Okay, let’s cut to the chase—we have a lot to cover.
It’s a big weekend for parades. There’s one in Levittown, another in Conshohocken, and yet another in Springfield, Delco, on Saturday. Since the staff of www.irishphiladelphia.com consists of two and a half people, you do the math. So if you take some good digital pictures of the parades, can you hit us with your best shot? We can’t be everywhere, though it sometimes seems like we are. Just e-mail us (hit the “contact us” button) and we’ll tell you where to send them.
But before the parades hit the streets, you have some decisions to make for Friday night. Because here’s what’s going on:
Fiddler Danny Meehan is making a rare stateside appearance at the Irish Center in Mount Airy. Exuberant, spontaneous, he rarely plays a tune the same way twice, says Frank Dalton, who organizes those wonderful Irish performances in Coatesville. Tom O’Malley from the Philadelphia Ceili Group, which is bringing Meehan to town, says “the last time Danny was here we actually started the concert 15 minutes early. He just kept on going after the soundcheck. He kept on going for hours in the Fireside Room after the concert. The lame were dancing and the dumb were singing.”
We don’t know about that last part, but it promises to be a mighty good time. Irish in a “no Mardi gras beads and green beer” kind of way. You know, the real thing. If you ask us, going to hear Danny Meehan is the best way to get in touch with your roots.
That said, here’s the rest of Friday’s agenda:
- The 7th Annual Chester County Emerald Society Paddy’s Day Celebration at the Coatesville Moose Lodge—Irish dancers and DJ
- The St. Patrick’s Coronation Celebration at the Fearless Fire Company (we like the sound of that) ballroom in Allentown, where the 2008 King and Queen of the Allentown St. Paddy’s parade (which happens March 31) will be crowned.
- Singer Carmel Conway will be at the World Café Live
- The Belles of Dublin show will be making another appearance at the Red Room at Society Hill Playhouse
- Singer Andy Cooney will be bringing an entire Irish extravaganza to St. Mary’s Church Hall in Cherry Hill. We interviewed Andy last year–he’s a sweetheart. Voice of an angel. Face of an angel too. Oops, we’re gushing now. Time to stop.
- Finnegan’s Wake with The Barley Boys will be making its farewell appearances this weekend
When Saturday rolls around, there will be the aforementioned parades. But if you have the energy, check out the Leprechaun 5-Mile Run starting at Philly’s Art Museum in the morning. It benefits the Special Olympics. There’s also a two-mile walk.
And then:
- If you’re in Bucks County, check out the Crossing Vineyards in Washington Crossing for its all day (starts at noon) Irish celebration, featuring the Boys from County Bucks.
- The Chieftains are appearing at the Kimmel Center—a Philadelphia tradition
- The 237th annual Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner-dance is being held at the Montrose Mansion in Radnor. Did you know that group pre-dates the Declaration of Independence?
- Chestnut Hill College is holding its Emerald Evening Casino Night and Auction as a fundraiser with an Irish theme
- Sacred Heart Church in Camden is holding its own St. Patrick’s celebration with music, poetry, “and good Irish soda bread.” Since Pastor Michael Doyle is a poet from Ireland, we suspect that it will be quite authentic.
- The Boys from County Bucks will be quite busy today—they’re also on tap for a fundraiser for multiple sclerosis research at the Gardenville Inn in Pipersville.
- The Doylestown Moose Lodge is holding its second St. Patrick’s Day Party.
- Scythian, that crazy Balkan-Celtic band from Washington, DC, will be live at the World Café.
- The Philadelphia Celtic Currach Club (they race in Irish boats) is having its annual beef and beer fundraiser at Fran Lee Caterers in Philadelphia.
- McDermott’s Handy will be at the Higher Grounds Coffee House in Bridgeton, NJ, and Catch It Grog ‘N Grill in Oaklyn, NJ on Sunday.
- The Cara Irish Society will hold its St. Paddy’s Day do at the VFW in Williamstown, NJ.
- The Erin Express leaves from various bars in Philadelphia, the safest way to drink beer to your heart’s content this season. There are eight buses to take imbibers from place to place. Again, we encourage you not to drive home if you’ve overdone it. See the list of participating saloons here.
- And fresh from their stint at Showboat Casino, The Barley Boys will be mixing it up at the House of Blues on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City.
Is it Sunday yet? Oh yeah, it is, and here’s what’s going on:
- Learn how to research your Irish and Scots ancestry at the Bucks County Visitors and Convention Center in Bensalem.
- Incredible Irish-American fiddler Liz Carroll and her partner in music John Doyle will be doing two shows at lovely Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square.
- The Crossing Vineyards will continue its St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with the Boys of County Bucks today.
- A few of the Barley Boys are taking the afternoon off but the Barley Boys Duo will be performing at the Masque Bar at the Showboat in Atlantic City. Listen to Irish music while you lose your shirt!
- The Philadelphia Immigration and Pastoral Center is holding an Immigrant Reunion for all those who were born in Ireland but now make their homes here. It’s at the Irish Center.
- You can still see The Belles of Dublin Show at Society Hill Playhouse.
- OMG, the Barley Boys are back together for yet another showing of Finnigans Wake at the Showboat. How do they do it?
- Speaking of which, The Boys from County Bucks will be performing (how many times this weekend, guys?) at Newtown Presbyterian Church’s Palm Sunday services.
- Black 47, an amazing Celtic rock group, is booked at the World Café Live. This would be a great way to rock out the weekend in Irish style.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! It’s Monday. Hope you took the day off. If you did, start it with:
- Breakfast for charity, AOH style, at Fado in Philadelphia. (Breakfast starts at 7 AM, for those of you who have to go to work.)
- Lots of pubs and restaurants are having St. Patty’s Day celebrations, including Casey’s Tavern in Quakertown; Slainte, New Deck Tavern, The Irish Times, McGillins in Philly; Brittingham’s and Shanachie in Montgomery County, the Erin Pub in Norwood. . . and those are just the ones we either know about or who put their events on our calendar (anyone can do it!).
- Blackthorn will be performing at Brownie’s Pub in Ardmore. They’re always a good time!
- Solas at the World Cafe Live!
- The Barley Boys (do they never rest?) will be at Maloneys in Atlantic City and doing Finnigan’s Wake. Not sure how that’s happening, but we’re hoping someone will clue us in. We frequently need to be two places at once.
- The Belles of Dublin is still at Society Hill Playhouse.
- Crossing Vineyards in Washington Crossing is offering a St. Patrick’s Day dinner with all the appropriate wines, of course.
- The amazing duo, McDermott’s Handy, will be at the Porch Club at Riverton, NJ, as well as at Murphy’s Market.
- And you can see Bill Monaghan and Celtic Pride with Irene Molloy at the Sellersville Theater, one of our favorite music venues.
We’re going to stop here, not because this is when the fun stops, but because we are coming down with repetitive strain injury from typing. As always, you can get more details from the calendar all the Hollywood Stars are talking about.
