What exactly was Jimmy Fallon doing in a Fairport pub?

Lauren Peace
Democrat and Chronicle
Jimmy Fallon poses for a selfie with Colette D'Amico and Maddie Scheel on Saturday.

A Fairport pub celebrated its 10-year anniversary with an appearance from a special guest on Saturday.

If you thought you saw Jimmy Fallon making his way around the village of Fairport on Saturday night, you probably did.

The Tonight Show host, a friend of Mulconry's Irish Pub owner Damien Mulconry, dropped in for a night to help celebrate 10 years since the pub opened its doors to the green building at 17 Liftbridge Lane East.

It didn't take long for Rochester to notice.

Dave Falcone, a Fairport native who frequents Mulconry's with his wife, Kathryn, showed up at the pub around 8 p.m. for a drink. Falcone, who's good friends with Mulconry, said that he sent the owner a text to see when Mulconry would be there to grab a drink. Mulconry replied that he'd be over in a few.

Ten minutes later, Mulconry walked in the door. So did Fallon.

"I gave Damien a hug and then look up, and Jimmy Fallon walks in," said Falcone. "Damien didn't say anything to me about Fallon being in town. It was a big surprise."

Falcone said that Mulconry and Fallon have been friends for years, since Mulconry moved from Ireland to New York City, where he took a job as a bartender at The Gaf West, a bar that Fallon frequented.

"This was 20 years ago, or so, and Fallon would come in and talk to Damien, who didn't have a clue who he was because he had come over from Ireland," said Falcone. "They became friends and would drink beer and shoot darts. Fast forward several years and Damien meets his wife, who's from Rochester, and moves here. Then 10 years ago he opened the bar."

Fallon recounted the story in front of a packed house on Saturday night.

Mulconry's Irish Pub celebrated its 10th anniversary with a special appearance from Jimmy Fallon.
Ian Wissick poses with Jimmy Fallon in Fairport on Feb. 17, 2018.

Not long after Fallon and Mulconry arrived at the pub, Fallon was behind the bar singing Irish songs and serving drinks.

Falcone posted a Facebook live video from the scene, and word began to spread. The post has since been viewed more than 96,000 times as of Sunday evening.

Jess Schwarz, 20, of Rochester,had just finished her shift at work when she got a text from a friend that Fallon was in the area, and she rushed over.

"I can't even believe it. It was so weird," said Schwarz, who said that the trip was totally worth it. "I mean this is Fairport. Stuff like this doesn't happen in Fairport."

Valerie Burba, and her husband, John, made a trip out from Palmyra, Wayne County, when they heard the news.

"My mom texted me that she had heard from somebody else that he was going to be there, and so my husband and I got up and got ready in five minutes and raced down there hoping to see him," said Burba. "It was the quickest we've ever gotten up from bed."

She added that she had seen Fallon's live show last April in New York City, and loved it.

"He was so personable, and interacted with everybody there, and that's how he was last night, too," she said.

John Burba echoed that.

Valerie Burba takes a selfie with Jimmy Fallon outside of Mulconry's Irish Pub.

"It was elbow-to-elbow in the bar last night, and everyone was cheering and screaming, and he was taking photos with people and was just awesome," he said.

And while the pub may have been the focal point of the celebration, Fallon had something to celebrate too: It was exactly four years since the first episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon aired.

Maybe he'll be back to celebrate its fifth?

LPEACE@Gannett.com

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