UPDATE: Under Currach Tavern’s last day open is Wednesday, Jan. 9. They will be open starting at 11:30 a.m.

All menu prices have been slashed for their last day open.

Staff members at the restaurant are sad about the closing. “We’ve been a family for a year and now we’re going our separate ways,” Anna Pinkham said.

Locals sad about the closure expressed their feelings on the Boothbay Register’s Facebook page.

“We loved being able to walk up the street. Sad to hear yet another business gone,” Billie Howard-Goldsmith said.

“We really like Under Currach. The food is always good and the staff is terrific. I'm so sad to see it go. Good luck to Matt, Patricia, Keith and the rest of the team there. We'll miss you,” Terri Serino said.

Original post: Approximately one year ago, Under Currach Tavern opened for business at 93 Townsend Ave. in Boothbay Harbor. Owned by Matt Hurley, the Irish Tavern was open for lunch and dinner, with a focus on using local products in their cooking and having local beers on tap. 

After a year of business, Under Currach Tavern is closing its doors for good at the end of January. Hurley said there is not enough business in the area to sustain the restaurant.

“You don’t expect to make a profit in your first year open, but you do expect to be able to project that there will be a profit, in the future. I can’t do that here.” Hurley said.

It isn’t just the fact that business has slowed down as winter rolled in and the tourists left. “You always hear about how busy it will be in the summer, how many people will be in town. It never happened,” Hurley said.

Hurley volunteers at the Opera House, and said he loves it. “It was a great opportunity, having them so close. When they had an Irish band, we did an Irish menu. That definably helped business.”

Most members of the staff are not sure what they will do. Alva Acorn, who tends bar, said he usually goes away during the winter and he might do that again.

Hurley said he would welcome opportunities to reopen in a different location, or open a different business, but he currently has no plans to do so. At the moment he just plans to “keep my eyes open. Maybe I’ll get a job somewhere.”

Luanne Bradley Clifford, who owns the 93 Townsend Avenue building, filed for bankruptcy. She declined to comment on the closing of Under Currach.

Lori Griffin of Linekin Bay Preschool said she will miss the tavern. “I frequent there and have enjoyed it since its inception. The food is great (I am partial to their burgers with homemade chips), and because of the location, prices, and staff it has been a terrific experience for me."

“I’m very sad about this. I know how hard it is to start a new business in this region and how hard they must have worked,” said Lorie Demers, owner of Mama D’s café.

The tavern’s last day will be near the end of January.

Katrina Clark can be reached at 207-633-4620 or katrinaclark@boothbayregister.com. Follow her on Twitter: @BBRegisterClark or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BBRegisterKatrinaClark.