In early 2005, Niall and his wife, Dorothy O’Neill Freyne, purchased a piece of land and oversaw the design and development of what is now known as The Galway Tribes Restaurant and Pub in Frankfort, Illinois. Their big dream was realized quickly as The Galway Tribes opened its doors to the surrounding community in November 2005.

The restaurant is named after the fourteen tribes of Galway, Ireland. In the late 12th century, these tribes, of Anglo-Norman descent, swept into Galway and managed the merchant trade and eventually gained full control of the city for well over 200 years. (Visit your local library for more details on this story.)

Niall was born in Ireland but raised in New Jersey. Originally, Niall and Dorothy moved here from the East for career opportunities. Now, Chicagoland is home to the Freyne’s, and their small piece of the pie has the aura of harmony, community, and family tradition woven into its day-to-day fabric.

The Freyne’s pondered long and hard before taking the leap into owning a business where they could follow their gut instincts rather than a corporate guidebook.
Tell us about yourself?

I was born in Salthill, County Galway, just a couple of kilometers west of Galway City. I moved to the States with my family when I was quite young, between seven and eight years of age. I consider the U.S. to be home, but I travel back to Ireland now and then. Dorothy and I went there on our honeymoon.

Tell us about your parents?

My parents are Kieran and Teresa Freyne. They have been married for the past 45 years. My father is from Ballyhaunis, County Mayo and my mother is from Louisburgh, County Mayo.

I must admit, I don’t know all of the fine-tuned facts, but I understand that my parents met at some type of social function, a dance. They started dating right away and on a steady basis for almost three to four years. They married in County Mayo then moved to County Galway shortly thereafter, as Dad was accepted into medical school there. I was born in Salthill, just outside the City of Galway.

What brought your family to the U.S.?

Well, Dad was in the process of finishing medical school at National University of Ireland, Galway. He applied to various hospitals to complete his residency, including an U.S. hospital, St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center in New York City. His application was accepted, so we moved to the U.S.

While working to complete his residency in radiology, Dad also eked out a living working as a deckhand for the Circle Line Ferry. When he completed his residency, we moved to New Jersey. This is where I spent the majority of my childhood.

Do you have siblings?

Yes. I am the oldest. My sister, Siobhra (pronounced She-fra), which is Gaelic for princess, was also born in Ireland. My brother Ronan, who is the youngest, was born in New York. Today, Siobhra lives in New Jersey and Ronan lives in Washington D.C.

Where are your parents now?

My father is now a retired physician, which makes it doable for he and my mother to reside part of the year in New Jersey and the other part in Oranmore, County Galway.

Growing up, our parents were quite strict with us and they always hoped I would become a physician like Dad, but I just didn’t feel called to that type of work and somehow I ended up in the food and beverage industry!

How did you and your wife Dorothy meet?

Well, after college I moved to Washington D.C. for a job with Meristar/Interstate Hotels & Resorts, as Corporate Director of Food & Beverage Operations. After relocating there, I went out with a group of friends and acquaintances, the day before New Year’s Eve. It just so happened that Dorothy was in that group. We met and spoke exclusively with one another throughout the majority of the evening. We formally started dating a week later. We became engaged about a year later.

Ironically enough, we became engaged on St. Patrick’s Day, here in Chicago. Dorothy was in Chicago on business and I flew in to be with her. We decided to have dinner at the Everest in downtown Chicago and became engaged. It just happened. It was a mutual marriage proposal. Later that evening, we spent our time calling family and friends to relate the big news, rather than partaking in the St. Patrick’s Day holiday festivities. All this happened about five years ago.

Tell us more about your business partner and wife?

Dorothy is originally from the East Coast. Her parents and siblings still reside there. Presently, she is a corporate tax specialist for Ernest & Young and has been with them for nearly 12 years. Amazingly, she manages a part-time position with them as well as all of the accounting and payroll for the restaurant.

Dorothy is American born; yet she has a deep love for all things Irish, all things of her Irish heritage. She is well versed in the music, song and culture of Ireland.

What inspired you to start the restaurant, Galway Tribes?

From a business perspective, growth in the marketplace coupled with the absence of a great Irish restaurant in the immediate area, led us to purchase land and build Galway Tribes in Frankfort.

From a more personal viewpoint, when Dorothy and I first moved to the Lincoln Way community a few years ago, we were working with a relocation specialist, to find a home that was a reasonable commute to downtown Chicago as well as to Northwest Indiana. That’s how we first came to discover and make our home within Chicago’s southern region. Then on the day of our house closing, which was coincidentally on St. Patrick’s Day, we were impacted by the amazing influence of Irish culture and pride of heritage, everywhere. Eventually we started to seriously think about how great it would be to open an elegant Irish restaurant & pub, one in our own community.

Well, a couple of years later, here we are.

I could not have done this project without Dorothy. Her confidence, support, guidance and never ending patience guided my own inspiration to make this happen.

What unique elements does Galway Tribes have to offer the Irish American community?
We pride ourselves on having a restaurant that is not a stereotypical Irish pub. While the design is uniquely Irish, we wanted to stay away from the “Disneyland” designs that seem to have become prevalent over the last few years. We feel that the Tribes has a warm welcoming atmosphere, which caters to a mature clientele, who take pride in their heritage, a clientele who enjoys Irish music, great food and some of the finest Guinness served in the south suburbs. We offer a full circle hospitable atmosphere of dinner, drinks and musical entertainment, as we look to accommodate all gatherings of people, including: families, elders, the lunch hour business folk, as well as the happy hour and late night weekend crowds.

I imagine that you lead by example with this philosophy amongst your staff?
Yes. Frankly, we went through a lot of applications during the initial hiring process, looking for people with a friendly manner about them. I believe you can always train a skill but not a smile or personality.

What I wish to make a solid tradition here, is our manner of “opening the door” for guests when they arrive and depart. In the home environment, it is typical for the host to open the door to greet his/her guest, as a form of warm hospitality. So, why not extend this form of welcome in a restaurant atmosphere? I believe it to be good Irish hospitality.

The staff here understands the necessity of this treatment, which I believe is important to the success of Galway Tribes.

On that note, my employees are the most important people I have. I take a special interest in who they are. I believe myself to be a tough boss, but I joke as well.

They all are the heart and soul of the restaurant and I appreciate what they do. I take the time to partake in the tasks that I ask of staff, including tending bar and working in the kitchen a few days a week.

How did you come to choose your career field?

I was simply drawn to it. I enjoy the challenge of maintaining constant balance. I love all elements of this work. Now, running my own business, I appreciate being in charge of my own destiny and making my own decisions rather than sending an inquiry for a decision up the corporate flagpole. It really is success or flames.

Hospitality is what I know. I enjoy the fine craic of being in a restaurant. I enjoy the meeting and servicing of the customers, checking-in to make sure the are having a good time. If the customer leaves happy, they will be inclined to return. If I can accomplish this and make a living at the same time, what could be better?

What do you most enjoy doing, in terms of leisure?

I most enjoy spending time with my family, my wife, and my two children.
James is the oldest; he is two and a half years old. Mary Katherine is one and a half years old. Any time spent with them, no matter the activity, is truly great.

As far as leisure activities are concerned, I enjoy billiards and golf; I’ve been playing them since I was a young boy. I really enjoy golf because it brings on the leisure of laughing out in the fresh air and I get some exercise to boot. Yes, golf makes me laugh. I’m really not that proficient, so I try not to take it too seriously and just have fun with it.

What leisure Irish activities do you most enjoy?

My wife Dorothy and I are very into Irish music and dance. Presently though, we truly don’t have the time to go out and see a performance or show, but all in good time.

What is your favorite Irish dish?
In terms of the “staples” on Irish menus, I suppose my favorite would be shepherd’s pie and fish-n-chips. However, at the Tribes, I enjoy the menu selections that are more in keeping with traditional Irish cooking like the Salthill Sautee, which consists of salmon, cod, shrimp, and scallop, prepared in a cider crème sauce and served with a side of breaded potato cake.

How divine that sounds.

What do you find remarkable about the Irish culture?
I appreciate the love the Irish have for their music and song. Of course music and song are a significant part of any culture.

With regards to Irish music, I do enjoy the flair of Celtic rock, yet for the most part I’m a traditionalist. I enjoy hearing the box accordion and the bodhran drum. Personally, I play the piano a little bit, but I don’t play often.

Based on my own experiences, I view Irish music and song as the peaceful powerful force, which brings everyone together. Someone, who might not be in the mood to smile or laugh, suddenly desires to. Irish music and song are the common bond, no matter where in Ireland or in America you might be from. Irish music and song naturally bring us together under the umbrella of our common Celtic heritage.

Galway Tribes is located at 9680 Lincolnway Lane, Frankfort, IL. Phone: 815.464.9881.