Blog—April, 2008
We’ve been trying to book a lot of gigs this year but still hitting brick walls with some folk, but we’ll keep trying. We just signed a record contract with Greentrax and our first album should be released around the start of 2009.

Blog—December 2009
The Paul McKenna Band have won Up and Coming Artist of the Year at the MG Scots Trad Music Awards! We would like to thank everyone who has supported us and helped us out over the last few years.

Blog—October 2011
We are delighted to announce the band have received a nomination in the category of Scots Folk Band Of The Year at the 2011 Scots Trad Music Awards.

Although the Paul McKenna band lost out to The Battlefield Band (43 years along and still going) the meteoric rise of this band says something about the talent inherent in this dynamic group. Paul McKenna (guitar/vocals), David McNee (bouzouki/tenor guitar), Mike Vass (fiddle), Sean Gray (flute/whistle), Ewan Baird (bodhran) hail from Glasgow, Scotland. While their years as a band have been short, their impact has been large and to date have produced two outstanding albums. Their debut album “Between Two Worlds”, produced by Dick Gaughan was an engaging mix of songs and tunes and was recently followed up in 2011 with “Stem The Tide” on the Mad River label in the U.S., which was produced by ex-Battlefield Band member Brian McNeill. While both albums are excellent in terms of musicianship, word on the street is that you have to experience this band live to get the full effect.

I caught up with Paul McKenna as he and the band are playing at the moment at the massive Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow.

CR–You made your first appearance at Celtic Connections in 2008. How have things changed for the band since then? Was winning up and coming Scots Trad Band a turning point, or a validation?
P McK–Many things have changed since our first appearance at Celtic Connections. We were still in the early stages of the band then and have matured a lot since then. I think that’s evident in our music.

CR–Mike Vass is making his debut with the band right now at the Celtic Connections. How is it going and what brought him into the band? Is Ruairidh (MacMillian) still with the band?
P McK–We are extremely happy to have Mike Join the band, he is an outstanding musician who we have all admired for some time now and are very excited for the future. Unfortunately we had to part ways with Ruairidh Macmillan after many years playing together. It wasn’t and easy time for us, but we are delighted to have Mike now. Things have worked out for the better.

CR–You’ve gone in 4 years from working at getting gigs to being nominated for best Scots Folk Band! What do you think is making people sit up and take notice–finally?
P McK–I’m not really sure….we are extremely hard working and have known what we wanted from this from the outset. I’m glad people are starting to recognize our hard work and we will as always, strive to improve.

CR–How was playing in Milwaukee last August? Was that your first time in USA with the band? Are you looking forward to coming to Colorado??? What are your expectations/fears?
P McK–Milwaukee was simply and amazing place! Someone described it as and Irish Disneyland which I thought was comical. We would love to get back again at some point. It was our 3rd or 4th time in the USA. We certainly are looking forward to coming to Colorado and it will be our first time there so not sure what to expect but I’m sure we will love it!

CR–You seem to spend a lot of time touring Germany (as do many Irish and Scottish bands). What is that all about? Who are your best international crowds?
P McK–Germany is an amazing place to play. The people there just seem to love Scottish and Irish music and I’m not really sure why! We tour there at least twice a year and look forward to each trip back again. We have played in many countries all over the world and I would have to say Germany is one of the best places to be. Of course we love to play at home in Scotland as its our own country but its exciting getting to new places.

CR–You have some nice original tunes and songs on both albums. Do you enjoy composing? Who were major influences for songs? Tunes?
You’ve worked with both Brian McNeill and Dick Gaughan–how was it to work with two “Legends”?
P McK–We all enjoy composing to a certain extent and have many influences, its always a hard questions as each of the guys have totally different influences. We do work closely on our compositions so everyone is happy with things. Both Brian and Dick were great to work with and both people who I had admired for a long time. We will be working again with Brian McNeill on our next album, as we just love him!

CR–What can the Colorado audience expect to see from the Paul McKenna Band this month??
P McK–Some new material and Mike’s first tour with the band so we are all excited. We always aim to put on a good show and Colorado will be no different. We can’t wait to get there!

The Paul McKenna Band will be playing February 25 at the Soiled Dove Underground.
http://www.tavernhg.com/soiled_dove/show/19334
www.paulmckennaband.com

Celebrating Traditional Irish Music in its Purest Form
with
Martin Hayes, artistic director, fiddle
Iarla Ó Lionáird, vocals
Dennis Cahill, guitar
Máirtín O’Connor, accordion
Cathal Hayden, fiddle
Seamie O’Dowd, guitar
David Power, uilleann pipes

Friday April 20th, 2012 All Ages
8PM Show, 7PM Doors, 4PM
Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway, Englewood CO
$30 Advance $35 DOS
http://www.gothictheatre.com/event/94127
Show information: 303-777-0502

Purity, power and intimacy – traditional Irish music at its finest!

Seven of the most compelling artists in Irish music today come together at Symphony Space to explore the heart of Irish traditional music, based on a famous festival curated by Martin Hayes in the West County Cork town of Bantry. Having mesmerized audiences in Ireland and Australia, including two sold-out shows at the Sydney Opera House, Masters of Tradition is now touring the U.S. In solos, duets, trios, and full group collaboration, these acclaimed musicians bring an unparalleled level of mastery to the spellbinding music they play.

MOT 7FlZBmoA3Zo

THE PAUL McKENNA BAND
Saturday February 25, 2012 8PM Show 7PM Doors
The Soiled Dove 7401 E. 1st Ave Denver, CO 80230
$20 Advance $25 DOS RESERVED SEATS/ALL AGES SHOW
Tickets at http://www.tavernhg.com/soiled_dove/show/19334
Public info call 303-777-0502

“The best folk band to have come out of Scotland in the last twenty years” (New York Times)
“The best band of their generation” (The Living Tradition)
“A band with the potential to dominate the Scottish/Irish traditional scene for the next twenty years” (Fatea Magazine)

Since being awarded the title of “Best Up and Coming Artist of 2009″ at the Scots Trad Music Awards, The Paul McKenna Band have gone from strength to strength touring extensively throughout USA, Canada and Europe.
Combining their love for Folk and Traditional music, as well as original songs and tunes; The Paul McKenna Band from Scotland has been captivating audiences with live performances of their new album, titled ‘Stem the Tide’, out now on Greentrax Records.
Concert highlights of 2011 include performances at The Cambridge Folk Festival England, Tonder Festival Denmark, Milwaukee Irish Festival USA and Goderich Festival Canada. 2012 will start off with a bang in January, with a headline performance at the internationally acclaimed Celtic Connections Festival at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
With a contemporary approach to songs, although not straying too far from their roots, their arrangements are both fresh and innovative. The exciting sound of The Paul McKenna Band is created through outstanding Vocals, driving Guitar and Bouzouki, intense fiddle playing, a warm pairing of flute and whistles and dynamic bodhrán and percussion.

Like many Americans, I have always had a fascination with castles. Large, thick, wooden doors, towering turrets, ivy covered walls and spacious water fountains form an undeniable alchemy of intrigue. If you have ever seen a photo of Schloss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, Germany, that which inspired Walt Disney so many years ago, then you know exactly what I mean. Perhaps my fascination exists because ours, with the exception of the Kennedy Camelot dynasty, is a country without kings and lords. Moreover, unlike Ireland, ours is also a country without authentic castles. American mansions, regardless of astronomical square footage, are not, I repeat, not castles. Okay, like many people, I have been to the Biltmore Castle in Asheville, N.C. (even Gillette Castle in Connecticut) and as nice as they are, in my humble opinion, they really don’t count as castles.

I’ll chalk up my interest in authentic castles (with turrets, draw-bridges and moats) to hearing one too many fairytales read to me as a small child. With any luck, childhood fantasies eventually mature into adult dreams. As usual in my case, the luck of the Irish would prove immeasurable. After seeing a photo in a travel magazine, one of my bucket list dreams was to stay overnight in the renowned Ashford Castle (County Mayo). With this in mind, my castle quest began in earnest. It first began by doing a Google search, followed by acquiring several coffee-table books on the subject, (photographers like myself, it should be known, are never satisfied with just one source of reference material).

In the summer of 2011 I set out on a trip to my ancestral homeland on a quest to explore and photograph some of the Emerald Isle’s most intriguing architecture; her castles. Truth be told, Ireland has no shortage of these stone fortresses. Some estimates suggest there are more than 350, with many in ruins, yet all photogenic.
If you, like me, were to compile a list of Irish castles to photograph your head would spin with delight; Ross Castle, Ashford Castle, Trim Castle, Dromoland Castle, Killkenny Castle, Birr Castle, Kylemore Abby and least we forget the Adare Manor, (beware castle hunters; both the Bunratty and Blarney Castles are two of the most popular tourist attractions outside of Dublin; this is code for much PhotoShop work involved).
While not all castles are open to the public or have limited access (Tullynally in County Westmeath comes to mind), over the past several decades, some estate castles have become hotels—many charging a king’s ransom to stay in.
With camera, tripod, batteries, plenty of flashcards, and a litany of prayers to the weather gods, I headed off to the Republic of Ireland with my friend and professional photographer, Mark S. Johnson. Simply stated, we were not disappointed. All toll, our pilgrimage included sixteen castles in 8 days, indeed, only a fraction of Ireland’s majestic wealth, but a bounty for photographers who can spend hours at one site alone. Even the weather was on our side (call me old fashioned, but in my humble opinion, castle photographs look best with some blue sky in the background). I also discovered that some castles, bathed in floodlights are best photographed at night, including the Ross, Trim and Cahir Castles, particularly when there are few people around.

Any professional will tell you that the best time to photograph anything outdoors is in the early morning and late afternoon when light conditions are ideal. Assuming the Irish skies aren’t overcast with the infamous Atlantic Ocean mist, this can prove challenging, particularly when many castles are only open to the public outside of these prime windows of opportunity. The answer to this problem was to book a hotel reservation onsite wherever possible. Though I receive no monetary rewards for writing this, I highly recommend staying at the Adare Manor and Ashford and Dromoland Castles. My bucket list for this requirement is now complete!
Hogwarts not withstanding, the history of European castles is quite fascinating. At the start of the second millennium, fortresses such as Trim, Ross and Cahir Castles were fortifications, designed to withstand invading forces (think Monty Python’s Holy Grail movie). Function and fashion merged together over the centuries, yet in many cases, the end result proved less than ideal. In the Trim Castle, for example, the kitchen was so far removed from the eating hall, that by the time the food was brought up several sets of spiral staircases, the meal was stone cold. Ironically, Mel Gibson chose Trim Castle, County Meath, as one of the major backdrops to his Academy Award winning film, Braveheart (a story, mind you, that takes place in Scotland). Without electricity and plumbing (modern conveniences of the last century) 8-foot walls may have offered protection from invading forces, but not the cold, harsh temperatures or dampness. I am going to spare you of the details regarding what castle moats were made of (again, think Monty Python). Suffice to say that medieval accommodations were nice, but less than ideal, no matter where you lived in that time period.

Over the centuries, the shape of the castle transformed from a three our four-story tower to a stately manor spread over several acres. Adare Manor is one such example. Birr Castle is another. Such detail was taken in the construction of the Adare Manor that symbolically, it mirrors a three-dimensional calendar; a story you will have to hear for yourself when you take their tour.
One of my favorite sites on this quest for all things citadel in nature was Lismore Castle. Still in private hands, we were not able to explore the interiors, save a small wing that houses an art exhibit (the estate gardens, however are available to wander freely for a small fee). Renowned for being the birthplace of Robert Boyle, the father of modern chemistry, Lismore Castle was a favorite respite for Fred Astaire, who’s sister married into the family, as well as a young Jack Kennedy, who’s sister also married into the family years later.
One of the most poignant stories of Irish castles is that of Kylemore Abby, County Mayo. Built as a private home from 1871-1885 by Mitchell Henry for his wife, Margaret, the edifice stands in Gothic fashion reflecting its beauty in a nearby lake. Sadly, Margaret died shortly after the completion of the structure. Like most pieces of real estate, the castle changes hands several times and is now in possession by the Benedictine nuns. Open to the public between the hours of 9-5, be sure to visit the gardens and chapel when you go.
While every castle begs to be photographed, some look best from the air, such as Ashford Castle, first built in 1218, with modifications in 1715 and again 1852 under the ownership of Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness. Under the new ownership of John Mulcahy in 1970, Ashford was renovated once again as a hotel and the grounds made way for a premier golf course. It now caters to the very rich and famous, but for some reason they allowed me in as well.
Which of these castles was my favorite, you ask? It’s hard to say. Each has a charming personality all its own, and each begs to be discovered with fresh eyes and camera lenses.
If you ever decide to make a similar pilgrimage to Ireland, save up some money and be sure to stay overnight in at least one castle. Consider requesting a King-size bed, or at the very least, a Queen. And if you play golf, start working on your handicap. You’ll need it, especially if you knock a ball into the moat (just kidding).

Brian Luke Seaward is an award winning author, photographer and filmmaker. He brings groups of people to Ireland each summer. The dates for his 2012 Spirit of Ireland Journey are June 15-24th. He and more information about his trips can be reached through his website: www.brianlukeseaward.net
Brian Luke Seaward

(Photo) Noel receiving the Civis Princeps (First Citizen) Award from Father Michael Sheeran, S.J., President of Regis University in 2006. It’s the highest honor the University bestows.)

I was stunned, like so many, to hear that Noel Cunningham, restaurateur and humanitarian, had taken his life on December 1, 2011. I was sitting on my living room couch watching the evening news when the story broke and the feeling of disbelief overwhelmed me. One never thinks that they will tune into to the local newscast and hear about a tragic tale involving someone you know and love. Once the news was out, it moved through the community like a tidal wave leaving family, friends, coworkers and humanitarian partners in shock.
Over the past six years, Noel has been a friend, mentor and partner in various community efforts in Ethiopia. This is work that I have been involved with through my position at Regis University. Regis would not be in Ethiopia had it not been for Noel challenging the university to live its mission and to reach out to some of the most marginalized people in the world. For Noel, it was a matter of a making the connection between two entities he knew would have something to offer one another. This was one of Noel’s finest attributes. He was a connector with prowess and practice like no other. In 2003, Noel facilitated that connection and put Regis University administrators together for a visit with the founders of Project Mercy, a 501c(3) nonprofit agency. Noel had begun to support the organization’s development work in Ethiopia, and as a result of this meeting, the Ethiopia Intercultural Service Immersion Program was born.
Since that connection in 2003, Regis University’s Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions (RHCHP) has been traveling almost every year to Ethiopia with a group of Nursing, Physical Therapy, Health Services Administration and Pharmacy students and faculty to learn and serve various communities in the country. Approximately 75 students and 15 faculty and staff have participated in this transformational experience. Partnerships fostered by RHCHP in Ethiopia with nonprofit organizations, clinics, hospitals, and educational institutions have are flourishing. In the spring of 2012, the largest cohort yet of 17 students will travel to Ethiopia for a combination of health related service and clinical work. As Noel liked to stress without reservation, the experience of traveling to Ethiopia to learn and serve is the ultimate embodiment of Regis’ Jesuit mission by demanding those who participate to consider and take action to address challenges facing the world’s most marginalized populations.
Through the years, Noel came to know many of the student participants in this program and spoke to them about his commitment to Ethiopia. He inspired students to always remember the needs that they witnessed as a part of this program. In addition, he partnered with Regis University to support efforts aimed at raising money to build the capacity of Ethiopian nonprofit agencies and schools. For example, in 2007-2008 Noel helped RHCHP students and faculty to raise $20,000 to send a crate of medical supplies and textbooks through Project CURE, a Denver- based international nonprofit organization whose mission is to redistribute medical supplies to places in need around the world. The market value of the crate was estimated at $400,000. The crate helped to outfit the Hossana Health Sciences College in Hossana, Ethiopia with lab equipment and hundreds of new nursing textbooks. When the 2009 Regis cohort arrived at Hossana, the reception we received spoke to the power of this donation which had arrived one month earlier. Students and faculty did lab demonstrations with their new equipment, they toured us through their newly expanded library with shiny new textbooks that many students were making use of, and they treated us to an exquisite meal and traditional coffee ceremony. They were overwhelmingly grateful and we could feel the impact of this donation toward improving the quality of education.
Most recently, the collaboration with Noel that I am most proud of led to the construction of two rural community school buildings outside of Project Mercy’s compound in Yetebon, Ethiopia. I would like to share how this amazing accomplishment came to be because it captures the essence of Noel and, needless to say, it is another achievement that we must credit him for. In May of 2010, I visited Noel at the restaurant he owns and operates, Strings. I had an agenda to discuss with him request that came during RHCHP’s most recent visit to Ethiopia. I was hopeful that my meeting with Noel would result in his support and partnership regarding the request. I knew if we partnered together it would greatly enhance the possibility of fulfilling the request. I had just returned from Ethiopia with a group of Regis students and our primary partner, Project Mercy, asked Regis, over a candle-lit late night conversation, to help either renovate or build a new community school down the road from the Project Mercy grounds in rural Ethiopia. The organization has its own school and it is one that provides a high-quality education to local kids who are able to get accepted into it. However, the school that is operated by Project Mercy is only capable of taking 200-250 kids each year due to the size and resources that are in the school. The problem is that each year more than one thousand kids pour down from the mountain sides surrounding the school with hopes of being one of the lucky few to get in. Those who aren’t lucky enough to be accepted into the school that is operated by Project Mercy end up attending the local community school. Project Mercy explained that this school was infested with termites, that kids had to sit on dirt floors, and that the overall structures of the school buildings were in disrepair. Project Mercy told me it would take about $12,000 to renovate the current buildings or $80,000 to build an entirely new school building. I wanted to help raise this money and I had worked with previous Ethiopia student cohorts to raise $10,000 for other projects, but I had serious concerns about raising the $80,000 that was needed to construct a completely new school. When I met with Noel to discuss the request, I stressed to him that Regis was not a development organization and that I wanted desperately to be part of building a new school building in Ethiopia but we needed a partner like him and collaboration of other people or groups in Denver to make it happen. Noel patiently listed to me and then, in his very Irish, very direct manner replied, “I will be damned if we are going to raise $12,000 to renovate a community school in rural Ethiopia when in five years the building is going to be right back where we started. We are building a new school in Ethiopia! What do you think about that?”
And so the fundraising efforts began. Today, roughly a year and a half later, with the help of Regis students and faculty, along with a handful of other partners, we have raised every penny of the $80,000. Miraculously, because of Project Mercy’s desire to not favor one community school over another, the one school building has turned into two brand new school buildings that are scheduled to be finished this month. Approximately 400-500 kids will now have a dignified place to learn. There were a lot of people who supported this project but Noel was the one who inspired all of us to aim big. It was his perspective that taught those involved in the project, if you put the vision out there, people will gravitate to it and you will find the support you need to cross the finish line.
If you know Noel or know of Noel, you then know that this is just one of so many examples of how he inspired the world to change for the better. In this case, going forward, the lives and education of thousands of kids will be forever changed and made better because of my friend, Noel. When you think about it, it is rather simple. Noel had the uncanny ability to shoot for the stars, set big goals, tell everyone he knew about them and eventually the needed support would come; resulting in more lives changes forever! Noel’s impact on the world will live on in so many meaningful ways. He was one of the kindest and most inspiring people I have ever met and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work together with him on what he loved most, making the world a better place.
Since his death, many people connected to Noel that I know, including me, have been wondering how to honor him. One easy way to do this is to keep telling stories of the larger than life man. Like a project Noel would raise money for, let’s all commit to keep putting the story of Noel Cunningham out there. We owe it to him and we owe it to ourselves, for he was human like us, and a remarkable one that we will all miss. The stories of Noel will help keep him strong in our hearts and his legacy to live on in thousands of lives that have been and are still being transformed from Noel’s tireless pursuits.

Colorado’s 41st Governor Bill Ritter gave a thoughtful and poignant eulogy that spoke of Noel’s “spectacular works” that touched people’s lives from Denver to around the world with vigorous efforts to fundraise for schools, health care clinics, hospitals, playgrounds and other projects.
He gave examples of Noel and wife Tammy’s commitment to build programs at Yetabon in Ethiopia through Project Mercy, and other collaborative enterprises, – Share our Strength, Taste of the Nation, Safe House, Toys for Tots, Volunteers of America, Quarters for Kids, the Hope Bracelet project – all just a partial list of their extraordinary philanthropy.
Through tears and sometimes humorous recollections he reminded us of Noel’s down-to-earth personality. Having hosted Presidents, dignitaries, and others of fame and fortune, he still kept an uncommon humility and never put himself above anyone regardless of their social standing.

It’s no surprise to know that the first time I meet Noel he was helping someone. His friends John and Una Nallen, had recently opened Nallen’s Irish Pub and Restaurant in downtown Denver . He went down to the pub to observe and lend his expertise to his fellow natives of Ireland. He was good at giving advise.

When our Celtic Connection morphed from a newsletter to a newspaper format he was the first to call with congratulations followed by suggestions on how to make it better. He was a straight shooter but never insulting.
I always appreciated the time and caring that he gave to a regular ham-‘n-egger like me. He seemed to understand the challenges of what we were trying to do at the CC and Celtic Events. He would wonder out loud how we could financially sustain and offer a “let me know if I can help buddy.” And he did help.

Most of our Celtic Events require us by contract to feed the performers. I would regardless for fear of being haunted by my dear Mom if I was not a good host to visitors. Because of time and money, we usually have Thai, Chinese, or other food requested by the band delivered to the “green room” at the venue. But every now and then circumstances allow or dictate that you put out the fine china. For us that meant a trip to Strings. After a fine meal that one would expect from Noel and staff, we would always find that the bearded one had whittled away a portion of the bill. One night he did more.

It was one of those nights were the band played great and the audience was enthusiastic- but afterwards when you add up all of costs to present, promote, and produce you find that you didn’t make it past your breakeven point. You leave the box-office with a smile plastered over the pain because you don’t want to be a downer to the happy folks surrounding you – But inside you worry how you are going to get your next tank of gas.
With enough room on a credit card to proceed we left the venue for a post gig diner at Strings. During the course of the evening Noel asked me if the show was a success. As discreetly and nonchalantly as possible I told him that the show was awesome but that there were tears on my calculator.

Noel saw straight through my attempt at levity. At the end of the night the waiter came to our table and told us that our meal was compliments of Noel.

Thank you Noel, your inspirational caring and unconditional kindness will be remembered forever.

~ Pat McCullough
The Celtic Connection/Celtic Events & Entertainment

…………………………….

A few years back when Regis gave Noel the Civis Princeps Award, the First Citizen Award, Noel dressed in the finest, plumed and puffed up academic regalia, not the best fit for him, reminded all the professors present, “You don’t have to have a Ph.D. to know you have to be charitable in this life.” It is my favorite quote by Noel and he never forgot his Dublin working class roots. He wanted to wear his chef’s cap that day.
~ Dennis Gallagher, (Denver City Auditor)

…………………………….
Noel was tireless in his support of all things Irish, including the trinity of goals of the American Ireland Fund – peace, charity, and culture. His wry smile, the gleam in his eye, and his generosity of heart and spirit made Noel a pillar of the Irish community in Colorado and across the globe. The support he provided, financial and culinary, but most importantly, his warmth, humor and bounteous spirit, will be irreplaceable. We all mourn this great loss, and take heart from the abundant legacy Noel has left for all of us to follow and be nourished from.
~ Edward P. Timmins, Esq.

……………………………………
When my loving husband, Klaus Christ, suffered a stroke, Noel arrived through the side door at the nursing home, with his cart, a napkin draped across his arm, a big smile, and personally wheeled the cart into Klaus’ room filled with wonderful food prepared from Strings………..This wonderful food nursed my husband back to good health. Noel arrived every day for weeks to come! It was Noel who brought a wonderful healer from Ethiopia to our home who miraculously had my paralyzed husband rise from his wheelchair and walk around our room without his cane. There are no words to describe this wonderful friend and humanitarian. May his spirit live on forever and pass on his charitable, unselfish, benevolent love for mankind. He fed the old, the homeless, the orphaned, the abandoned, the elite, and me. I will never forget the sparkle in his eye, and warm welcome each and every time we met. He was truly unforgettable. May God bless and comfort his wonderful family at this most difficult time. May Noel’s legacy carry on forever. ~ Sonja Christ
………………………………………
Noel most recently hosted the fledgling Irish Business Network Colorado at Strings and made it memorable by his being there. We will miss him terribly..
~ Tom Burke, Esq.
………………………………………
In late 2002, a friend and I were having lunch at Strings when Noel came to our table, talked briefly about giving globally, and me a book, Sheltered By The King by Marta Gabre-Tsadick from Ethiopia. As he walked away he said, “ I’ll call you in a couple weeks.” That he did!

We talked briefly about the book and he asked me if I could connect him with Regis University. A few calls got the ball rolling and today Regis University’s Rueckert Hartman College for Health Care Professions (RHCHP) sponsors an annual trip of students and alumni/ae, that has grown to more than 75 students, to Ethiopia. According to Jeremy Lee, Director of Center for Service Learning in RHCHP, some students in the health professions choose Regis because they know they will have a global experience in a poor country like Ethiopia.

In 2004 the Denver Business Journal named Noel Cunningham Corporate Citizen of the Year. Noel, I quickly learned was the ideal role model for our corporate world that, generally speaking, stands in need of healing.

Noel lived the meaning of philanthropy, philios – love * anthropos – (man) people. He had a desire to improve the material, social, and spiritual welfare of humanity. I thank Noel for who he was and all he did — a man with a big heart. My faith tells me that he is now at peace with our merciful God.

~Lydia M. Peña, SL – Sister of Loretto
Former Academic Advisor at Loretto Heights College to
Pat McCullough, Publisher, Celtic Connection
……………………………………

Words buckle and fail in the wound of such loss! He was, and remains, so much to so many: all that passion and compassion, the charming wit and the giving heart, the compelling vision and the radical commitment to bring dreams to reality, to dress the drearest portion of the day with hope and care. Most especially, we lament his absence in the lives of the many students he inspired. His example will continue to feed us and lift us. May he who rested so little in his days here rest eternally and peacefully.
~ Victoria McCabe (Regis University)
………………………………………..

Noel was an angel who walked among us. A rare and generous soul.
~ Cindy Reich
………………………………………..

The world ,and for now, our Denver community ,need to know what an amazing man Noel was and what a legacy he has left.
He is and will still be an inspiration to everyone to go out of their way for others,no matter what and no matter where in this world.
In a way I see him on the level of Princess Diana and want the world to know this..
Susan Morrice, (Belize Natural Energy (BNE))

…………………………………………….
Noel has been a good friend, mentor and partner in Ethiopia work that RHCHP has been involved with over the past 6 years. RHCHP would not be in Ethiopia were it not for Noel challenging our school to live its mission and reach out to some of the most marginalized people in the world. Since 2003, thanks to Noel, we now have 75 Ethiopia program alumni and have our biggest group yet of 16 students getting ready to leave for Ethiopia in March of 2012. Through the years, he has gotten to know many of the groups and spoke to them about his commitment to Ethiopia and inspired students to not forget about the needs they witnessed.
This is one of the highlights of my work with him. In May of 2010, I visited Noel at Strings. I had an agenda to discuss with him a recent request from Project Mercy to Regis University which would hopefully lead to his support and partnership. Project Mercy is the NGO that Noel and Regis had now been partnered with for many years and done significant work with. Project Mercy asked Regis to help either renovate or build a new community school down the road from the Project Mercy grounds. The Project Mercy school was only capable of taking 200-250 kids in each year of over one thousand that hoped to get in. Those that didn’t get in attended the local community school that I was told was infested with termites, where many kids had to sit on dirt floors, and the overall structure of the buildings was in disrepair. Project Mercy told me it would take about $12,000 to renovate the current buildings or $80,000 to build an entirely new school building. I had serious concerns about raising $80,000 and stressed to Noel that Regis is not a development organization. We needed a partner like him and collaboration of other people or groups in Denver to make it happen. In Noels words, “I will be damned if we are going to raise $12,000 to renovate a community school in rural Ethiopia when in five years the building is going to be right back where we started. We are building a new school in Ethiopia. What do you think about that?” With that, we were off. Now, roughly a year and a half later, we together raised $80,000 which ended up leading to two bran new school buildings being built in rural Ethiopia. It is estimated that 500 kids will now have a dignified place to learn. Going forward, the lives and education of thousands of kids will be forever changes and made better because Noel. The buildings are due to be finished this month and this is another wonderful tribute to Noel. He had a canny ability to shoot for the stars, set big goals, tell everyone he knows about them and eventually the needed support would come. Wallah…more lives changed forever. Noel’s impact on the world will live on in so many meaningful ways. He is one of the kindest and most inspiring people I have ever met and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work together with him on what he loved most, making the world a better place.

Jeremy Lee, MNM Director, Center for Service Learning
Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions

………………………………………………
After 25 years of knowing Noel Cunningham, it was obvious that he was a very special person that was larger than life. He was an inspiring leader and a true asset to the community. In all of the years visiting with Noel, he continuously provided me with sound advice. He would follow up each encounter with a strong handshake saying, “What can I do to help you,” a phrase that he undoubtedly used frequently. He was an empowering man and I will miss him dearly as a friend, a mentor and a fellow Irishman.

John Nallen (Nallen’s Irish Pub)

Montana ad January CC 2012Montana ad January CC 2012Montana Ad 50%

A first generation Irish-American, his father who hails from County Roscommon, is Founder and Director of the Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival. John continues his father’s legacy, love of the Irish heritage and vision for the festival as Assistant Director of the 30th Annual event which will be held July 20 – 22, 2012.
O’Brien has recently had his first book of poetry published. First Generation, showcases 69 poems divided into six chapters written in critical moments in his life. Love; Ireland: Music to America; My Family; It’s Love in a Way, but Really R.A.; Ghosts in the Attic; and My City.

First Generation can be purchased directly from John O’Brien’s website, SongsAndStories.net.

The Vacant Chair
I asked her if she could go home or did she have to stay out all night
She looked at me kind of funny, then her laughter peeled with delight
My heart it broke in two, and today I can still freeze the moment
But a terrible devil had been born, it’s destruction bent to foment
We saw no sign. We were young, without a care
Now I sit alone at the table, across from the vacant chair
We struck up a friendship; there was nothing more at first
Yet every time we separated, I felt an unquenchable thirst.
Friends grew to lovers, in body and the spirit.
We finally faced our fate, time to precious to mourn or hear it.
We found each others joys, she loved the teddy bear
Her soul hugged her heart, when I built the vacant chair
She was beautiful, she was gorgeous. The kindness that I saw
How she left me after the night, and always in constant awe
I was never so happy, we traveled and we laughed
We danced and we sang, she was a master at her craft
I wrote while she painted, her skill extraordinaire
Poems and fond memories, engraved deep in the vacant chair
We never had such happiness, each was wide with wonder
That kindred souls found each other, amidst the din and the thunder
No children had we, tho’ in the thought we’d often revel
For the sickness had already started, the bastard of the devil
Waiting, throwing up, more chemo left to bear
And when the pain got too bad, I widened out her chair
Time slipped away, but the devil wouldn’t let go
The drugs and the treatments – rained blow upon blow
She fought it so valiantly; she cried that we might part
Then I learned that it was winning and a knife ripped apart my heart
I did all that I could, she loved when I washed her hair
Damn you devil, Damn the empty vacant chair
Day after day, yet her smile was still bright,
When I’d walk in the room, see her body there so white
She was home now, in her own home, peaceful here at last
We planned out her funeral, and remembered about the past
The pain and the fashion, were more than I could bear
For one last night I held her close, as we dreamed together in the vacant chair
I asked her if she must go home or could she stay out all night
She looked at me kind of funny, then laughed with remembered delight
My heart it broke in two and I can still freeze the moment
But the terrible devil had won, death’s taking it did foment
We were frozen in time, lost, without a care
Now I sit alone at the table, across from the vacant chair
The time it goes so slowly, the moment’s hard to wait
This that brought such delight, now how I’ve started to hate
How can it sit empty, when I am still sitting here?
How can the crying stop, when every single thing brings a tear?
I miss you love, we were a once-in-a-lifetime pair
So I search out the polish. Lovingly, I caress the vacant chair.
• The Vacant Chair was awarded 1st Prize in the 2010 Irish Books Arts and Music (iBAM) Showcase

One of the best things about Irish traditional music, and indeed most traditional musics, is that so much of it is about the community that builds itself around and through it. Those who have taught others, both directly and indirectly, formally and informally, have passed on what they learned and we in our turn try to pass that on to others. Because of that, we are something like immortal. We will live on as long as the music does, so long as we tried to pass on what we learned from others. And we’re interconnected through this music and through the times, both good and bad, that we’ve shared through it.

On January 2, many of us in the Celtic community celebrated the life of Michael Reid, a long-time concertina player in the Boulder session. Michael, after battling cancer for a long time, passed on December 16. Immediately, amid our group emails, we began sharing stories and tunes associated with him. Michael was a skilled, spirited musician who contributed a huge body of tunes and knowledge to the group, amid the craic of countless sessions. We will greatly miss both his friendship and his playing. He had a deep love of the music, graciously shared that with so many of us, and will be a part of the ‘flavor’ and vitality of the session for a long time to come. “This is a Michael Reid tune . . .” will no doubt be heard often in the back room at Conor O’Neill’s in Boulder.

Rest in peace, Michael. You’ll never be forgotten while the music lives.

from friends of Michael

In an essay, Unitarian Minister turned author/essayist Robert Fulghum described an Aha! lesson he learned from an Auschwitz survivor about the distinction between a problem and an inconvenience. Denver antique dealer, Celtic music supporter and session fiddler Eron Johnson could just as easily be the purveyor of that particular lesson – and teach the rest of us about getting out of our own way and growing as much as we can.

Growing up as an adopted child in Wheat Ridge, he acquired a strong work ethic from his Dad, who was Director of Parks Planning for the City and County of Denver (and is responsible for the creation of the Cherry Creek bike path and the Four Mile House Park) and also learned how to use and care for tools. The focus, drive and energy that mark everything Eron does today was manifested when he was fifteen years old and began frequenting a craft store across the street from Wheat Ridge High School. Bill Snyder, the first of Eron’s many mentors after his Dad, taught him how to work with a soldering iron in making stained glass artwork, among other things. From there, Eron taught himself how to repair stained glass windows, a pursuit that led him to another mentor, Mickey Zeppelin, a real estate developer (the Taxi Project in the RINO neighborhood north of Coors Field among other properties) who bought some restored stained glass windows from Eron and taught him about real estate.

During high school, Eron ran a small business buying windows, mantles and other structural items from contractors doing demolition or renovation of older homes in Denver, repairing or refinishing them and then selling them to people like Mickey. After high school, his entrepreneurial spirit and thirst for new experiences and adventure took him on the road where he traveled across the country buying and selling antiques out of the trunk of his car during the 70’s and 80’s.

Returning to Denver and using the lessons he learned from Mickey, began buying houses and other buildings, repairing them while living in them and then selling them, culminating in the store he now has at 451 Broadway – that was originally the home of Ventnor Chevrolet in 1917 – and a 50,000 square foot warehouse and lot near South Lipan St. and Alameda In his store and warehouse, he has antiques that range from pieces of small jewelry to a $75,000 crystal chandelier to 16 foot high stone columns with fluted capitals. And in that warehouse, he hosts Celtic music sessions and what, in other circumstances, would be called “House Concerts” by local and visiting musicians attended by hundreds of fans over the years.

The music happens there because one day about seven years ago, he accompanied a friend to the Sunday evening session at Conor O’Neill’s in Boulder and was immediately intrigued by the music, the people and the feeling of comfortable community among the people there. He became interested in the fiddle, bought one (he now owns 9 of them) and began teaching himself to play by ear. Now this is where the problem/inconvenience challenge comes in, because Eron contracted whooping cough as an adult and lost most of his hearing and wears hearing aids; what to most of us would be a barrier, to Eron is an interesting challenge to be met and overcome. Working with Jesse Burns (who is now fiddler for Gaelic Storm) and other local fiddlers to improve his technique, Eron now attends several sessions each week while continuing to work 6 or 7 days on his antique business.

That love of music has led him to open his warehouse for performances by musicians like Mason Brown, Doug Goodland, Connie Dover, Paddy O’Brien with Tom Dahill, Oisin MacDirmada and Brian Cunningham, Irish fiddler Kevin Burke, Scottish fiddlers Catherine Fraser and Duncan Smith, award winning guitarist Tony McManus, Performance Poetry by Neil McCarthy and many others.

Ever curious and in continuous search of growth, he takes classes in furniture making, glass-blowing, jewelry crafting, photography and pottery so he can learn how things are made in order to be a better buyer of the antiques he buys on his travels around the world. His work in the pottery class has led to the sale of a piece to the Vance Kirkland Museum.

He will keep supporting musicians and furniture people and others who have something special to contribute to making the world a better place because he finds it so satisfying to be able to share life and art and music with others. He said that “Music brings people together and gives them a common bond. Singers and songwriters are tied to their times and their influences and their music tells stories that form that bond.”

While he is not sure what will come next for him, he is certain that it will be something new and different and that he will continue to mentor others as much as he can. In voicing what seems to be a description of how he’s lived in his life, he said “It’s never too late to learn something new. Just do it. Quit talking about it and do it.”

Photographs and videos of Mr. Collins visit may be viewed at the Irish Network Colorado website, http://www.irishnetworkco.com, the Celtic Connection website, www.CelticConnection.com or the Celtic Connection facebook page www.facebook/celtic.rockies

Barry Fey, the legendary Denver based concert promoter, was a trailblazer in the evolution of live Rock n’Roll. He didn’t just break the trail – he paved the road too – even put vehicles on it and gave them direction. His eye for talent and ability to pitch his product were unequaled.
I thought about this last month as I was on my way to pick him up and drive him to Red Rocks Amphitheater.
Barry had agreed to meet Ireland’s Ambassador Michael Collins and his entourage at the famous site of the historic Rock video “Under A Blood Red Sky.” The video and accompanying album helped propel Irish Rock band U2 to stardom as one of the most popular band in the world.
Barry’s just released book “Backstage Past” gives the behind-the-scenes account of that event and his early relationship with Bono and the gang. It’s full of his first hand accounts of his 30 years growing and cultivating the live concert business and becoming one of the top promoters on the planet. As one would expect from Barry, no punches are pulled. He talks about the Rock Stars, agents, promoters that he liked or hated. You should buy this book – I’m not shilling for Barry, I’m just doing a favor to our readers who, like me, have an interest in the history of Denver, Rock n’ Roll, and the music business.

Standing in the middle of the parking lot was Barry, wearing his standard shorts and tennis shoes. I smiled at the iconic figure, still recognizable to so many Colorado concert goers from over the years. For the benefit of the Irish dignitaries he added a U2 shirt from UABRS and a tuxedo top coat to his ensemble. (He was invited to the White House by President Clinton and also wore shorts!)

As we drove to Red Rocks his cell phone was ringing almost non-stop. Often it was Phil Lobel, former Student Program Council Director from CU Boulder, concert promoter, and now a publicist in L.A. They were trying to salvage a recent interview Barry did for a London newspaper. Barry gave a candid negative opinion about Mick Jagger’s (Rolling Stone) wife Bianca and she threatened to sue that paper if the story was published. Not backing down, Barry wondered where he could send the story were it could be published.
I broke a rare moment of silence and told Barry how excited I was to go up to the Rocks.
During my school years I worked as a ‘grunt-out-front’ at Barry’s shows and have so many great memories. It is a very special place for me and I still get an adrenalin rush when I enter the place. Expecting Barry to share my sentiment in-kind, I was surprised that he replied just the opposite – He told me that after doing over 960 plus shows on the Rocks, they did not have of an effect on him.
However, by the time we left we both knew otherwise.

Steve Eisenstein, Manager of Events form City of Denver, (also a former security/event staff grunt) was gracious enough to meet us at the tourist center at the top of Red Rocks.
When the Ambassador and entourage arrived Barry showed them around up top, followed by a tour with Steve into the center. Barry and I stayed up by the front door. I told him a few of my Red Rocks memories but mostly I listened – I did not want to miss a word that he had to say. There were some laughs, but also a lot of bitching and head scratching about the nature of the concert business post Barry. But you can get some bits and pieces about that in his book.

After the walk-through of the tourist center, we all drove down behind Red Rocks to the backstage. As we neared backstage Barry became increasingly sentimental – talking about how good Denver had been to him.
The backstage door was unlocked along with Barry’s memories of the glory days and everyone enjoyed the questions and answers that ensued.
From the backstage area we walked onto the stage and took in the awesome view looking up across the seats to the towering Red Rocks. I turned to check on Barry who was the last one to enter. He slowly shook his head and said, “This is an amazing place.” As he got closer I could see tears running from his eyes.

Among all of his attributes as a promoter, Barry was also known for his “management by intimidation” style and gruff exterior. I’ve seen screaming in anger as well as smile at a successful concert. But this show of emotion was the highlight of that day for me.
Almost on cue came what I’m sure was Barry’s highlight of the day.
From up on top of Red Rocks came a loud shout “BARRY! BARRY FAY!” One of his thousands of his appreciative fans just happened to look down and see the historic Colorado figure on stage. Barry will tell you about all of the stars and famous people he knows, but the most important to him are his legions of appreciative live music fans.

“Backstage Past” is published by Richard Wolfe, Lone Wolfe Publishing, and the hardcover is priced $24.94, with a jacket that unfolds into a poster of vintage backstage passes. Sample pages can be viewed on buythisbook.net.
Independent bookstores such as

Pat McCullough, Celtic Events/Celtic Connection