“While our doors may be closed, our soul is very much still here and in everything we do”
Mother Mary’s has announced its shock closure over the weekend(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
A live music venue and Irish bar in Manchester city centre has announced its sudden closure in an emotional post on social media.
Mother Mary’s, off Oxford Road, cited financial pressures as the reason its doors were forced to close over the weekend.
It came amid reports of events being cancelled. Tickets can no longer be booked for upcoming events, including a karaoke night on Friday (November 14) and Indie bottomless brunch on the Saturday (November 15).
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Co-owners, Greg Dwyer and Joseph Finegan, only opened the venue in June last year in the site of the former Font bar, which announced its shock closure after more than 20 years in January 2023.
At the time, they said their mission was to create a ‘homely’ atmosphere where people can come by any time of the day, whether for breakfast, a drink or to listen to live music, with a range of events booked in the bar’s calendar. They opened the space along with fellow nightlife veteran Chris Sharp.
The stage area of the new Irish bar, Mother Mary’s(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
But less than two years after opening their doors, the venue announced via a social media post on Wednesday (November 12) that it had been forced to close due to ‘financial pressures’.
A statement said the music bar had been ‘home to grassroots music, inclusive club nights and events that brought together people from all walks of life.’
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“It breaks our hearts to share that Mother Mary’s, as of this past weekend, has been forced to close its doors due to financial pressures,” the statement said.
It added: “Over the past year, Mother Mary’s has become so much more than a bar, it has grown into a true community hub. We’ve been home to grassroots music, inclusive club nights, and events that brought together people from all walks of life.
“From the bands who played their very first gigs on our stage (and have already gone on to fill bigger venues), to the regulars who made this place feel like home, to the countless partygoers who filled the dance floor with joy. YOU are what made Mother Mary’s so special.
Mother Mary’s co-owners Greg Dwyer and Joseph Finegan (Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
“Spaces like ours that are wheelchair accessible, queer-inclusive, independent, and dedicated to championing local talent are so incredibly important. Especially also with the heart and spirit to offer a free space to fundraisers and events that are integral to those in our city that are often underrepresented. What we’ve built together is rare, beautiful, and deeply loved.
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“It’s hard to imagine a world without Mother Mary’s, and while this may be the end of this chapter, we truly hope it’s not the end of our story. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for the love, the music, the laughter, and the community we created together.
“Keep an eye out on our social media for any updates, we still have memories of our own from events that we would like to share with you.
Mother Mary’s opened in the site of the iconic former Font bar(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)
“While our doors may be closed, our soul is very much still here and in everything we do. Please keep sharing the love and the memories. Every post, every message, every bit of support means the world right now.”
The post received an outpouring of support in the comments, as one person penned: “This is genuinely one of the saddest things I’ve heard this year, this place meant so much for me and my friends. we first moved to Manchester 4 months ago and it became our safe space. absolutely devastated.”
Another posted: “Absolutely devastating that not only is one of the few accessible spaces in Manchester closing down, but a bar with such an incredible history of putting on a huge range of events, platforming local artists and honestly doing it like nobody else right now. Mother Mary’s will forever be my favourite bar in Manchester.”