10 years and counting at Galway Bay

Galway Bay, the Irish restaurant and pub, opened its doors on Maryland Avenue 10 years ago this week.

To mark the occasion, proprietors of the restaurant kicked off a weeklong celebration last night with a reunion for the establishment they replaced, The Little Campus Inn. The rest of the celebration will feature specials and charity fundraising nights.

"We want to say thank you to the community for supporting us," Owner Michael Galway said. "And we hope to be here for a long time to come."

When he and partner Anthony Clarke came to Annapolis seeking to open a restaurant, after working for years at Irish establishments in the Washington area, they said they wanted to be a good, neighborly kind of place.

"I was not sure people believed us at first, but I think they do now," he said. "We live in the area. We want to be good neighbors and give back to the community."

They rented the space occupied by The Little Campus Inn, a storied spot owned by the Nichols family since 1928. Angy Nichols is still their landlord. Last night, dozens of old Little Campus denizens turned out for the reunion, some coming from as far away as Tennessee.

Since opening Dec. 8, 1998, the business base built at Galway Bay has allowed them to expand. First it was Killarney House on Route 214 in Davidsonville, which opened in 2001. Then last year Brian Boru opened on Ritchie Highway in Severna Park. In the interim, the company opened a restaurant and inn in Mattapoisett, Mass., in 2004, at what is said to be the oldest seaside inn in the country.

The philosophy behind the business was always to be a restaurant first, with a pub.

"Many Irish places there is a perception of a pub, where you drink beer and the food is no good," Mr. Clarke said. "That is why we have this separation between the dining room and pub."

"I mean, people say we have the best crabcakes in town," he added. "When you go to an Irish place, how often do you think, 'I'll get a crabcake?' "

Four special charity nights this week continue the effort Galway has made to benefit the area. Nearly 40 organizations from Box of Rain to the Light House Shelter, We Care and Friends, and the Annapolis Maritime Museum have been aided by specific events or the collected proceeds of the weekly Pub Quiz.

The Pub Quiz started about five years ago and has grown to include 20 to 30 teams each week ready to take the 30-question challenge. Proceeds from team entry fees go to the charity of the winning team's choice.

"It has been mutually beneficial," Manager Fintan Galway said. "We're not angels, you know. It has been good for business and good for the community."

One of the biggest winners has been the Box of Rain Foundation, formed to honor Lee Griffin, a sailing enthusiast and Galway Bay customer who lived just down Maryland Avenue, who was murdered in front of his house in 2002. Box of Rain helps disadvantaged youth through outdoor activities, primarily sailing.

"The Quiz Nite team, The Axis of Evil, has raised nearly $10,000 for us playing on Tuesdays," said Anne Harrington, development director of the organization.

Another beneficiary of charitable efforts at Galway has been the Annapolis Maritime Museum, which has held its annual March fundraising dinner there for the past few years.

"It is a great partnership," museum Director Jeff Holland said. "We've raised over $20,000 in the past four years. And it is near St. Patrick's Day, and that is always fun."

On Saturday the museum will be the beneficiary of one of four benefit dinners this week.

"We are tickled pink to be included in this celebration," Mr. Holland said.

The effort started 10 years ago seems to be paying off. By Fintan Galway's calculation, the company has so far served more than 1 million customers.

"We love it here and we want to be provide a good value, good food at a reasonable price," his brother, Michael, said. "We live in the community and that is the reason we try to do what we do."