Whirlwind Visit to Calgary and Local Celtic Establishments
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
On a recent visit to Calgary, while en route to Camrose to attend the wedding of my niece Bobbie McKale, I had an opportunity to visit a few Celtic establishments.
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EXTERIOR of Jameson Pub in Calgary.
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To say the economy in Alberta is "red hot" is an understatement. The entire city of Calgary seems to be under construction with cranes lining the skyline and signs everywhere for workers offering big signing bonuses. Some businesses have had to cut back hours of operation because of staff shortages.
Some of the old-timers, that is people who remember the bust in the economy in the early Eighties are cautioning that this frantic economy can't continue at the current pace. They remember the crash that came overnight. Construction came to a halt, oil rigs moved out of the province, and many people lost everything and had to walk away from their homes. But at the moment, it's all systems go.
Jamesons Restaurant & Irish Pub
Proud sponsor of the Calgary Chieftains men and women's Gaelic football teams, Jamesons Restaurant & Irish Pub is located in northeast Calgary.
An attractive establishment with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, Jamesons features wooden floors and a large circular bar area. The woodwork around the bar and walls is a rich mahogany finish.
This is a large pub with railings around a raised area which offers more intimate snugs. There is also a banquet space off the main pub, which is used for meetings, banquets, sporting events, and parties.
Jamesons offers an an extensive menu with lots to choose from to please every taste. They feature a daily lunch and dinner special with some specialty Celtic items on the menu.
There is a happy hour from 4-6 PM, every Monday to Friday, with lots of strategically placed high-definition televisions for viewing your favourite sports.
Jamesons is located at 3575 20th Avenue, N.E. Calgary. For more information, call (403) 285-1608.
Ceili's Irish Pub
At the popular Ceili's Irish Pub, the original on Eighth Avenue S.W., it's hard to miss the Irish flag waving outside the door. This is Ceili's flagship pub. They have pubs in Calgary and Edmonton and will soon be opening another Ceili's in Vancouver this autumn.
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PICTURED at Ceili's flagship Irish pub in Calgary are Desiree Shepherd and Melisa Britton.
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SHANE SEAMAN, managing partner at Ceili's in Calgary.
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Speaking to Shane Seaman, the managing partner at Ceili's, I was shocked to learn that their building has been sold to make way for twin high-rise towers. Shane said that they will celebrate one more St. Patrick's Day bash before the closing date. After that, plans are to open another location, somewhere downtown, until the twin towers are completed. Then, Ceili's will be back on the same corner with a new four-level Ceili's in the tower.
Along with opening a new Ceili's in Vancouver this Fall, plans are also underway to open another Calgary location near Calgary airport. There is already another Ceili's located at 803 Eighth Avenue S.W., just down the street from the original. So, you won't go dry, no matter what part of the city you are in.
The Ship & Anchor
My next stop was the Ship & Anchor Pub on 17th Avenue S.W. This establishment has been in business for the past 16 years and caters to a large contingent of ex-pats, anywhere from the ages of 18 to 85.
They are noted for showing all the English Premier League games which they bring in live via satellite. The day I dropped in, which was about Noon, there was a game on and lots of supporters were on hand to cheer on their favourite team.
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PICTURED at the popular Ship & Anchor Restaurant and Pub are staff members Steven Oleszkowicz, Max Mahari, Sheldon Crossley and Amy Campbell.
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EXTERIOR of the Ship & Anchor Restaurant and Pub in Calgary.
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They serve all the basic British pub fare, along with daily specials. There is a happy hour every weekday from 4-7 PM and on Saturday, from 6-9 PM, Sundays from 2-6 PM. They feature a jam session every Saturday from 2-6 PM, with live entertainment every other weekend.
Nicola Wealleans, the operations manager, described the Ship & Anchor clientele as "a varied mix, where everyone feels comfortable from the squeege kid to the banker."
The Ship & Anchor Pub is located at 534 - 17th Avenue S.W. Calgary. For more information, call (403) 245-2991, or visit: www.shipandanchor.com.
Tipperary Irish Pub
Finally, I dropped in for dinner at a relatively new pub called the Tipperary Irish Pub, which is located in northwest Calgary. Actually they're still completing renovations, but it was business as usual and they had a good crowd in for the dinner hour.
A large pub with snugs on the side of the main floor, there is lots of privacy in the snugs. If there were curtains on them, you might be able have your confession heard or hear someone else's confession.
Tipperary Irish Pub has a good menu and also have the expected pub fare. I'd like to drop in again when the renovations have been completed and see the total effect.
Tipperary Irish Pub is located at 2002 - 16 Avenue N.W., Calgary. For more information, call (403) 289-5566.
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