(photo: L-R Thomas Burke, Ireland’s Ambassador to the U.S., Anne Anderson, Maura Clare)

Irish Network USA board members Thomas Burke and Maura Clare recently represented the IN Colorado chapter at a national board meeting in Washington, DC. The IN USA is a newly incorporated umbrella organization for the Irish Networks that exist around the country. The national entity aims to advance relationships between Irish Network state and regional chapters to foster success in business, economic and social ventures.
The weekend conference began on the evening of Friday, November 8 with a reception at the Irish Embassy hosted by Ireland’s recently appointed ambassador to the United States, Anne Anderson. The next two days of meetings included presentations and workshops on chapter and national organizational issues, membership recruitment, event planning and fundraising. Guest speakers presented on topics such as social networking, philanthropy, immigration and journalism. One of the most rewarding aspects of the gathering were the informal conversations, sharing of information and brainstorming between the Irish Network volunteers who came from all over the country at their own expense. In addition to Colorado, there are currently IN chapters in DC, Boston, Chicago, the Bay area, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Phoenix, New Orleans, San Diego, Minnesota and Seattle, with more locations to be added in the coming year. http://irishnetworkco.com/

Caption: Left to right: new Consul General of Ireland for the Western US, Philip Grant; Irish Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar; Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland. This picture was taken at the United Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco at an event celebrating the re-opening of the direct Aer Lingus route between San Francisco and Dublin in April, 2014.

Consul General Philip Grant assumed duty as Consul General of Ireland to the Western United States, in San Francisco, on 30 September 2013. From Dublin, Philip has been a diplomat with the Irish Foreign Ministry since 1992. Prior to his appointment as Consul General, he was Spokesperson and Director for Press and Media Relations in the Foreign Ministry for four years. He worked on the visits of Queen Elizabeth and President Obama to Ireland, the Global Irish Economic Forum and Ireland’s EU Presidency. He was previously posted to the United States in 1994-1997, when he served as Vice-Consul at the Consulate in Chicago covering the mid-west and southern United States. From 2006-2009 he was Deputy Head of Mission at Ireland’s Embassy to Turkey in Ankara; and from 2002-2006 he was based in Israel, as Deputy Head of Mission at the Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv. Consul General Grant has also served in the Middle East and Anglo-Irish Sections of the Irish Foreign Ministry in Dublin, and at Ireland’s Mission to the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. He is a Science graduate of Trinity College in Dublin. Philip will be aided in his work at the Consulate by new Vice Consul, Kevin Byrne. Kevin, a native of Dundalk in County Louth, is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and the London School of Economics. A Naughton scholar, he has worked internationally for national government, the European Union and in the think tank sector. He joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2010. Most recently he was seconded to the Department of the Taoiseach to plan Ireland’s successful 7th Presidency of the EU.

Andrew Cudden & Glen Eastwood open the Abbey Tavern

Is it every Irishman’s secret dream to own a Pub? If the Irish pub scene in the Denver Boulder metro is an indicator you might think yes, as the majority of pubs are Irish owned and run.
This month you can add ex-Pats Glen Eastwood and Andrew Cudden to the list of Irish Pub owners when they open the Abbey Tavern at 5151 E. Colfax Avenue (303-321-5151).

Eastwood is no stranger to the bar business. Over the past decade in Denver, he has been a well-respected barman managing Casey’s Bistro & Pub and Fado Irish Pub. His transitions from pub manager to pub owner took a logical course. “I got into this business 11 years ago and found that it was something I really enjoyed, then I got to a point were I wanted my own place. Said Eastwood who added, “I drank in Irish pubs all my life and I have tried to build a pub that reflects all that is fun and inviting in an Irish pub.” Cudden, on the other hand owns a painting business in Denver, but made it clear that owning a pub was one of his goals. “I set up Emerald Isle Irish Painting company back in ‘98 and I have worked very hard to get it to this point, the next step for me was to hopefully own an Irish pub in Denver that I could be proud of.”

It took a while for Eastwood and Cudden to find the right space in the right location a space and after a few false starts they came across a building that was to become the Abbey. “We are in the Parkhill neighborhood and we really felt like Parkhill would be a great location for the type of bar that we had planned to build.” The Abbey is also located off a bus route and will share a parking lot with Nuggs Gourmet Ice Cream Shop (opening in January). Most urban business owners would be happy enough to have free parking onsite, however, Eastwood is already planning alternative use for the parking lot over that special time in March. “The building had such character and it also had a parking lot that we could use for the likes of St Patrick’s day!”

The Abbey Tavern is named after a bar in the fishing village of Howth, Ireland. The inspiration to name it so, came by way of the 5 archways that are visible from Colfax Avenue. “From very early in the plans we decided these would make great tables to put in garage doors and create 6 top tables with 3 people sitting inside the pub and 3 people out on the patio,” said Eastwood.

The Abbey will open for happy hour at 4pm Monday to Friday and at 10am Saturday and Sunday serving Brunch until 3pm. They will have a full kitchen serving food until 10pm Sunday through Thursday and open midnight Friday and Saturday. The menu will offer the Irish staples including Irish breakfast, beef stew, fish & chips, etc., and also a wide variety of appetizers and sandwiches. The social lubricants and food enhancers from the bar will include the usual Irish favorites on tap – Guinness, Smithwicks and Mangers as well as a wide variety of local brews on tap and in a bottle. According to Eastman they will open the Abbey with deals to attract new customers. “We will be offering a very aggressive happy hour Monday to Friday 4-7pm with all well, wine and draft at $3 and all apps $5.95. We will also be offering an all-day everyday special of $4 liquor feature and $3 pint feature.”

In the New Year the sounds of live Irish acoustic music will be heard on Monday nights and Geeks Who Drink bar trivia will bring in some fun folks on Thursday nights. Of course there will be dart boards inside and corhole and giant jingo to play on the patio. According to Eastman you also can bring your own electronics to play or communicate. “All tables inside and on the patio have been fitted with power so you will have no problem powering up those tablets and smart phones,…The modern world!” And don’t worry about missing any Bronco games as the lads have you covered with the NFL package!

Both Eastman and Cudden are beaming with pride with their dream pub that has come to fruition and look forward to sharing it with friends and neighbors. “We have put a lot of time and effort creating what we hope is a warm and welcoming Irish pub. We looked around locally and at home and took all the things we have liked in other places and incorporated those things with our own ideas to make best use of such a unique space.” Enthused Eastman and Cudden added, “We also hired a local artist to build our back bar out of stone and really nice aged wood, we are so happy with the results and we think you will be too.”

By Luke Henderson
Nick Laney is a decorated fighter based out of Infinite MMA in Loveland, Colorado. He holds wins over major names, titles, records. But a year ago the fighter decided the thing his career needed most was a bit more green, and relocated to Ireland. “I had heard about an opportunity to take over as the head of an MMA program in Cork and after thinking it over and consulting with my family and mentors, I decided to pursue it. I was there for a little over 11 months,” Laney said.
One of the standout fighters in Colorado, he made the unheard of move of not just changing states, but whole countries. Confusion was immediate from fans who wondered if perhaps he wasn’t going back to reconnect with some Irish roots that none knew about. “Yeah, with a name like Laney right? Well, my dad was adopted by a Laney, so no, not Irish by heritage. But you say I look Irish? Not sure, after being around those guys, that this is as much of a compliment as you think it is,” Laney said, with a good natured jab at his new found family in Ireland.
He speaks highly, nearly poetically, about his time on the Emerald Isle. “The best part was being able to experience a different culture and see another part of the world on someone else’s dime. I had a lot of fun meeting and getting to know my new team and helping them progress as martial artists. The team I ran is called The MMA Clinic, and there are a lot of talented, really hardworking guys there,” he said.
The big question, of course, was what did he do to fit in with the indigenous people of Ireland and did a certain popular drink help him acclimate? “The more I drank, the more Irish I felt. But what, Guinness? No sir. We drink Murphy’s in the real capitol of Ireland!” Laney said with a shout.
Imbibing of the drink is one thing, but food in another. Ireland has been long stereotyped by American consumers as being a land of lush fields and awful food, an ugly rumor Laney wants to put to rest right away. “Oh, the food! The food was great actually. A lot of people bad mouth it, but honestly if you know where to look they have some of the best meat and produce in the world,” he said.
But for fans of the sport, a big question is if MMA looks the same the world over. “They tap like you do, they get knocked out, they win. It’s all the same. A fight is a fight, everywhere you go,” Laney said.
Though he was a world away, Laney made headlines all the way back in the states in April with a Superman-punch, a leaping closed fist, that knocked out his opponent. “That was one thing I had been showing the guys in the gym. I said you could have fun and be effective in the ring. I had a great first round and started feeling really comfortable, so I tried a show-time kick in the second by the timing was a little off. My opponent gave me a high five for attempting it. Then he pressured forward and the range and timing was just too perfect and it hit and it dropped him,” Laney said.
Worldwide acclaim aside, Laney’s time in Ireland was not always perfect. The father of a young daughter, he spent a great deal of the time wondering about the moments he was missing back home.
“It was extremely difficult, definitely the hardest part of the whole experience. I missed thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, my daughter’s birthday, those are things you can’t get back. But I’m doing my best to make up for it now by spending as much time as I can with her,” Laney said.

Some of that time though, is now dedicated to preparing for his first fight since returning to the US. No sooner had the man known as ‘The Natural’ returned, than promoters were knocking on his door to get him back in the cage. He’ll be fighting for Sparta Combat League on November 16 at their ‘Lords of the Legion’ show at the Grizzly Rose. “I’m excited to be fighting for Sparta again. I look forward to any time I can punch someone in the face and not go to jail,” Laney said with a laugh.
Laney is 5-1 as a professional and 13-2 lifetime. Out of all of those fights, stretching back to 2008, only one has gone to a decision. So he has reason to be confident. “My opponent is supposed to be a pretty good wrestler but I’m confident in my skills wherever the fight goes. If I don’t KO him before we hit the ground then you’ll get to see him tap out instead,” Laney promised.
Laney returns to Colorado from Cork to an adoring family, an improved level of competition, and a renewed interest in the sport locally. While new fans may not know him, those that remember are ready to embrace his winning style once more and welcome him back from the land of the fairy folk, to the Rocky Mountains.

Photo Credits:
Fight Poster: Photo Provided by Sparta Combat League
Picture0002-Nick Laney prepares to engage an opponent. Photo provided by Nick Laney
Picture0003-Nick Laney enjoys the Irish countryside. Photo provided by Nick Laney

Celebrate the “Celtic New Year” with the world-music scene’s preeminent Celtic party band, Gaelic Storm, Friday November 1st at the Gothic Theatre!
Gaelic Storm came to worldwide attention when they were seen as the energetic band playing during the steerage party in the block buster movie, Titanic.
Since then, the irrepressible band continues to perform their signature acoustic, indie-folk -rock and world grooves with Celtic tradition, in concert to enthusiastic fans over 200 days a year!

Their ten recordings have been on the top side of Billboard’s World Music Charts including “The Boathouse” which was just released in September. The always witty band were quick to comment,
“We can’t believe it. Without iTunes, Amazon, or retail stores of any kind, we managed to hit #1 on the Billboard World Albums chart for the FOURTH TIME! We didn’t even have to twerk on live TV. We can’t thank you guys enough. GS fans are the best there is!”

The Boathouse is described by the band as “Classic songs of the sea – Recorded in one whiskey fueled week in a boathouse on The Chesapeake Bay.” The songs contain tales “From New York to Cork City, Liverpool to Mobile Bay, from Greenland to Hawaii: Pirates, Slave Traders and Johnny Jack Tarrs aboard Three Skysail Yarders and Fully Rigged Clippers face the dangers of the mighty whale, the roaring wind, the crashing ocean, the flying cannon balls and the ladies of ill repute.”
The Boathouse has inspired the band as a new way of making music. They refer the idea of traveling to a remote location in order to record for one week as the “Small Batch Sessions.” Pressing a limited amount and offering it only on their website and at live concerts, they make their CD exclusive.

Gaelic Storm is: Patrick Murphy (Cork City, Ireland) Vocals, Accordion, Harmonica; Steve Twigger (Coventry, England), Vocals, Guitar, Bouzouki; Ryan Lacey on drums and world percussion; Kiana Weber on fiddle (USA) and Pete Purvis ( Merrickville, Ontario) Uillean pipes, tin whistle, daeger pipes and highland pipes (a Grade 1 piper who toured with award winning pipe bands).
Friday, November 1st, 2013, Showtime: 7:30 PM Doors Open: 6:30 PM
Gothic Theatre, 3263 South Broadway, Englewood, CO 80113-2425
All Ages (under 16 w/parent or guardian) – General Admission
Advance Tickets: $22.00 Day of Show Tickets: $27.00
Tickets available online www.gothictheatre.com
(subject to service and handling fees).
Info: Celtic Events 303-777-0505

FRIDAY OCTOBER 25, 8:00PM Show
7:00PM Doors (Wear circa 1800’s/Rocky Mountain costume – prizes for best costume)
Historic Rialto Theater, 228 E. 4th Street, Loveland , CO
$22 Group (10), $25 Advance, $29 Door All Ages Show / All Seats Reserved
Tickets available online rialtoloveland.ticketforce.com or call 970-962-2120 or reserve in person at the Rialto Theater Box office, or Medeiros Music, 129 E. 5th St., Loveland.

One of the all-time best Irish bands in the world will perform their high octane tunes and songs at the Historic Rialto Theater in Loveland October 25th – with a Rocky Mountain twist!
SOLAS, “Irish America’s most influential band” (NPR’s The Thistle and Shamrock), present Shamrock City: a multi-media show of original music, and featuring remarkable photos and stories from turn-of-the-century copper boomtown Butte, MT. Inspired by a family story of immigration, mining and murder, SOLAS and bandleader Seamus Egan will take you on the unforgettable journey of his great-great uncle Michael Conway’s life in Ireland and mysterious death in America.
The band’s recent album, Shamrock City, is in the same vein of high level of musicianship associated with SOLAS, but their newfound connection to the Rocky Mountain west has struck a mother lode of new passion in the band’s music.
Wear your circa 1800’s Rocky Mountain themed costume to the newly renovated Historical Loveland Theater on October 25th (the Friday before Halloween!) and be a part of the party – you just know it’s going to be a great night of entertainment!

What the Press is saying about Shamrock City:
“SOLAS populates their newly-minted, wily western landscape with gamblers, drinkers and women…a richly-textured musical backdrop that could be a first- cousin-once-removed of Springsteen’s The Seeger Sessions.” – Siobhan Long, The Irish Times
“[Shamrock City is] a deeply thoughtful, imaginative collection of songs which grapple with the wealth of ideas and emotions inherent in the immigrant journey…” – Kim Ruehl, Folk Alley
“Shamrock City mixes rough-hewn Celtic melodies with voices sweet enough to savor the pain.” – Jim Farber, New York Daily News
“Wonderful” – Gwen Orel, Speakeasy (Wall Street Journal culture blog)
“…this could be a landmark recording, and in some aspects it might very well be the best one they have ever done, which is saying something given the “supernova” status of their early years…” Paul Keating, Irish Central