Colorado Ballet opens its 55th season with Kilted Classic ‘La Sylphide’
(from October 15 Celtic Connection newspaper)

Colorado Ballet opens its 55th season with the romantic ballet La Sylphide, October 2-11, 2015 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, DCPA. La Sylphide features choreography by August Bournonville and music by Herman Severin Løvenskiold, performed live by the Colorado Ballet Orchestra. In the ballet, a young betrothed Scotsman pursues a beautiful winged sylph, or spirit. He is tricked by an evil witch and in his quest for the sylph’s unattainable love, he abandons his fiancée and ultimately loses everything.
“La Sylphide demonstrates temptation, loss and loving something you cannot have,” said Colorado Ballet Artistic Director Gil Boggs, who added, “I wanted to present La Sylphide not only because it has been nearly 20 years since we have performed it, but also because it is one of the most beautiful and romantic ballets of all time,” said Boggs, adding, “This is a spellbinding tale of betrayal, dark magic and love set in the enchanting woods of Scotland. Audiences will love this ballet full of woodland spirits, diabolical witches and kilts.”

The performance of La Sylphide in Denver will be anchored by exceptionally talented veteran dancers. According to Boggs, his production will feature Colorado Ballet Principal Dancer Maria Mosina in the main cast as the Slyph. “Mosina is starting her 20th season with Colorado Ballet and she danced the role of the Sylph when the Company last performed La Sylphide in 1996. If anybody was ever meant to dance La Sylphide, it’s Maria. She has a beautiful jump, she has great expression, she’s going to be flirty and she’s also going to be very dramatic. It’s a role that’s made for her.”

Colorado Ballet Principal Dancer Sharon Wehner will also start her 20th season with the Company this fall. Wehner will be featured in La Sylphide in October, but will star in the main cast of Alice (in Wonderland) in February. “It’s a role that’s made for Sharon;” Boggs enthused, “she’s the perfect stature and she looks like Alice. Her temperament is exceptional for portraying that character.”

According to Boggs, having one dancer spend 20 years with a single company is rare and having two is even more unique due to a variety of variables, from artistic differences to injuries. He said that for Mosina and Wehner, dancing with Colorado Ballet for 20 years has not been a matter of longevity; instead, their artistry enabled them to have such long careers. While they have differences—Mosina was born and trained in Russia and Wehner was born and trained in California—Boggs says it is that artistry that makes them similar as dancers. “Take a performance of Swan Lake, they both do the Swan Queen,” said Boggs. “Maria does it and she pulls you in and she makes you feel the role. Sharon does exactly the same thing. She makes you believe that she’s a swan. So, even with the differences in their training, the similarities are that they can take an audience and pull them in and be thoroughly convincing at what they’re doing.”
Boggs says that as an artistic director, Mosina and Wehner make him look good. “I know that when I come into a rehearsal, they’re such professionals, that they’re never marking, they’re always doing everything full-out,” said Boggs. “They’re giving everything that they have, and when they get on stage, they’re exquisite, they’re beautiful…stellar. I’m able to sit back and I can relax and know that the performance that they’re about to give is going to be nothing short of wonderful.”

Tracy Jones, who is seen on our cover in the promotional photo (by Allen Birnbach) of three kilt clad dancers (Tracy with the red hair), is from Cork, Ireland. She is one of the dancers playing Effie, the fiancée in the ballet. Tracy was featured in the Celtic Connection in April of last year

Performance Dates and Times:
Friday, October 2, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 2 p.m.; Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, October 4, 2015 at 2 p.m.; Friday, October 9, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, October 11, 2015 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices range from $30 to $155. To purchase tickets, visit www.coloradoballet.org or call 303-837-8888 ext. 2.

About Colorado Ballet:
Established in 1961 by Lillian Covillo and Freidann Parker, Colorado Ballet is a non-profit organization celebrating 55 years of presenting world-class classical ballet and superior dance in Denver. Under the direction of Artistic Director Gil Boggs, Colorado Ballet enhances the cultural life of Colorado through performances of the professional company, training at the Academy, and Education & Community Engagement programs. For more information about the Colorado Ballet, dancers, or the 2015-16 Season, visit www.coloradoballet.org.

By Rodger Hara (September 2015 Celtic Connection newspaper)

There is an unending and good-natured debate over the invention of whiskey/whisky – in Scots Gaelic it’s uisge beatha and in the Irish it’s uisce beatha and in both it means “water of life”.
At the same time, on film and on stage, Scots are often depicted as hard-drinking and hard-fighting, kilt-wearing hard men and the Irish drunk has become a stereotype in films of all kinds, an image perpetuated by the St. Patrick’s Day revelries, the tee shirts involving drink that accompany them and the innumerable Irish drinking songs. Quickly now – can ye name me one good old Scottish drinking song? The list of literate, funny, perceptive and talented Irishmen who have risen to fame and who were well-known alcoholics is lengthy – Wilde, Joyce, Behan, Fitzgerald, O’Hara, O’Brien, O’Toole, Harris – and the darker side of that disease is often forgotten or overlooked in the light of their words and talent.

David Feherty is every bit the wit and talented, quick-minded and literate Irishman of any of the above. In a December 2009 interview in Golf Magazine, when asked what he’s reading, he “…first mentions what he is re-reading — the poetry of W.B. Yeats, the essays and dramas of Oscar Wilde, Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front — before copping to an obsession with the collected letters of Thomas Jefferson. (“The language is so beautiful. Jefferson’s so succinct and so insightful.”) When he gets rolling, Feherty can lose his golf-industry pals on the cultural backroads. His Charles Peirce is the 19th-century philosopher known as “the father of pragmatism,” not the Charles Pierce who wrote a GQ profile of Tiger Woods.”

Born and raised in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland, he was his class-clown at an early age, worked for a time for a one-armed window washer in Belfast as his “wringerouter” and became a professional golfer when he turned 18 in 1976. Ten years later he had his best year as a professional, winning both the Italian and Scottish Opens. In the same Golf Magazine interview he said of the Scottish Open win, “They handed me the trophy-a big-ass silver cup. The oldest trophy in all of sport. I drank all sorts of crap from it. I woke up two days later on the 16th tee at Gleneagles, which makes no sense, because I won the tournament in Glasgow [45 miles away]. I opened my eyes to see blue skies and Peter Gant, the road manager for Led Zeppelin. I hadn’t seen him in ages. He’s saying, ‘You all right?’ And the trophy’s gone. Just f–in’ gone. They never did find it. That was a low point.” In all, he won 10 European Tour events before retiring.

In 1997, he became part of CBS Golf’s broadcasting team, and in 2011, star of his own weekly show on the Golf Channel (the highest rated show on that channel), has written six books, including Somewhere in Ireland a Village is Missing an Idiot, An Idiot for All Seasons and The Power of Positive Idiocy. The latter is on the New York Times best-seller list and in it,he discusses his perspective on addiction.
Diagnosed with Bipolar 1 Disorder that he had been treating for years with a variety of pills and two or more bottles of Irish whiskey a day, he acknowledged his alcoholism and battles with depression in 2006 and has been dealing with it daily with the support of family and friends ever since. In a February 2013 Golf Magazine interview he said “I would go for my annual physical once every three years [arched eyebrows] and my numbers were all right, until the last one. My doctor was looking at the chart, and he said, “How much are you drinking?” And I thought, Oh god [slumped shoulders], here we go. I said, “Well, you know, one and a half, two and a half bottles a day.” He said, “Of wine?” And I said, “No, Irish whiskey.” The doctor said, “My god [mouth agape], these numbers should be in Cooperstown! They’re Mickey Mantle’s! Have you ever thought about getting help?” And I said, “No! [bewildered look] I can drink it all by myself!”

Blessed with another Irish stereotype, the gift of gab, some of his observations and comments from the Tour (at least the ones that made the air before getting bleeped out) include such classics as:
“That green appears smaller than a pygmie’s nipple.”
“Watching Phil Mickelson play golf is like watching a drunk man chase a balloon
near the edge of a cliff.”
“That ball is so far left, Lassie couldn’t find it if it was wrapped in bacon.”
Jim Furyk’s swing “…looks like an octopus falling out of a tree.”
Of his drinking, he says “I didn’t quit drinking because I was a bad drunk. I quit because I was a spectacular drunk. It got to be like a video game, where you get to the highest level and it’s not even a challenge.”

At 12:00 noon on September 15, Feherty will appear on behalf of Arapahoe House to speak about his life in golf and living in recovery from drugs and alcohol in the Sewell Grand Ballroom in the Bonfils Complex in the Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1101 13th St. His rehabilitative tool is humor; he knows the healing value of laughter and wit and uses that tool to charm all in his path. Proceeds from the event will benefit the life-changing addiction treatment programs of Arapahoe House.

For tickets and more information about the event, go to ArpahoeHouse.org or call 303-312-3643.

Photo: Carlos-Nunez_w.PanchoAlvarezJavierMercade.jpg

September 2015 Festivals
by Rodger Hara (from the September 2015 Celtic Connection newspaper)

Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival-September 10-13, Fairgrounds and other venues, Estes Park, CO w/Albannach, Cal, The Elders, Seamus Kennedy, Sligo Rags, Ed Miller, Socks in the Frying Pan, Chef Eric McBride. Fountain City Brass Band and Highland Dance, Irish Dance and Pipe Band Competitions, Scottish Athletics, Tattoo, Country Dance, workshops, seminars and story-telling, clan tents, lots of merchandise and food, dogs of the British Isles, military heritage, living history, Guinness and full contact jousting. Ticket prices vary by day and by event. Check the website www.scotfest.com
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Celtic Harvest Festival Edgewater – September 19-20, Citizens Park, Edgewater, CO w/Colcannon, Angus Mohr, Skean Dubh, Avourneen, Potcheen, Across the Pond, Folk Ragout, Colorado Youth Pipe Band and Highland Dancers, Wick School of Irish Dance, Colorado Welsh Society Dancers, Ren Scots, Dogs of the British Isles, HawkQuest and Sheep herding, children’s area, story-telling, clan tents, calling of the clans and bonfire on Saturday night, food and fun, lots of merchandise from local artists, merchants and vendors. HOW MUCH: $2.00 www.celticharvestfestivaledgewater.com
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Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival – September 24-27, Walsenburg, La Veta, Gardner and Cuchara in Huerfano County, CO W/Carlos Nunez, the MacDonald Sisters, Daimh, Ed Miller, Adam Agee, Jon Sousa, Mairtin de Cogain, Tanya Perkins, Arlene Patterson, Jerry O’Sullivan and Instrument, dance and singing workshops, seminars, story-telling, concerts, incredible music and cráic, demonstrations, classes, singing, sessions, céilidh and lots of brilliant fellowship. Prices vary according to event – check the website www.celticmusicfest.com or registration in this paper.
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McPherson Kansas Scottish Festival and Highland Games – September 26-27, Lakeside Park, McPherson, KS W/City of McPherson Pipe Band, Earl Grey in the Morning, Jeremy Kittlel Band, Tairis and Highland Dance and Pipe Band Competitions, Irish Dance, Scottish Heavy Athletics, Rugby, Country Dance, clogging, clan tents, genealogy, food, merchandise, children’s events, Kirkin’ O’ the Tartan, Falcons & Raptors, Highland Cows, Clydesdales, Border Collies Herding Sheep. HOW MUCH: $13 Saturday, $10 Sunday. Children 12 and under admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Youth aged 13 through 17 – $3 www.macfestival.org
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Aztec Highland Games & Celtic Music Festival hosting the Four Corners Highland Games Championship,
October 3 & 4, 2015 at Riverside Park, Aztec, New Mexico W/ The Angry Brains, Gypsyfire, Kitchen Jam Band, Devils Dram and Patrick Crossing and Celtic Heavy Athletic events (Caber Toss, Hammer Throw, Braemar Stone, Weight for Distance, Weight for Height, and Sheaf Toss), Highland Dance Competition, Highland Dance Workshop , Clan booths, Vendors including The Celtic Caterer/ Chef Eric W. McBride conducting live cooking Demos, Oz Highland Farm serving traditional Highland Beef products, Fish-n-Chips, Celtic artesian, Kilts, Pipe Bands, Bonny Knees Competition, Children’s Activities – Pick up a Clan Passport at the Entrance Booth and use it as you visit the Clans, Dancers, Pipers and fight a Viking! Return filled out Clan Passport at the Information Booth and be entered into a drawing for a commemorative handmade wooden train! The Kids Highland Games will be held during the lunch break of the Athletic Competitions on Saturday and is free for Kids to try their hand at each of the Celtic Athletic Events. Kids can also participate in activities at the free Children’s Tent and if they are under 12, they get into the entire festival FREE! Info tickets at www.aztechighlandgames.com or 505-419-7526.

by Rodger Hara (from September 2015 Celtic Connection newspaper)

The Wicked Sheehogues Celtic Band plays at Clancy’s Irish Pub in Wheat Ridge on the 5th from 5 – 8 PM
Colcannon closes the Celtic Harvest Festival Edgewater on the 20th at 3:30 PM on the 20th.
You can see Big Paddy on the 6th at 9 PM in the Back East Grille in Denver or on the 18th at the Bohemian Biergarten in Boulder on the 18th at 10 PM.
The Rare Ould Times is on stage at Jack Quinn’s Irish Ale House and Pub in Colorado Springs on the 26th from 7-11 PM.
Skean Dubh has a busy September with appearances at the Colorado European Festival in the Civic Green Park, Highland Ranch on the 12th at 12:30 PM, the Commonwealth festival,
Memorial Park, Manitou Springs on the 7th from 12:30-1:30 PM, the Exchange Tavern in Westminster on the 18th for the Halfway to St. Patrick’s day party from 8:30-10:30 PM, at the Celtic Harvest Festival Edgewater on the 19th, 1:30-3:30 PM and at the First Presbyterian Church of Littleton, Wisdom Elders Concert on the 26th at 1 PM.
Avourneen fills their usual time at Katie Mullen’s downtown at 9 PM on the 4th, 11th and 25th, move to the Sheabeen Pub in Aurora for Halfway to St. Pat’s Day at 8 PM on the 18th, head to Edgewater for the Celtic Harvest Festival stage 1-3 PM on the 20th, and The Abbey Tavern on East Colfax in Denver at 9 PM on the 26th. Adam Goldstein is at Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret for his solo act each Saturday at 11 PM.
Skanson & Hansen’s All Beatle’s Set Premier Show is on the 13th at 7:30 PM in Nissi’s in Lafayette. Tickets are $15 in advance, $17 at the door.www.nissis.com
Celtic Friends are at Brendan’s Pub, 4th and Broadway, Denver, at 7:30 PM on the 1st and on Karl Kumli’s Seolta Gael program on KGNU on the 16th.
The Indulgers are on the Heritage Stage at the Taste of Colorado on the 4th at 8 PM, the Pirate Ball in Northglenn at 5:30 PM on the 18th, Boulder’s Fall Fest at 8 PM on the 19th and close out the month at Conor O’Neill’s pub in Boulder at 10 PM on the 25th.
Brian Clancy is at Jack Quinn’s Irish Alehouse and Pub in Colorado Springs on the 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th at 7:30 PM and The Irish Snug on Capitol Hill in Denver on the 12th and 26th at 8:30 PM.
Chancers Hooley provides the entertainment at Living the Dream Brewery in Littleton for their Labor Day Lobster Bake and Brews party at 4 PM on the 5th.
Angus Mohr rocks out at Lonigan’s in Estes Park on the 11th and 12th and closes the Saturday show at the Celtic Harvest Festival in Edgewater at 7 PM on the 19th.
The Mountain Road Ceili Band does their FAC/Happy Hour gig on the patio at The Margarita, Colorado Springs on the 4th at 6 PM, followed by an outside movie at dusk.
Adam Agee and Jon Sousa perform at GIG in Santa Fe on the 18th and the Spanish Peaks International Celtic Music Festival in La Veta the 25th-27th. Jon plays with Andy Reiner for the Boulder Contra Dance on the 4th and does a solo show on the 12th at 2 PM in the Central Branch of the Denver Public Library for their Fresh City Life concert series.
On the 5th, Harpist Margot Krimmel appears at 6 PM with poets Jared Smith and Janice Gould at The Book Bar, 4280 Tennyson St., does a solo show in the Vail Library on the 16th from 5:30-6:30 PM then performs with Beth Gadbaw at the Black Rose Acoustic Society gathering in the Black Forest Community Center on the 11th at 7 PM. Beth and the members of Take Down the Door are in Lyon’s Sandstone Park for a free show on the 12th, time TBD.
Potcheen opens a busy month on the 5th at the Whitewater Bar and Grill in Canon City at 8 PM, plays for the Central City Fest at 4 PM on the 12th, is at Pirate Con in Boulder at 7 PM on the 18th, takes center stage at the Celtic Harvest Festival Edgewater at 4 PM on the 19th then heads to Northglenn later that day for Pirate Fest in E.B. Rains. Jr. Memorial Park at 7 PM and closes out the month at the Fruita Fall Festival in downtown Fruita at noon.
The Stubby Shillelaghs and Keep Britain Irish play at Scruffy Murphy’s Irish Pub in LoDo on the 25th, time TBD.

“Across the Pond” to Debut at Celtic Harvest Festival Edgewater
By Rodger Hara (from September2015 Celtic Connection newspaper)

At one time, it was common for residents of the United Kingdom to talk of traveling to Canada or the United States as “taking a trip across the pond” in a droll, understated sort of British way. The expression entered the lexicon on this side of the Atlantic and could often be heard on the East Coast. Today, it seems, the only place you’ll hear the words is in reference to one of Colorado’s newest Celtic Bands.

Formed in January 2015 by three long-time session players, Phil Coombs, Grace Carter and Brint Lukens, the band chose the name to reflect how the music they play came “across the pond” and influenced the sound of bluegrass and American folk music.

Phil, originally from London, is a microbiologist musician who plays melodeon, guitar, bodhrán and spoons with the band as well as vocals. Grace is a website developer who came to Colorado from Texas 20 years ago and plays fiddle. Brint, a computer programmer, is a Colorado native who plays rhythm guitar, provides backing vocals and also plays Flamenco guitar and the Highland pipes. Phil is self-taught, Grace has taken lessons from many teachers, including Adam Agee and Brint took pipe lessons as a junior member of the City of Denver Pipe Band and guitar lessons from Flamenco great Rene Heredia. All have Celtic roots and ties: Brint’s mother is a Fitzsimons, Grace has Sinclair blood and Phil has a childhood in Parochial schools where half the teachers and students were Irish. Together, they play traditional music that would sound at home in a pub or parlor in Ireland.

They began playing with each other at sessions over the years and one night, found themselves the only musicians at a session. At the end of the evening, they asked themselves “Why don’t we form a band?” Rather than leaving it in the abstract and theoretical, they acted on it and began performing here and there – including busking on Santa Fe Drive one recent First Friday Art Walk night.

They enjoy playing the music as it has been handed down from across the pond and enjoy seeing the pleasure it brings to people, especially children, for whom their playing well might be the first performance of live music they have ever seen. The timeless quality of music that came down through oral traditions, that still resonates with people and comes from the time before recording when music moved and people didn’t is the music they love to play. They explore the historical context of the music they play to infuse it with the energy of the time and place that created it and distinguish session music from performance music with the former being inward looking and the latter outward.

Their first appearance at a festival will be at the 6th Celtic Harvest Festival Edgewater where they will open the music stage at 11 AM on Saturday the 19th and you can see for yourself how well they have succeeded.

Famous Irish Quartet “The High Kings” Denver Bound!

Tickets on sale now at www.SoiledDove.com or call 303-830-9214.

For centuries, Ireland was ruled by High Kings. As their reign came to an end, their deeds and stories merged into the world of legend and myth and the High Kings of Ireland were no more except in story, music and song. Until now. Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden, renowned vocalists and musicians, have come together to create the most exciting Irish ballad group to emerge since The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem electrified the worldwide folk revival of the 1960s.

The High Kings are an Irish folk group formed in Dublin in 2008 by Celtic Woman manager Dave Kavanagh. By February 2014, the group had released three studio albums, one live album, and one DVD. All of their studio albums appeared at number three or higher on the Billboard world music chart and achieved platinum status in Ireland.

Coming from accomplished Musical pedigrees, The High Kings grew up in households soaked in the Irish Musical tradition and each member of the band witnessed firsthand the power of well-crafted Irish music on an audience. Taking some of the classic ballad repertoire from the past and mixing those songs with new and exciting modern songs in the folk idiom, The High Kings are embarking to become the hottest folk and ballad act of the new millennium. Since The High Kings started, they have sold out hundreds of shows, in Ireland and the US and have made numerous TV appearances.

The High Kings have a 5 Star rating on Ticketmaster’s Fan Review including this fan:
“This was our 4th time to see The High Kings and as usual they didn’t disappoint. They always put on an amazing show and have the crowd singing along. Well worth seeing again and again.
Favourite moment: The entire show from start to finish!”

The High Kings will perform in Denver Wednesday October 14, 8PM (7PM doors) at the Soiled Dove. Reserved Seat ($25,$30) available at www.soileddove.com
Direct link: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/930329?utm_medium=bks
or call 303-830-9214.

To be added to Celtic Events/gigs list email CelticEvents@rmi.net For Facebook updates please like us at www.facebook.com/celtic.rockies.

The High Kings Videos:
Friends for Life https://youtu.be/R5W8BihIdAM?list=UUPsLzNVCZnwKNr9iMN_dW1A

Stepping out Mary http://www.thehighkings.com/video/high-kings-step-mary/

The Denver Business Journal (DBJ) recently published an issue spotlighting “2015 Top Women in Energy” which included Susan Morrice, Chairman and co-founder of Belize Natural Energy (BNE). Based in Denver via Belfast, Susan and her team discovered oil over a decade ago in a place that had been probed by many other major energy companies with no success. The oil that Susan and friends found in Belize was some of the purest grade oil in the world. Now BNE is the largest employer in Belize, with 99% of employees being local Belizeans.
Not only has BNE positively transformed Belize, but the company’s award winning holistic business model, which encourages the personal development of their employees, is helping to bring change to the business of energy. Susan also founded the International Pavilion, a showcase that facilitates discussion and idea sharing in her industry by bringing together countries and energy companies at the American Association of Petroleum Geologists AAPG Convention each year. Just this week, she was further honored by the President of AAPG “it is with great pleasure that I send to you the AAPG Presidential Award for Exemplary Service in recognition of your exceptional service to the geoscience profession and the AAPG.”
In the DBJ article, Susan expressed how it was possible for her team to discover oil in a spot that so many others failed by quoting petroleum geologist Wallace Pratt, “‘Oil is found in the minds of men,’” she added. “I realized I didn’t understand how our minds worked. This led me to do the research about what makes a human being successful.” Prior to striking oil in Belize, Susan studied the EDUCO educational process and attended the EDUCO seminar. Susan credits the Educo Holistic Business Model for her accomplishments, “It was about what makes you go forward and be all you can be. The Educo learning was absolutely key to my success.”
Susan also is an originating investor and Director with XJet Worldwide, a Denver/Dubai /London based private jet company. Periodically ,Susan and friends gather in the Denver metro to discuss EDUCO principals and the successes they have seen when applied to their businesses and personal lives. If you would like to attended an upcoming meeting contact Amanda at: akendrick@chxglobal.com.

The Colorado Rapids sold homegrown talent Shane O’Neill on August 1st to Apollon Limassol of Cyprus.
At the end of August he officially joined Jupiler Pro League side Royal Mouscron-Péruwelz based in Belgium.
The United States Under-23 international, currently in Manchester to prepare for Thursday’s friendly against England in nearby Preston, quickly jetted into Belgium on Sunday to sign a two-year contract. O’Neill did not make an appearance for Cypriot bronze medalists Limassol.

The 21-year-old defender/midfielder born in Ireland and raised in Boulder, Colorado, has played for the U.S. under-20s and -23s, made 25 starts in 2013 and 21 last year.

O’Neill remains a crucial part of the US Under-23 team, currently looking to qualify for next summer’s Olympics. He will train with the team in Manchester, England, from Aug. 30-Sept. 8 and will feature friendlies against England on Sept. 3 at Deepdale Stadium in Preston, and Qatar on Sept. 8 at Gigg Lane in Bury.

August 2015 Ceolta Notes
By Rodger Hara (from August 2015 Celtic Connection newspaper)

The new Indigent Row played at the Colorado Irish Festival last month and qualified for the final round of The Denver Battle of the Bands on Sunday the 30th. The 10 bands in the finals will play from 4 PM to midnight at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood at 26th and Welton. Tickets can be purchased directly from the band, jenn2557@aol.com (which is preferred by them, since their set time is determined based on which band sells the most tickets) or from this website:
http://www.gorillamusic.com/buy-tickets-gorilla-music-and-eagle-one-local-concerts-and-music-festivals-2/
Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. This is a 16 and over show.

The Stubby Shillelaghs are at Jack Quinn’s in Colorado Springs at 9 PM on the 1st, Scruffy Murphy’s in Lodo at 10 PM on the 7th and at the Big Beaver Brewing Co. in Loveland at 7 PM on the 29th. In other band news, The Stubbies are taking 6 weeks off from their usual Stubby Tuesdays to hit song writing and practicing hard as they are entering the studio to record their fourth studio album, an all nerd and geek-centric album titled Critical Fail, the week of August 23rd. The Stubbies will be yet again working with Silas at the Decibel Garden in Denver. Stubby Tuesdays will resume September 1 at 9pm.
The Mountain Road Ceili Band is continuing its 20th year at The Margarita at Pine Creek on August 21 at 6:00 outdoors on the patio bar.
Chancer’s Hooley plays on the 7th in the Summit house at Keystone Resort at 4 PM and on the 29th are on stage at the 38 State Brewing Company in Littleton at 7 PM.
Avourneen does their usual Friday night gig at Katie Mullen’s on the 16th St. Mall at 9 PM and play at The Abbey on East Colfax at 8 PM on the 22nd.
The lovely and talented Kevin Dooley plays at noon on the 2nd at the Georgia Boys BBQ in Longmont for their Songwriter Series Longmont. He follows that with a show on the 14th from 8-10 PM at The Roost on Main Street in Longmont accompanied by his mates Eric Drobny and Steve Mullins. On the 19th, he’s joined by Eric for a performance for the Haystack Mountain Golf Course Summer Series in Boulder from 6-8 PM, does a solo show on the 21st for the Niwot Market Friday Dinner series from 6-8 PM and then closes out the month with the trio on the 29th at the Left Hand Brewing Company in Longmont from 5-7:30 PM.
The Indulgers head west for the Colorado Scottish Festival on the 1st and 2nd at the new festival venue at the Town Park in Snowmass Village then return to their home ground of Boulder for a show at Conor O’Neill’s on the 14th at 10 PM and play at the Wine Experience Café and World Cellar Restaurant in Aurora for their early Octoberfest celebration on the 29th.
The Western United States Pipe Band Association (WUSPBA) will hold its Annual General Meeting at Clancy’s Irish Pub in Wheat Ridge, 7000 W. 38th Ave., on the 15th beginning at 9:30 AM or thereabouts after all bands have competed. Admission to the AGM is free and there will be free breakfast burritos too. Competition will begin at 7 AM (when the bar will also open…) and there will be a viewing party at 2:30 PM of the World Pipe Band Championships. There will be a $5 cover charge for the viewing party. For more information, call John Moruzzi at 720.933.6750.
And speaking of Clancy’s, Lougheed is back on the patio there from 9-noon on the 15th as well. Fun times at Clancy’s (and in Wheat Ridge – it’s the Annual Carnation Festival Parade down 38th Avenue) that day!
What the heck – we’re on a roll with Clancy’s so why not close this month’s column with the schedule for the most famous Denver Clancy of all, the peripatetic Brian. As is usually the case, you can see and hear him at the Jack Quinn Irish Alehouse and Pub in Downtown Colorado Springs on the 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th at 7:30 PM and at The Irish Snug on East Colfax/Capitol Hill in Denver at 8:30 PM on the 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th.
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August 2015 Festivals:
Scottish Festival and Rocky Mountain Highland Games (50th Anniversary)
July 31-August 2 atTown Park, Snowmass Village, CO w/Celtic Musicians including Swagger and The Indulger and Highland Dancers, Dogs of the British Isles, Automobiles of the British Isles, Clan tents, Pipe Band and Highland Dance Competitions, Scottish Athletics, Kirkin’ Service, fun, food and merchandise. www.scottishgames.org
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Montana Irish Festival August 14-16 at Original Mine Yard, Butte, MT w/Cathie Ryan Band, Runa, The Town Pants, The Ne’er Duwels featuring Ken O’Malley, Dublin Gulch, Trinity Irish Dancers,Trinity Dance Workshop on August 14th, Genealogy, Dance, Irish Language,
Music, History Workshop, Authors, Fun, Food and Merchandise, Raffles for trips
to Ireland and Hawaii, 1M, 5K & 10K runs. Free Admission! www.mtgaelic.org
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Bitterroot Scotch Irish Festival, August 15-16 at Marcus Daily Mansion, Hamilton, MT W/Celtic Music, Irish and Highland dancing, Scottish Athletics, clans, Pipe bands, historical demonstrations, Kirkin’ service, fun, food and merchandise. $5-15 depending on days, age, etc. for online purchases until Aug. 16th; parking $10/day. www.bitterrootscottishirishfestival.org compiled by Rodger Hara

Mile High Belfast Bash
(Editors Note/Photo:
Although she claims to be much better at GAA football,l Rosa Carragher of the Belfast Youth Circus (BYC), took time to show some moves with the hurly while in Denver last month.
Rosa and other members of BYC were in Colorado performing and training together with the Salida Youth Circus. On their final full day they performed in Denver and afterwards went to relax at the home of Susan Morrice, a native of Belfast. At the Morrice residence they were treated to a pool party and barbec

Rosa from Belfast Circus gave a few "hurling" pointers to Denver audience

Jennifer Dempsey is a remarkably talented lady who once performed with the Belfast Circus and returned to Colorado where she founded the Salida Circus (http://www.thesalidacircus.com/index.html) in 2007. Since then, with the help of the Salida Circus Outreach Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, and donations from many people and organizations across the world, the Salida Circus has performed in Colorado, New Mexico, California and elsewhere in the west. The adult performers work with members of the Salida Boys and Girls Club and teach them the “Twelve Circus Skills” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Circus_skills ) along with life skills. One of the highlights of the year for each class of youth performers is a visit from young adult/teen (ages14-19) members of the Belfast Circus who spend two weeks performing with and training the kids in the Salida Circus. The Belfast group stays with host families in Salida and is able to get away into the cool fresh air of the mountains.

A highlight of their visit to Colorado is a performance for the residents of the Hope Communities and Mercy Housing projects in east Denver on the border with Aurora. On what was once a vacant lot decorated with weeds, broken glass and discarded needles next to Mercy Housing’s Grace Apartments where boys once played soccer barefooted, members of the staff of Mercy Housing spearheaded an effort to create a park. Now called New Freedom Park it is maintained by the City and County of Denver and is next to a community garden space. There, the Astroturf-covered park with its concrete-walled border provides a safe open space for the residents of Mercy’s Grace Apartments and Hope Communities’ Hidden Brook Apartments and other children in the neighborhood to gather and play.

On July 13th, the day before the kids from Belfast returned home, the park provided the venue for a one-ring circus sponsored by Hope and Mercy, with a ring-master, clown, magician, juggling, floor acrobatics, fabric performance, low trapeze, balloon animals and much, much more. The multi-cultural cast from Northern Ireland and Western Colorado wowed the even more diverse audience of adults and children from Southeast Asia and East Africa with their acts and then after the show, worked with the children in the audience to teach them a few tricks and routines.

That evening, all were treated to a barbecue and party coordinated by Mary Ryan at the lovely home of Susan Morice where all the performers got to be kids and swam in the pool, paddled around the pond and sang for each other. The Belfast kids received bright green souvenir tee shirts courtesy of the Colorado Irish Festival and the Colorado kids were presented with Boulder author/photographer Tom Quinn Kumpf’s brilliant book of pictures and stories “Ireland – Standing Stones to Stormont” courtesy of Mary, and Susan gave everyone a copy of “The Magic in You” by Emma Maree.

The differences in language and geography and culture were rendered moot by the universality of the fun and the remarkable bridge across cultures provided by the circus. A wonderfully fun time was had by all. (Please go to the Celtic Connection Facebook page to see an album of photos from the visit: www.facebook.com/celtic.rockies )

Dennis Gallagher Toasted and Roasted at Retirement Party
(by Rodger Hara, from August 2015 Celtic Connection newspaper)

On July 20th, the remarkable 45 year political career of Dennis Gallagher came to a close with the swearing in of the new Denver City Auditor, Tim O’Brien. Dennis was born in Tabernash, Colorado to Ellen Flaherty Gallagher and Bill Gallagher, a home maker and Denver firefighter respectively, with deep roots in County Sligo. He attended public schools in Denver, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature with a minor in Latin and Greek from Regis College and a Master of Arts degree in Speech and Communications from Catholic University in Washington, D. C. Since 1967, he has been a professor of Speech, Latin, Greek and Media at Regis University.

He served two terms in the Colorado House, five in the Colorado Senate and two on the Denver City Council and was Denver City Auditor for 12 years.

On July 21st, at a dinner/party/roast attended by nearly 300 of his closest friends, Dennis was honored and roasted and toasted in a manner befitting himself and that career. With a Host Committee of Colorado luminaries that included Governor John W. Hickenlooper, former University of Denver Chancellor Daniel Richie, former Regis University President Father Michael Sheeran, S.J. and many, many more, the roasting and tribute delivery was done by Governor Hickenlooper, Westword Editor Patty Calhoun, Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrisey, Father Sheeran, Colorado State Speaker of the House Dickey Lee Hullinghorst and legendary lobbyist Pueblo Wally Stealey and old friend Gary Salley.

In attendance were many familiar names from the Irish community, including John and Una Nallen, Tom Fitzgerald, Jim Walsh, Flossie O’Leary, Michael Carrigan, Timothy Flanaghan, Kevin O’Connor, Jim Cavanaugh and Michael Reagan III. Congratulations in the program came from such as The Honorable Ben Briscoe, Lord Mayor of London, Timmy Conway and Anita Noel Cawley in Ireland, Fr. John P. Fitzgibbons, S.J., President of Regis University, the members of the James Joyce Society

Dennis’ long-time partner in crime/tours/books Tom “Dr. Colorado” Noel served as Master of Ceremonies and was able to sneak in a few sly digs of his own while introducing the roasters who entertained the audience with remarks on Dennis’ life and career. Tom introduced Governor John Hickenlooper by telling the crowd how Dennis enabled him to move into politics when he sponsored the bill approving the creation of brewpubs. The Governor spoke of Dennis’ character and commented on how the facts that he doesn’t drink, swear, smoke or tell bawdy jokes make him an atypical Irishman – “I think he’s more Amish than Irish!” Much fun was poked at Dennis about his thrifty shopping habits for clothing including an apocryphal story shared by the Governor that Dennis at one time had dated an heir to the Maytag Appliance fortune; Gov. Hickenlooper said that “…while he still wouldn’t have any new clothes, at least they would all be clean.” In the Letterman tradition, the Governor closed with a musing on the Top Ten things that Dennis won’t do now that he’s retired, the top of which was “He will never stop giving generously to people in need or being a pillar of the community.”

Dr. Tom introduced Father Michael Sheeran by reminding the audience of Dennis’ long relationship with Regis College/University and his annual trips to Ireland where he taught students how to drink beer. Father Sheeran delivered a video tribute in which he addressed Dennis as “Senator Gallahad” for the way he attacked problems. He spoke lovingly of having accompanied Dennis and the students on a trip to Ireland and how he stood at the front of the bus at each stop and “…explained the history and astrological significance of the site and quoted Yeats in addition and sometimes even did it accurately.” Fr. Sheeran went on to describe how Dennis would move from table to table in the restaurants where they would stop for meals, engaging with total strangers, giving them his card and telling them to call him if they ever came to Denver. With a twinkle in his eye, Fr. Sheeran said that he “Watched very carefully, and never once did he see Dennis hand out a form requesting an absentee ballot”.

District Attorney Mitch Morrisey followed with what could have been a good stand-up comedy routine on open night mike at a comedy club. He opened with the comment that he’ll probably never be able to forget Dennis, “…although he hopes that the therapy will help someday”. He then asked if people knew the difference between Dennis and God: when no one answered, he explained that “While Dennis walks around Denver thinking he’s God, God doesn’t wander around Denver thinking he’s Dennis”. The DA then spoke about parking in the Webb Building next to Dennis and said that “…while Dennis loves running into people around town, from the looks of his car, people love running into him too. Not that he’s a dangerous driver: he drives so slowly that if he hits anything, he’s not going fast enough to hurt anyone. And with Dennis, you’ll never get a hit and run accident – instead you get a hit and amble away. Can anyone in this room imagine Dennis running?” He went on to dispel rumors about Dennis including one that “Dennis does such a good job on tours of cemeteries around town because he knew everyone who’s buried there” and another that he “Survived the sinking of the Titanic with Molly Brown. In fact, an iceberg is about the only thing he hasn’t hit with his car.” He closed with the observation that many people leave their jobs because of illness when their bosses get sick of them and that for Dennis that has never been the case: “Dennis, you have always worked for the people and we’re really going to miss you”.

Given that tough act to follow, Patty Calhoun, Editor of Westword picked up the gauntlet that Mr. Morrisey threw and with great aplomb, lobbed it back with a Top Ten list of her own that she said she retrieved from his wastebasket laying out the audits that he always wanted to do. As she began with number Ten, she turned to the head table and said “I’m sorry Governor. I thought you’d be gone by now. Number Ten, Why you don’t get a pint when you order a pint at the Wynkoop Brewing Company where the Wasted Friday Afternoon Club always meets, calculate those short pours and the cost to the citizens of Denver for squandering those liquid assets.” Number Five was “Investigate why Denver Public Schools doesn’t teach proper penmanship” (a nod to the legendary and elegant calligraphy for which Dennis is famous. He wrote the name of each guest on over three hundred name tags and the first page inside the cover of the Auditor’s annual report and the program for the roast features The Athenian Oath that “…idealizes the issue of public trust…” in calligraphy framed within a border of Celtic knots and animals worthy of the Book of Kells). Number Three, “Investigate downtown real estate development and determine why The Old Spaghetti Factory is open and Duffy’s Tavern is closed.” She closed with Number One: “Determine how many angels can actually dance on a pinhead. And like Dennis Gallagher, I’m withholding signature on this document.”

Colorado Speaker of the House Dickie Lee Hullinghorst was next via video. She reminisced about their time together in the House when Dennis “…used to play practical jokes on the Republicans and a few Protestant Democrats…” She went on to praise him for his being a champion of the poor, standing tall for civil rights, the environment and historic preservation. In closing, she observed that it was hard to find words with which to roast him and instead toasted him by saying “I hope that by this time in the evening you’re well roasted to well done and that well done is the operative phrase, because Dennis, your over 45 years of service to the people of Colorado has been well done. Very well done. So my very best to you in your retirement.”

The last speaker was Wally Stealey, who Tom introduced as a living legend who really knows what’s going on. He opened by observing that “Good golly almighty. I thought this was supposed to be a roast. This is a love fest!” He noted that a current legislator, seeing them together at the Capitol observed that “You know, if each of you lost an inch, you’d look like two basketballs”. Speaking about their 45 year friendship, Mr. Stealey spoke fondly of the days in which he worked closely with Dennis at the State House and with regret over his not being elected Mayor of Denver. He praised Dennis’ accomplishments, especially the renowned Gallagher Amendment to the State Constitution and the leadership Dennis exhibited in leading a vote to override a veto of a bill by then Governor Roy Romer that would have allowed the creation of the state lottery. Mr. Stealey told the story of how when called on the carpet by Governor Romer, Dennis asked him if could explain the difference between number 34 on the Lotto machine and B-12 on a bingo card. The veto was overridden, Governor Romer didn’t speak to Dennis for over 90 days and today we have Lotto. He closed with the presentation of a cigar from his factory in Nicaragua to Dennis in the hope that in the years to come, that Dennis would “…look at it, think of two basketballs and my name would come up.”

Dennis closed with brief remarks expressing his joy at being with everyone that night, thanked them for coming and directed everyone’s attention to a love letter to the people of Denver that was included in the program. He said that the love letter was inspired by Rabbi Manuel Laderman of the Hebrew Education Alliance who wrote a letter like that to his congregation when he retired in 1971 and that he thought that when he retired, he would write a similar letter to the people of Denver. He thanked all the roasters, pointed out his son Daniel Patrick Gallagher and the people who helped put the event together. As you would expect from a Sligo man of such letters, he closed with a quote from William Butler Yeats: “Think where man’s glory begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends.”

(To see pictures of the event, The Athenian Oath and Dennis’ love letter to the people, please visit the Celtic Connection Facebook page: www.facebook.com/celtic.rockies )

Tickets On Sale Now for the Colorado Scottish Festival in
Snowmass Village
A Family-Friendly, Dog-Friendly Festival!
July 31 – August 2, 2015
By Susan M. Thornton (July 2015 Celtic Connection newspaper)

There’s gonna be a great celebration when the Colorado Scottish Festival arrives at its new home in Snowmass Village this summer! Yes, in case you missed the news, the Colorado Scottish Festival is leaving the heat and parking problems of the Denver area, and moving to Snowmass Village, near Aspen. The dog-friendly Festival will be held in a cool and beautiful mountain valley reminiscent of Scotland!
The Festival kicks off Friday night, July 31, with a free Hot Piping and Hot Drumline competition judged by the audience in The Bar at Wildwood in Snowmass Village. You’ll get a real kick out of seeing the hottest of the Festival’s hot pipers and drummers as they strut their stuff. Another free high octane offering will take place Saturday night with a concert featuring the Irish rock group, “Swagger.”
Meanwhile, all day August 1 and 2, the Great Highland Athletes will be demonstrating their skill at heavy events that include throwing the caber (telephone pole — really!), the sheaf toss, the stone put and more. The skill of these amazing athletes, both men and women, will leave you breathless. Of course there will be bagpipe bands — nine of them — including a band made up of young players from the Ute Mountain Reservation, and three bands coming from out-of-state! For the first time ever, the Festival will host a Grade 2 band competition. As there are only four Grade 2 bands in all of the Western U.S., having a Grade 2 competition in Snowmass Village will be very exciting.
Mustn’t forget the colorful clans who will attend — more than 27 of them, including a number of clans from the Western Slope and outside of Colorado. They will be waiting to show off their rich histories and talk with you about your ancestry. They’ll be joined by a professional genealogist. Maybe you’ll find new cousins at the Festival!
Graceful Highland dancers will compete on the Colorado Ballet Stage, with Irish stepdancers and Scottish Country dancers entertaining on the Dublin Dance Stage. To top it off, there will be nonstop Scottish and Irish music on the Fingal’s Music Stage. Among the musicians will be “Down the Back Lane,” playing fabulous traditional Irish music, Dirk Mewes playing uilleann pipes, Don Hilsberg on the Celtic harp, Damien McCarron singing songs of Ireland, and Loretta Thompson with songs and fiddle tunes from the Celtic nations.
Dogs of the British Isles are always popular with children and adults alike, as are Classic British Cars, which will join the Festival on Saturday morning. And everyone enjoys the food vendors, vendors with Celtic merchandise, and the beer and whiskey-tastings for people of a certain age. Historic re-enactors, the Renaissance Scots, will recreate a Medieval village, with a pub tent, blacksmith, weavers and others depicting life in Olde Scotland. But watch out, because the Scots will be accompanied by their defensive arm, the Dunvegan Wolves, who will demonstrate fighting techniques with swords and axes. Don’t get too close!
You won’t want to miss the Midday Ceremonies both Saturday and Sunday, with the Parade of the Clans, Dogs of the British Isles and Renaissance Scots. Then stand in awe as more than 100 pipers and drummers shake the earth as they come marching across the field playing “Scotland the Brave!”
Did we mention that the Festival is kid-friendly and dog-friendly? Kids from 3-12 will love trying their hand at Scottish athletics at 12:30 both Saturday and Sunday. (Shhhh, the caber is made of Styrofoam, and the “sheaf” toss will be with a pillow thrown with a kid-sized snow shovel.) The dogs, face painter and colorful sights and sounds will keep the kids — and mom and dad — happy.
Tickets to the Festival are very affordable and include special rates for children, seniors and active-duty personnel. But in-the-know Festival-goers are buying Thistle Tickets, which include a private Friday evening reception at Snowmass Village’s Ice Age Museum, Festival admission and close-in parking, a Saturday morning continental breakfast, access to the VIP Tent (with adult beverages and whiskey-tasting) on the Festival field and more.
Parking is also free in Snowmass Village, as are the Village’s free shuttles, and the GoSnowmass card for people who buy tickets on line. The card offers discounts at Snowmass Village restaurants and shops.
For tickets, the best lodging rates and information, visit www.ScottishGames.org. Snowmass has several thousand hotel rooms and condominiums, but they are filling fast, so don’t wait to book your lodging for this fun weekend!