Finnegan's Wake: A Touch of Ireland in Walpole

Tom Kirwan, with his business partner Kristen Smith, opened in 1998, and has been going strong ever since.

Kirwan has been a native to Walpole since he moved there in 1986, leaving county Cork in Ireland during an economic crisis.

“I grew up in county Cork in a little side city,” he said. “It was fine until the economy went south, just like what’s happening now in Ireland, a lot of kids are leaving. Now I think most of the kids are going to Australia.”

Kirwan starting working Walpole and in only two short years opened up his first restaurant, a pizza and sub shop. Later, he moved into a breakfast and lunch diner.

Working with Kristen Smith, who Kirwan says is a long-time veteran of the restaurant industry, he and she went in together on Finnegan’s wake and haven’t looked back.

Finnegan’s Wake was a different bar and restaurant back in 1998, and the previous owner asked Kirwan if he would be interested in buying the place.

Kirwan did a big redesign when he bought the property. Originally, the bar was divided into two sections, between the dining and bar area and a pool hall. He tore down those walls to create an open atmosphere that is part and parcel of what the establishment is today.

Now, Kirwan said that he hosts a lot of private functions for local sports teams, such as football, basketball, hockey and baseball. He has also been awarded the The Friends of St. Patrick Person of the Year award in 2010, which is given to a business person who is out of the public sphere but still giving to the community.