When Gerard McAleese first arrived in the U.S., he was struck by how much Americans embraced the idea of the Irish pub. The warmth, the music, the sense of community—it was all celebrated, and it sparked a dream. Having worked in hospitality as a server, Gerard began to imagine creating a truly authentic Irish bar of his own, one that wasn’t just themed, but genuinely Irish-owned and operated. That vision became reality in 1983 when he opened the first Kells in Seattle, and a few years later, in 1989, he brought the concept to Portland, falling in love with the city and the historic building that would become its home.
The name “Kells” comes from The Book of Kells, a treasured manuscript dating back to the fifth century that today resides at Trinity College in Dublin. Translated from Latin, the word means “old fortress”—a fitting name for a place built to feel sturdy, timeless, and welcoming. Today, Kells Portland operates inside a historic cast-iron building dating to 1889, the last of its kind on the West Coast. Spread across three stories, the space houses a cigar bar, a traditional pub, and an event venue, blending history and hospitality in a way that few places can match.
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