Stone Mad - A Gem in the Inner Ring

by

JC Sullivan

The first story about the family that appeared in the Mayo News is framed and hanging in a place of honor on a wall at the Tree House in Cleveland’s historic Tremont area. The pub thrives, with an upbeat crowd always present. They’ve purchased property here and elsewhere in Cleveland and continue their leadership and entrepreneurship. “They” are the Leneghan and Campbell families, with roots in Ballycroy.

Clevelander Patrick J. Campbell joined Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance in April, 1998, rehearsing in Newcastle, England. He then performed for eight years, ten shows a week, six days, at the New York, New York Hotel and Casino and Venetian Hotel, both in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was during his time he met a lovely Dublin lass and fellow Irish dancer, Rebecca Brady. She became Mrs. Campbell and, in 2006, they returned to Cleveland to continue their affiliation with Irish dance. This time, however, it’s there own dance academy, above their own tavern.

The Brady-Campbell Irish Dance School is teaching youngsters the joy of Irish dance in a hall above P.J. McIntyre’s, an elegant Kamm’s Corner Irish pub. “We want kids to come and learn what we’ve learned through our leap in Irish dancing, and have fun doing it, both competitively and recreationally.”

More can be learned about them at their website, bradycampbellirishdanceschcool.com. “There’ll be a new session in September,” he said, “with an Open House in August.”

Below the dance hall is the pub. Patrick is President and co-owner, along with his cousin, Tom Leneghan. Patrick’s father, also Patrick, is a Ballycroy, County Mayo, Ireland native. He married an Irish-American girl, Mary McIntyre, whose parents were from Achill and Newport, Co. Mayo. The name PJ McIntyre’s is derived from Patrick’s initials and his mother’s maiden name.

Christ called Peter the rock of his church. Another Peter, Leneghan, has built his rock, Stone Mad, in an upscale pub/restaurant on Cleveland’s near west side, in what’s called the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood. Stone Mad is in a changing area that used to be prominently Italian. While there are still Italian-Americans living there, there’s also Vietnamese, African-American and Hispanic communities residing there.

Where on God’s green earth does a name like Stone Mad come from? “I met a stone mason in Ireland who had written a book called Stone Mad.,” said Pete, not to be confused with his cousin ‘Irish Pete’.

Eileen Sammon is a co-owner of Stone Mad. She’s been with Tom & Pete Leneghan since 1996. “I came from the restaurant end of this business and hey kind of took me under their wing. They’re two guys I really grew fond of,” she said. Paul Jones, also a long-time Tree House employee, is the Bar Manager. “When we first started talking about this we wanted to do a Bocce Ball court. When Pete had his Central Park carriage business he used to go to a restaurant that had one so he wanted to incorporate that here.”