We’re gearing up this week for what’s shaping up to be three slam-bang months of Irishness in the Philadelphia region.
First, this weekend the Cumann Rince Naisunta 2009 Regional dance championships will be held at the Irish Center, starting early Saturday morning with a parade of Irish dancers. Winners of this competition will be heading to Dublin in May for the world championships.
On Saturday night, Blackthorn will be performing at Archbishop Ryan High School, while the Barley Boys will be on stage at Porter’s Pub in Easton.
On Sunday, the Braveheart Pub in Hellerstown is launching the latest session in the area—the second Sunday session which will, of course, occur every second Sunday of the month.
You can take your favorite squeeze to the Springfield Inn in Springfield, Delco, for a Valentine’s dinner and dancing or head to the Sellersville Theatre to hear the McDades, a five-piece Canadian ensemble of siblings who fuse Celtic sounds with everything from jazz to global music.
On Wednesday night, The Grand in Wilmington, DE, is hosting an Irish Spectacular, featuring Irish performers Gerry O’Connor, Emer Mayock, Frankie Gavin, Cora Venus Lunny, Robert Harris and Regina Nathan with the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Make your way over to Camden, NJ, on Thursday night for a treat—the annual fundraising concert for Sacred Heart Parish featuring Mick Moloney and Friends, who this year includes legendary Northern Ireland singer and activist Tommy Sands (look for Sands to return in March to appear at Longwood Gardens with his daughter, Moya). Special bonus: There will be a raffle for a trip to Ireland with only 150 tickets available for $50 each. We like those chances.
Starting on Friday, there will be three days of Irish music, vendors, and whiskey tastings at the 17th Annual Scottish and Irish Festival at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia. The lineup is incredible and includes the Tannahill Weavers, the McDades, Dublin City Ramblers, Brother, Five Quid, Searson, the Hooligans, and many, many more. This is one of those don’t miss events for the entire family. And the food is usually pretty good. Best of all—there’s lots of parking and it’s all free.
We’ve been updating our calendar almost daily, so if you want to take a peek ahead, please do. You’re going to get as excited as we are about what’s coming up this month and next.
Remember, support your local Irish merchant and if you have a few extra bucks, think about donating it to the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Observance Committee, which runs the annual parade. Philly’s budget cuts have left the parade organizers $40,000 in the hole. Contact them at info@philadelphiastpatsparade.com.
