Pat McCullough has been doing his jig for 15 years. He knows a thing or two about what it means to be Irish in Colorado. In anticipation of this weekend’s Colorado Irish Festival in Littleton, McCullough chatted with The Denver Post about pubs, traditional Irish music and public figures in kilts, all of which you can expect at this weekend’s festivities.
Q:How did you become involved with the Colorado Irish Festival?
A:I’ve been with CIF from the first fest, which was tucked away on the historic Ninth Street Mall on the Auraria campus. Months before that innaurgal event, Pat McMahon, one of the fest’s founding members, called and asked me to be the director. He said, “McCullough, you’re new to the Irish community and everyone still likes you.” My initial reaction was to decline, since I knew that if you put groups of Irish in a boat you would be hard-pressed to get them all to paddle in the same direction.
And my hesitation was warranted. The first meetings were held in a makeshift room on top of Nallen’s original pub on California Street. Flaring tempers were commonplace, with even a couple of challenges to meet outside in the alley. All said and done, the first fest was a glorious little event that everyone involved was proud of.
Q: Where is the Irish/Irish-American population best represented in Colorado? How does the culture here compare with more traditional Irish areas like Chicago and Boston?
A: Whether the interest is in Irish music, dance, sports, literature, art, language, history or current events, you can find it here all year long. The cool thing about all of this is that people of all backgrounds are involved. This is reflective in the St. Patrick’s Day parades, the Colorado Irish Festival and even our monthly paper, The Celtic Connection. And no blood test needed to prove Irishness! All folks are welcome to come and enjoy.
Q:Denver isn’t necessarily known for its Celtic music scene. Where are the bands traveling from to appear at the festival?
A: We have bands coming from all over the world. McPeake band, from the legendary McPeake family and school of Irish music in Belfast, are flying directly here for the fest. There’s Leahy, an unbelievably talented eight-member family band from Canada. Gaelic Storm, of “Titanic” fame, have members from Ireland and England (fiddler Jesse Burns, originally from Suffolk, calls Colorado home). Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul are based in the Bronx. Eileen is remembered by many as the woman with the blue fiddle who stepped on stage with Michael Flatley in “Riverdance.” And Grateful Dead fans will know that Wake the Dead are from — you guessed it — San Francisco.
Q:What is it about Celtic music that resonates so well with people, and Irish-Americans in particular?
A: Generally speaking, you could break down Celtic music into loose categories of trad (traditional Irish music), which would be similar to music played by The Chieftains. There are also less-defined pop elements that you can see in everyone from Enya to Flogging Molly to Van Morrison.
Perhaps Irish/Irish-Americans can relate more to some of the music’s historical content, but everyone can relate to the elements of love, loss and happiness that these songs emote. Though I would argue that it is not an ethnic thing. For example, two proponents of Celtic music in Colorado are Cindy Reich and Karl Kumli. Both have been playing Celtic music over the airwaves for the past 20 years and neither have any Irish or Celtic lineage.
Q: What are three things that potential attendees should know about the festival that may not be public knowledge?
A: One, in the current economic environment, “free” is probably an important word to many. There is free parking and a free shuttle, both on-site and off, at the downtown Littleton RTD light rail — a part of Irish Fest going green. Kids 12 and under are free all weekend, and there are a number of ways anyone can get in for free. Check the website for more details.
Two, CIF is helping to sponsor a cutural exchange organzied by Jennifer Dempsey who worked in a Belfast circus and moved to Colorado and founded the Salida Circus for kids. She is bringing in circus kids from Belfast to “clown around” with circus kids from Salida. The fest is also helping to sponsor the “Rockin’ Out MS” tour that Colorado musician Linda Storey, a multiple sclerosis sufferer, has put together with the Screaming MacSweeneys.
Three, Gov. (Bill) Ritter is rumored to be appearing at the fest Friday night in a kilt!
John Hendrickson: 303-954-1211 or jhendrickson@denverpost.com
COLORADO IRISH FESTIVAL
Today through Sunday. Clement Park, Littleton. Traditional Irish music, crafts and food. Today, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free. Visit for more information.
