-- Finnegan's Pub, a longtime Huntsville bar and grill, will serve its last beer just before 2 a.m. Sunday when the 3310 Memorial Parkway S.W. property closes its doors.

(File photo)

In a phone interview Wednesday morning, Finnegan's manager Doug Townsend confirmed the pub will close this weekend after owner Nancy Moore, of Canada, sold the property. Moore inherited the pub shortly after her sister Ellen McAnelly, who founded Finnegan's in 1977, died in June 2009.

Townsend, who said new ownership will take over Finnegan's on Monday, said he's uncertain whether he or his six employees will keep their jobs. It wasn't immediately known early Wednesday afternoon who purchased the building or if the new owners will open a similar venue at the property.

"I can't even tell you his name; we just found out yesterday," Townsend said. "We knew the place was up for sale. It's been up for sale for a couple of months, but it wasn't until yesterday that we found out Saturday is our last full day."

McAnelly, who was Irish-born, ran Finnegan's her way for more than 30 years by allowing dogs inside the pub, assisting the homeless and occasionally kicking people out for swearing,

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"We hope our fans continue to be patrons of the new establishment," Townsend said. "This weekend is going to be more or less everyone coming down Saturday. It's going to be like Finnegan's Wake."

Send Lucy Berry an email at lberry@al.com.