LOWER BURRELL, Pa. — Mogie’s Irish Pub in Lower Burrell was packed on St. Patrick’s Day Sunday. Many people came out to celebrate David “Mogie” Magill on one of his favorite holidays.
It’s been almost two months since Kelsie Magill and her brother Connor reopened the popular Westmoreland County restaurant and bar to honor their late father. They said they couldn’t have done it without the support from the close-knit community.
“It’s going great,” Kelsie Magill said. “The community has really stepped up and shown us how much they truly cared for my father, and we’ve been crazy busy.”
As a new way to honor Mogie, the pub will now have his favorite dish, Shepard’s pie, which is typically a special, permanently on the menu.
“He’s been making it forever and it’s the best I’ve ever had,” said Kelsie Magill.
Mogie was shot and killed in the parking lot of his Irish pub in December just days before Christmas. The beloved and well-respected business owner’s death hit the community hard, including Kelsie’s close friends.
“He was amazing,” said Ellie Ewing, Kelsie’s friend since the fifth grade. “Growing up with Kelsie and Mogie, he was always like a second father to me. He would be so proud of Kelsie and I’m so proud of her myself.”
Charin Smith has known Kelsie and her family for several years.
“This bar and this restaurant was such a huge part of his life and he would’ve been so proud to see how well she’s doing,” Smith said. “He had such a fiery spirit that was so contagious, and I think that despite him no longer being with us, his spirit will live forever”
Mogie’s legacy will also live on.
Lower Burrell Mayor Chris Fabry recently declared St. Patrick’s Day as “Mogie Day” in the city. Kelsie was there to accept the proclamation. She said the honor was a complete surprise.
“It was incredible. I honestly didn’t know he was going to do that,” she said. “It’s very emotional for me. I mean, I know how great of a man my father was but to see how everyone else knows that and thinks that as well, it means the most to me and my family.”
Kelsie said her dad was her best friend and carrying on his dream helps her family as they continue to heal.
“It’s difficult every day but being here and being busy and working with his dream and for his dream, it’s very healing,” she said.
The suspect, Nathan Salem, who police say confessed to shooting Mogie, is scheduled to be formally arraigned on Wednesday, March 20. Kelsie said she’ll be at every court case until she gets justice for her father.
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