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A New Athens staple finds new life as training grounds

The Old Shamrock Restaurant in New Athens, Illinois, went up in smoke for a good cause.

NEW ATHENS, Ill. — Right off State Highway 13 was a neighborhood staple that served up food and hospitality for nearly 20 years.

Owner of Old Shamrock restaurant, James Torrens, said they sold 99-cent burgers to attract people inside. He and his wife bought the restaurant in 1988. In its glory it was home to weddings, showers, parties.

In 2002, James was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He said running the restaurant became too much. It was closed ever since.

“I had to quit farming. I had to quit everything,” he said.

On Friday, it burned down.

The Torrens donated it to the New Athens Fire Department to use for training exercises. Their grandson is a volunteer there and wanted to do something to give back.

As New Athens firefighters battled the blaze Friday, people gathered nearby to raise one final beer to the Old Shamrock.

“I think about the good times I had and all the people I met. I made a lot of friends,” James said.

Photos: The Old Shamrock in New Athens

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