There are some great parties coming up this week and guess what? We’re all invited!
On Saturday at 8 PM, head over to McFadden’s Tavern in Upper Darby for a beef-and-beer to raise money for the Donegal/4 Province Football team, 2007 New York champs and a great bunch of folks to party with. They’ve really helped put Philly on the Gaelic Athletic Association map.
On Sunday, from 1 to 6 PM, you can have your Irish stew and listen to five hours of great live Irish music too—at the Shanachie Pub and Restaurant in Ambler. Owners Ed Egan and Gerry Timlin are sponsoring a benefit to raise money for the Sunday Irish radio shows on WTMR, 800 AM. The Jameson sisters are going to kick off the musical portion of the show and it’s likely that Vince Gallagher, host of the Vince Gallagher Irish Radio Hour, will perform too.
Also on Sunday, Owen’s Pub in North Wildwood, NJ, has declared it “Tic Toc Day” to honor AOH Division #87 member James A. “Tic Toc” Casson. Proceeds from the day will benefit the Division 87 Scholarship Fund and Shriners Hospital.
The New Dubliners with local group, Na’Bodach, will be at the Sellersville Theatre on Saturday night.
On Tuesday, McGillin’s Old Ale House shows just how old it is—150 years to be exact. McGillin’s is celebrating its big one with a series of parties. This Tuesday and on several Tuesday nights throughout August and September, you can combine your taste for brews with your taste for books. The pub will be hosting free readings from authors who have mentioned McGillin’s in their books. “Joe Sixpack”—Inquirer beer columnist Don Russell—will read from his new book, “Joe Sixpacks’ Philly Beer Guide” at 6 PM at the center city tavern to launch the book-n-beer parties. McGillin’s 1860 IPQ beer will be reduced to $2 a pint during the events. Among the other sudsy writers on tap: William Lashner, author of the thriller “Blood and Bone;” Duane Scwierczynski, author of “The Punisher” comic book and crime novels; Lew Bryson, who wrote “Pennsylvania Breweries,” and Dr. Lewis Losoncy, author of “Early Poppers: Growing when the Heat is On.”
On Friday night, come over to the Irish Center and vie for a coveted spot on the new game show, “Who Wants to Be A Hundredaire?” The brainchild of sisters Sarah Conaghan and Karen Conaghan Race—they’re also the brains and beauty behind the annual Philadelphia Rose of Tralee pageant (now Mid-Atlantic Rose of Tralee)— this fun event will raise money for the Sunday Irish radio shows—and for some lucky winners. We’re thinking of competing, so if for nothing else, come out to see a couple of folks who have more senior moments than they care to think about make total fools of themselves. Seriously, it will be a treat.
Another real treat: Irish singer Andrew Strong (you know him as Deco Cuffe from the great Irish flick, “The Commitments”) will be appearing at the Sellersville Theatre on Friday night.
Of course, all the details are on our calendar. We did some updating this week, and you need to check out September—the second best time to be Irish in Philly after March. There’s the Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival, Green Lane Scottish-Irish Festival, The Celtic Classic in Bethlehem and the Irish Weekend Festival in North Wildwood (and thank God they run more than one day, because the dates overlap).
