Oisin Mac Diarmada of Teada at last year's "Irish Christmas in America" show at the Irish Center.
Snow or no snow, we’re knee deep in Christmas season. This is how we know:
Teada, Matt and Shannon Heaton, and tenor Michael Londra are bringing their Christmas shows to the area in the next few days.
Teada’s “Irish Christmas in America” with Seamus Begley and dancer Brian Cunningham (and local musician Sean Earnest on guitar!) will be at Penn on Friday night. We hear through the grapevine that they might be on the prowl for a session afterwards so if someone wants to direct them to the appropriate pub. . . .
Two wonderful singer-musicians from the Boston area, Shannon and Matt Heaton, will perform at Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem on Friday night and at Trinity Church in Swarthmore on Saturday.
Michael Londra, who makes the angels sound like a neighborhood choir, will be at Sellersville Theatre on Tuesday, surrounded by Irish musicians and dancers.
On Sunday evening, St. Thomas Church in Whitemarsh will hold a Celtic worship service.
On Sunday afternoon, the Mayo and Donegal Associations are holding their Christmas parties at the Irish Center with arts and crafts and face painting and a visit from Santa for the kids and some vendors for the grownups. A special holiday mass will be said at 4 PM, prepared by Sister James Ann and celebrated by Father Ed Brady of Quakertown. Dinner will be available for purchase. The Mayo Association is collecting donations for Project Rainbow, for homeless and abused women and their families.
Also on Sunday, The Irish Club of Delaware County has its monthly meeting scheduled. Good Deed Doer alert: This club is conducting a gift drive this holiday season to benefit an Irish family in need. They’re accepting any unwrapped gifts, gift cards, toys, or clothing gift cards. They’ve roped Santa into helping them deliver the gifts—after all, he has the experience.
You can drop off your donations at two places:
The Irish Immigration Center
7 South Cedar Lane
Upper Darby, Pa
Knights of Columbus
18 Baltimore Pike
Springfield, PA
Looking for a good Christmas gift for a first-year Irish language student? On Sunday, Penn Professor Rosalyn Blyn-LaDrew will be autographing her new text, “Colloquial Irish,” at Catherine Rooney’s in Wilmington, DE.
Don’t forget to patronize your local Irish gift shop, pub, restaurant, and event. Shop Irish!
