McGarry's Tavern

McGarrys

This place has always been a great dark mystery to me. My dad used to go there on binges throughout the 70s (and probably a good part of the 60s). He would disappear for a week or 2, do his thing, and then rejoin a disappointed and often devastated family after he had his fill of booze. He would do this 3 or 4 times a year. I was the oldest of his children and took the drunken disappearances especially hard. We even went there as a family when I was a little kid once or twice. I remember being at a picnic outside once and I remember being inside once. I am sure my Mom wanted nothing to do with it however as time wore on and our family experienced more and more of the binges. As I got older, I would not even drive past the place.
He loved that bar though. He even wrote a play that was set in a tavern like McGarry's and I am certain the play is based on at least the characters and the atmosphere and my father’s many experiences in that bar. Throughout the years I often heard him say the name Connie McGarry. I wonder if Connie was one of my dad’s characters in his play.
My Dad died in his home in Brick in 2002, surrounded by myself, my wife and kids, and my Mom (God blessed our family with my Mom). He was far away from 284 Watchung Ave. in Orange. He ended up being a great Grandfather. After his kids (me in particular) grew up and started to leave the house and the stress level decreased, he managed to stop drinking finally. Quit for good eventually! Unfortunately for me he never did apologize for the hell he put us all through during his binges. One of MY great regrets, for sure!
Anyway, if anyone should read this and maybe have suffered through similar crazy/sad times like what my family suffered through, send me an email ([email protected]) and I will shoot you a pdf copy of his play. Maybe you will get a feel of what your Dad experienced (like mine) all those days and nights when they left us all behind to escape. John Daly. 9/16/16.