The Irish Emigrant

It’s getting harder and harder to find a good “local” these days, which is a shame: everyone needs a warm, friendly place where they can pull up a stool and unwind. Thankfully, if you live near Worcester, Paul Curley has come to the rescue. Since opening An Cu Liath in Kelley Square, a cozy, traditional pub is just a short ride away. If you haven’t made the trip yet, we’re here to get you in your car and on the road.

In many ways, An Cu Liath is a labor of love for its owner. “I wanted to embrace my heritage and bring a nice Irish pub back to Kelly Square,” Paul tells us. After working an office job for 15 years, he decided to be his own boss for a change, and he opened the pub in February 2006. He and his wife Cyndy (whose family originally hails from Co. Mayo) travel regularly to Ireland, and from the looks of An Cu Liath, it appears that they paid attention to all the watering holes they visited on vacation.

An Cu Liath has the look and feel of a turn of the century pub. “It’s not trendy or modern,” Paul notes. “It’s a classic neighborhood bar.” Born and raised in Leominster, Paul says that a local in the town he grew up in, Christopher’s Pub on Pleasant Street, is one of many points of inspiration. The back bar has a bit of history to it: it got its start in 1915 at a pub in Chicago, and when Paul saw it for sale online, he knew it needed a good home. The pub comfortably hosts around 50 people, so be sure to bring some friends and be ready to get to know some of the regulars who’ve already discovered this gem of a place. And memorabilia relating to Ireland, greyhounds, and the Red Sox add the owner’s personal touch to every corner of the establishment.

The name of the pub is Gaelic for “The Grey Hound,” and it’s a reflection of its owners’ love of that particular breed of canine. “We have two Lurchers and one American Greyhound,” Paul tells us. “We do a lot of volunteer work to help dogs, and my wife is involved in Greyhound Friends, a non-profit that helps out racing greyhounds.” You too can do your part if you happen to let a profanity slip in the pub: any proceeds collected by An Cu Liath’s “swear jar” are donated to the organization.

The owner’s personal touch also extends to the pub’s offerings behind the bar, and one of the first things patrons will notice is An Cu Liath’s impressive whiskey offerings. Paul is a self-professed “whiskey aficionado,” and the 29 different whiskeys offered behind the bar are a clear reflection of the man’s refined palate. “Our selection is bigger and better than anything else in the area,” he says. His personal favorites are the Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey and Lagavulin’s 16 year-old Single Malt Scotch. “I love peated whiskey,” Paul says, and he’s clearly passing his expertise on to his customers.

For readers who haven’t yet acquired a taste for whiskey, An Cu Liath also has a brand-new nine-line system of taps, and Paul is happy to pour you a fine pint of Guinness, Wachusset, or Sam Seasonal, in addition to old standbys like Bud and Coors. And while the pub doesn’t have its own kitchen, Paul and Cyndy do have finger food, and on nice days they fire up the gas grill out back.
With a fine beverage in front of you, all you need now is a sporting event to cheer on, and An Cu Liath is one of only two bars in Worcester to offer Setanta. There are three TVs to catch all the action on, and you’re sure to have some great company cheering with you. The pub is a secondary sponsor of the Worcester Rugby Football Club, and the boys on the team spend their hours off the field following their favorite teams at An Cu Liath. “I’m proud to say that this is their new home,” Paul says.

There are plenty of Sox supporters in the pub as well, and any other major game shown on Direct TV has a home on the screens here. If you’d like to take part in a sporting event yourself, there’s a darts team that plays every Wednesday. And music fans should be sure to keep an ear out for An Cu Liath’s entertainment schedule: for the most part, bands play every Friday and Saturday.
The luck of the Irish will hopefully rub off on patrons who wish to try their hand at An Cu Liath’s State Lottery offerings. After a six month wait, Paul is happy to say that the pub now has Keno, Mega Millions, Mass Cash, and many other fun (and hopefully rewarding) games.

An Cu Liath’s is literally feet away from the Exit 13 ramp off I-290, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t swing by for a visit. And best of all, there’s plenty of free parking available nearby after 6pm, thanks to the lot at 1 Kelley Square.

Though it’s the first pub he’s ever run, Paul’s done a bang-up job with An Cu Liath. Football fans, whiskey connoisseurs, and pub pundits all have a place to call home. Be sure to pay him a visit: we’re sure it will be your first of many great trips to Worcester’s newest Irish pub.

An Cu Liath: 11 Kelley Square, Worcester MA, 01604. Phone: 508-754-6100. Visit An Cu Liath on the web at www.AnCuLiath.com. And for more information on Greyhound Friends, visit www.Greyhound.org.