Monthly Archives:

January 2008

News

The Celtic Cure for Winter Blues

Every February, more than 8,500 lovers of music and fun attend the indoor Greater Philadelphia Mid-Winter Scottish & Irish Music Festival and Fair. Once again, fans of Irish and Scottish music and culture will come to the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia on February 15, 16  & 17 for this year’s 16th Annual Music extravaganza.
 
The weekend begins with a Kick-Off Celtic Concert Friday night at 7 with Philadelphia’s Downtown Harvest. Returning to the festival is Searson. This favorite family band, consisting of three sisters and their father hails from Ontario, Canada where Celtic music reigns. The next two bands come direct from Scotland.  From the borders of Scotland, Scocha (Scotia), fabulous with their modern day approach to traditional Scottish sounds and Albannach rounds out the evening.  It’s the Scottish version of Stomp.  Drums, drums, more drums and bagpipes sure to rouse the blood!
 
Promoters Bill and Karen Reid of East of the Hebrides Entertainments have scheduled activities and music to be presented continuously all weekend. Additionally, more than 30 craft exhibitors, vendors and fraternal organizations will brighten the festivities for the entire family when the box office opens at 6:30 p.m. on Friday for the Kick-Off Concert.
 
The Celtic Celebration takes place in the spacious indoor Convention Center with a full slate of top Irish, Scottish, Australian, Canadian and American performers, exhibits and vendors Saturday, February 16 from 9:30 a.m. to midnight and Sunday, February 17 from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. 
 
Bagpipers will march throughout the weekend, along with Irish Step and Scottish Highland dancers kicking up their heels while internationally acclaimed musicians will perform continuously from four stages. Performances on Saturday and Sunday include: Scythian from Washington, D.C., recipients of the coveted traditional folk duo/group award of 2007; Scotland’s 2007 Folk Band of the Year, the incredible Old Blind Dogs; Ireland’s fabulous sister band, Screaming Orphans, who are known for their back-up of Sinead O’Connor.
 
Dynamic Canadian Irish & Scottish bands join the line-up. Searson, Greenwich Meantime, The MacLeod Fiddlers, Hadrian’s Wall and fiddler Dan Stacey all come from north of the border. The eclectic Australian trio, Brother lends bagpipes, percussion and didgeridoos to the festivities. Singer/songwriter, Rick Kurek will lead a song session and Celtic music’s latest heroes, Slide Show Baby will rock. Rounding out the entertainment are local favorites, Timlin & Kane, Charlie Zahm, Oliver McElhone, Companions of the Cross, Didgeridoo Master – DidgeriDrew and one of Philadelphia’s hottest Irish bands, Paddy’s Well.
 
A highlight on Sunday will be an opportunity to hear and meet Scotland’s fiddle genius, Alasdair Fraser. Composer of fiddle pieces for many movies, including The Last of the Mohicans and Titanic, Alasdair is accompanied by cello prodigy Natalie Haas.
 
Second floor stage areas will include a Fiddle and Traditional Music Jam and the public is encouraged to bring their instruments. There will also be dance lessons with Irish dance Instructor, Rosemarie Timoneyand Scottish dancer, Lynnette Fitch Brash. Festival goers can take part in Scottish & Irish Whisky tastings and search their family tree at the fraternal organizations. They can also shop for claddagh jewelry, clan crests, tartan scarves, kilts, Scots and Irish clothing, accessories, CDs and a host of other Celtic wares.
 
The Reids encourage everyone to come out, even if you’re not from the Auld Sod, the Highlands or the Lowlands but enjoy music, spectacle, dance and a real good time for all ages. 
 
Children 12 and under are Free. Adult admission at the door is $25 per day for Saturday and Sunday. The Friday night concert is $20. Daily re-admission is free but no one will have to go out for food.  There will be traditional fish and chips, meat pies and American foods. All parking is free.
 
The festival is sponsored in part by Whole Foods, Guinness, Harp, Smithwick’s, Coors Light, Newcastle, McEwan’s, Woodchuck Cider, Smirnoff Twisted V, Sand Castle Winery, Brittingham’s Irish Pub and The Shanachie Irish Pub.
 
The Valley Forge Convention Center is just 15 miles from center city Philadelphia, two miles from Valley Forge Exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and close by routes 202, 76 and 476.  Many hotels and restaurants are conveniently located for travelers.

The schedule:

  • Saturday, February 16  (9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.)
  • Sunday, February 17 (10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.)

Location:

The Valley Forge Convention Center
First Avenue & Gulph Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406

Free parking. All events are indoor. 
 
Admission: 

$20 Friday Night Celtic Kick-Off Concert
$25 Saturday and Sunday
Free to children 12 and under

Advance Discount ticket for two- and three-day passes until February 7. Free daily re-admission each day.

January 31, 2008 by
Columns, How to Be Irish in Philly

How to Be Irish In Philly This Week

Tonight, check out the work of artist Pat Gallagher, formerly of Ardmore, on exhibit all month at Advanced Medical Solutions in Doylestown. Read more about Pat in our feature story. He’ll be on hand at 6:30 PM to meet and greet. Chat him up–he’s a real hoot. And bring your checkbook.

On Sunday, we hear there’s going to be a pig roast at The Irish Times, the newest incarnation of the Blarney at 629 S. Second Street in Philadelphia, to help local Irish people celebrate the Superbowl. Roast a pig and I’ll watch football too. Sounds like great fun.

On Friday, February 8, talented musician and comic Seamus Kennedy is performing at Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster to help raise money to send high schoolers to Australia this year for World Youth Day. Wood happens to be the alma mater of the staff of www.irishphiladelphia.com. We salute you, alma mater, hail with pride your honored seal. (Jeff, I don’t remember a seal, do you? We didn’t even have a pool.)

For our Jersey friends, and fans of Irish dancing everywhere: Head up to New Brunswick Friday night, February 8, to see the Trinity Irish Dancers do their thing. This group has been featured in feature films by Disney, Dream Works, Touchstone, and Universal, countless national television programs and won two Emmy® Awards for their appearance on the PBS Television Specials “One Step Beyond” and “World Stage,” and performance in ABC’s special “Dignity of Children,” hosted by Oprah Winfrey.

In between, there are sessions galore all over the map–and all over our calendar. Check it out. And check out our St. Paddy’s Day calendar. If you’re a Philly St. Paddy’s Day virgin, you should know that we celebrate the day all month because, well, that’s the way we are.

January 31, 2008 by
Food & Drink

Calling All Irish Cooks

Got a recipe for that great seafood chowder they serve at Monk’s in Ballyvaughn? How about your mom’s homemade soda bread?  Or the secret formula to your killer Irish coffee?

How about sharing it with us? Every year for St. Patrick’s month, we run a virtual cookbook from Irish folk near and far. Our goal this year is to have enough recipes to feed the whole party gang at our house–and yours.

Send them in (hit “contact us” in the orange block on the left side of the home page, then fill in the form) along with a little story of each recipe (whose it is, where you first had it, anything funny or interesting about it–hey, if you’re Irish, you can do this). We’ll run the best (with credit) in March.

January 30, 2008 by
Food & Drink

Wanted: The Best Irish Stew in Philadelphia

The 4th Annual Great Irish Stew Cook-Off, sponsored by the Philadelphia Hibernian Hunger Project will be held on Thursday, March 13, from 6 p.m. ‘til 9 p.m. at Finnegan’s Wake on Spring Garden Street. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Hibernian Hunger Project’s Cook-In, being held on Saturday, March 29, at the Aid for Friends facility in Northeast Philly.

The Hibernian Hunger Project got its start right here in Philadelphia in March of 2000 and, since that time, more than 67,500 individual and bulk meals have been prepared, packaged and delivered to organizations like Aid for Friends, the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center, St. John’s Hospice, and others that feed the elderly, homeless and less fortunate. The Hibernian Hunger Project is now a national charity of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
 
We are challenging Philadelphia area restaurants and pubs to join in the Spirit of Saint Patrick’s Day and help the less fortunate, while competing for the bragging rights to “Philadelphia’s Best Irish Stew. Previous winners have included the Plough and the Stars Restaurant (2004), McFadden’s Restaurant – Old City (2006) and Chef Josh Landau of Colleen’s on the Parkway (2007).

Amateur winners have included Jude Fanning of AOH Division 39, Phil Bowdren of AOH Division 51 and Ann Marie Parkinson & Kathy Higgins of LAOH Division 1. Past Celebrity Judges have included CBS 3’s Larry Mendte & Bob Kelly.
 
The event is open to the public and, for a $5 donation; you will have the opportunity to sample some of the greatest Irish Stews made in Philly.
 
For more information on the event or to register for the competition, please contact:
 
Ed Dougherty – Hibernian Hunger Project National Chairman @ 215-338-4315
Donna Donnelly – Philadelphia Hibernian Hunger Project Cochairperson @ 215-964-7830
Phil Bowdren – Philadelphia Hibernian Hunger Project Publicity Chair @ 267-254-2219 or philly.hibernianhungerproject@verizon.net

January 29, 2008 by
News

Irish Northern Aid Honors Three at Annual Testimonial Dinner

Michael Glass presents INA award to Charlie Schlegel.

Michael Glass presents INA award to Charlie Schlegel.

For Kathy McGee Burns, the importance of her Irish heritage hit home on May 5, 1981, when hunger striker and Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer Bobby Sands died in the H-Block prison hospital at Long Kesh.

“That really made me sit up and take notice,” said Kathy, one of three honorees at the 2008 Irish Northern Aid Testimonial Dinner January 26 at the Irish Center. “That made me ask, ‘What would I starve myself for?’”

Sands’ heroism and sacrifice reinforced Kathy’s sense of Irishness as nothing before ever had. “That started me on a new ‘you’,” she explained in her acceptance speech. She began to devote herself increasingly to Irish causes and to exploring her connections to Ireland in general, and Donegal in particular.

Kathy’s story is just one of many that might have been told by all of the attendees, and not just the honorees. No one who subscribes to the beliefs and values of Irish Northern Aid can be said to be merely passively Irish.

Two other strongly dedicated Irish Americans also received INA honors: Charlie Schlegel, of the INA and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and Bob Grover of Clan na Gael.

Lastly, Frances Duffy, a longtime and dedicated volunteer, received the INA’s Joe Cahill Award.

Check out the photos

January 28, 2008 by
News

A Musical Tribute

Ed Jr. and Joe Reavy join in the tribute to their father.

Ed Jr. and Joe Reavy join in the tribute to their father.

It wasn’t Ed Reavy’s house in the old West Philadelphia neighborhood known as Corktown. Ah, but if you closed your eyes and just listened—to be caught up in the swirling reels, hornpipes and jigs, the rhythmic stomping of shoes against the Irish Center’s hardwood floor, and the background chatter of the folks at the bar—you could imagine what a house party at the Reavy home on Haverford Avenue might been like. At least, the four talented Baltimore-area musicians who visited Philly on Saturday night to pay a musical tribute to the late fiddler and composer tried hard to make it feel that way.

Jim Eagan on fiddle, banjo player Peter Fitzgerald, guitarist Andy Thurston, and Myron Bretholz on bodhran did the honors. Starting early in the evening, they treated the audience in the jammed Fireplace Room to one set of tunes after another, most of them composed or arranged by Reavy—including many of the hornpipes for which the man is justly famous.

Born in the village of Barnagrove in County Cavan, Reavy came to Philadelphia with his parents in 1912. He clearly brought the music and the tradition with him, and he took great delight in passing it along.

His sons Joe and Ed Jr. also were on hand for the occasion—adding a nice note of continuity to the evening. Joe—praised by Mick Moloney as “the single biggest force in the popularization of his father’s music”—introduced the second half with his own tribute. The elder Reavy became a one-man tune machine after arriving in the States. He had hundreds of tunes filed away in his memory bank. Joe Reavy took note of his father’s extraordinary talent, saying that, here in Philadelphia, “he experienced an eipiphany and this great gift became Ireland’s treasure. It is our privilege to be of his lineage. No children could be more blessed than havng been born of Ed and Delia Reavy.”

Our treasure, too.

You can share it here. Take a look at our photo essay.

January 23, 2008 by
Columns, How to Be Irish in Philly

How To Be Irish in Philly This Weekend

Unfortunately, there are clashing events on Saturday night, all worthy. Here are your choices:

On Saturday, starting at 6:30 PM, Irish Northern Aid will mark the 26th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday killings in Derry, followed by an awards dinner honoring Kathy McGee Burns of the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association, Charlie Schlegel of Irish Northern Aid and Bob Grover of Clan na Gael.

A Beef and Beer Benefit at the National Guard Armory, starting at 7 PM, will raise funds for the family of Philadelphia Police Officer Chuck Cassidy, who was gunned down last year when he tried to foil a robbery in West Oak Lane.

There will be music, dancing, and great food when the Philadelphia County National Convention of the AOH holds its annual fundraiser at St. Dominic’s Hall in Philadelphia, starting at 8 PM.

You can find more details on our Oscar-nominated calendar (best calendar in a musical comedy).

January 22, 2008 by
News, People

Grand Marshal Chosen for Mt. Holly Parade

By Bill Donahue

John “Jack” McKee, a resident of the Port Richmond Section of Philadelphia, has been chosen as the grand marshal of the 2008 Mt. Holly St Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade, in its fourth year, is quickly becoming one of the premier Irish events in the Delaware Valley. Jack is excited to be leading the parade down High Street this year as the parade’s grand marshal.

Jack was born and raised in Philadelphia and he grew up in a very supportive Irish household. Jack has always been involved in Irish organizations for as long as he can recall. In fact, I truly believe the first words he spoke were the lyrics to “Boys of the Old Brigade.” Jack has been a very influential and driving figure within the tri-state Irish community for years.

Jack is following in the footstep of some great individuals who have preceded him as grand marshal, including “Irish” Billy Briggs and Ed Kelly, one of the founders of the Philadelphia Saint Patrick’s Observance Association.

Jack is a graduate of North Catholic and is married to his lovely wife Carina and has two sons, Brendan and Erik, along with two daughters, Victoria and Nicole. Jack is a longtime employee of the Philadelphia Gas Works.

He was the vice president of the Irish American String Band in 2007 and led the string band up the street in the 2008 Mummers parade. Jack has also been very influential in the Irish music scene. Jack has been the lead singer of two local Irish bands, Dicey Riley and his current band The Shantys. His amazing ability to retain Irish song lyrics makes for a great fit as a front man. Jack has a great love of Irish music and he enjoys keeping the tradition and history alive. In fact, Jack sees this as his duty.

He also heavily supports AOH endeavors and Project Children. Jack, along with The Shantys, has played numerous charity gigs all over the tri-state area for many noble causes. Jack donates much of his time to assist with these great causes. If someone weere to ask what was Jack’s driving force it would be to help out others in need.

Whether it is playing at a benefit or simply volunteering at the door, he can always be found helping out in one way or another. He is also an active member of AOH div. 61 and was highly involved in the Irish Relief Association founded by his late brother Dennis McKee.

Jack is the guy that everyone seems to know or wants to know, he is the life of the party. His music and energy can fill up the room with laughter and happiness. He is truly one of the leading voices in Irish music in Philadelphia today.

Bill Donahue is a member of the Philadelphia Irish Band The Shantys, as well as a member of AOH Division 61.

January 21, 2008 by