 69th has stood as a steadfast defender of liberty, justice, and the will of the people. Today, this storied regiment continues to serve not just New York, but the global cause of democracy—deploying in support of peacekeeping, counterterrorism, and humanitarian missions around the world. As tyranny and oppression rise in new forms, the 69th remains a symbol of American resolve, carrying forward the values of freedom and self-determination. Whether leading the St. Patrick’s Day Parade or standing watch in distant lands, the Fighting 69th fights not for conquest, but for the enduring promise of democracy—proving that even in the 21st century, the spirit of the Irish Brigade still clears the way.

The Fighting 69th Today: Guardians of Democracy

The 1st Battalion of the 69th Infantry Regiment, known as the Fighting 69th, is headquartered at the historic Lexington Avenue Armory in Manhattan and forms part of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

In October 2023, Lt. Col. Adam Bojarski assumed command from Lt. Col. Shawn Tabankin, marking a new chapter in the unit’s leadership. The regiment continues to uphold its Irish-American heritage, famously leading New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade each yeara tradition that dates back generations. With combat experience spanning the Civil War, World Wars, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the Fighting 69th remains a symbol of resilience and honor.

Its motto,

“Gentle When Stroked; Fierce When Provoked,” and battle cry “Faugh a Ballagh” (“Clear the Way!”) still echo through its ranks

The Fighting 69th Today:

Guardians of Democracy

, From Antietam to Afghanistan, the Fighting 69th has stood as a steadfast defender of liberty, justice, and the will of the people. Today, this storied regiment continues to serve not just New York, but the global cause of democracy, deploying in support of peacekeeping, counterterrorism, and humanitarian missions around the world.

As tyranny and oppression rise in new forms, the 69th remains a symbol of American resolve, carrying forward the values of freedom and self-determination. Whether leading the St. Patrick’s Day Parade or standing watch in distant lands, the Fighting 69th fights not for conquest, but for the enduring promise of democracy, proving that even in the 21st century, the spirit of the Irish Brigade still clears the way.

McSorley's Old Ale House, Established 1854

Legacy That Lives On

Handwritten Memories and War-Era Tributes

Celebrating the 170th Year at McSorley's 2024

“We were here before you were born.”

“A pint at McSorley’s is worth two in the boroughs.”

15 E 7th St, New York, NY 10003

We are Getting Shamrocked

McSorley's 170th Celebration

The Luck of The Coin

James McSorley, James McSorley, Scott McSorley

“Wishbones for the boys who never came home.”

McSorley's Old Ale House, Established 1854

“A Regiment of Resolve: Fighting Tyranny Then and Now” “The Will of the People, The Heart of the 69th”

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