Rebuilding plans for Pour House: A hopeful St. Patrick’s Day future for Carnegie

For the first time since 1979, when Dennis Murphy opened the Pour House at 215 E. Main Street, Carnegie, there will be no St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at that popular landmark this year due to a fire that destroyed the building on November 14, 2024.

In each of its incarnations as Murphy’s, Sullivan’s, Paddy’s, and now Riley’s Pour House, patrons came from far and wide to celebrate Pittsburgh’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, as well as St. Patrick’s Day itself at the classic Irish pub.  “It’s our Super Bowl,” said Joe Riley. 

In a statement, Riley and co-owners Eric Kraemer and Dan Phillips wrote “After the completion of the fire investigations, the lot has finally been released and we are working with Carnegie, our neighbors and demolition experts to have the lot cleared for current safety concerns and for future development. Because of the timing of all of this, we are unable to host a St. Patrick’s Day event this year.” 

A potential street-only event was ruled out due to weather concerns. 

“I really think our focus needs to remain on moving forward and our goal is to be rebuilt for next St. Patrick’s Day,” Riley said. And, when it IS rebuilt, it will be in the same Carnegie location.

“We never had any intentions of moving anywhere else or building anywhere else,” Riley pointed out, promising the same Irish pub flare patrons have come to know and love.

The fire originated in the kitchen, with emergency response provided by 24 different fire departments including these West Hills volunteer companies:  Carnegie, Crafton, Kennedy, Moon, Robinson, Moon Run and Stowe.

Riley and his partners remain grateful for the outpouring of community support that followed, highlighted by a spaghetti fundraiser in early December that raised nearly $50,000 for displaced staff members just in time for Christmas. “It’s what I’ve said from the beginning. What happened on November 14^th was terrible, but the response has been great,” he said.