Monthly Archives:

November 2010

Dance

Video Special: Philly’s Irish Dancers Step Out

Getting ready to compete.

You’ll be eating turkey in the comfort of your own home. The hordes of Irish dancers competing in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Oireachtas will be downing their Thanksgiving feast in a Center City hotel or one of the surrounding restaurants. Maybe that’s the Irish dance equivalent of carbo loading.

Whatever, they’ll have a couple of days to work off all that stuffing and pumpkin pie. Once the competition starts, those kids (well, most of them are kids) will be dancing their legs off pretty much non-stop. When they’re not competing in the halls, they’ll be practicing in the hallways.

In celebration of this high-stepping festival, we put together a playlist of over 30 videos highlighting Irish dance in the Philadelphia area. We’ve tried to show every school. If we’ve missed any, let us know, and we’ll see if we have a video in our now vast collection. If it’s there, we’ll add it.

Happy watching!

November 17, 2010 by Jeff Meade

News, People

A Singular Honor for Sister James Anne Feerick

Sister James Anne, receiving flowers at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in 2008.

Sister James Anne Feerick, I.H.M., longtime dedicated Catholic school educator, is the 2011 Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day grand marshal.

Sister James Anne has been a member of the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary since 1960. Currently, she is director and teacher at the IHM Educational Center in Bryn Mawr. Earlier in the week, she was named the recipient of the Mayo Association of Philadelphia’s 2010 President’s Award—so you could say that this was a spectacular week for this stellar graduate of West Catholic Girls High. (Sister is also the longtime chaplain of the Mayo Association.)

Associated with the parade for many years—as a judge since 1985 and, in 2008, a member of the Ring of Honor—she dates her involvement in the parade back to 1956, when she first started marching in it.

It would be hard to find anyone more steeped in Irish tradition than Sister James Anne. Going back to her youth, she was a violin player who performed on Will Regan’s Irish Hour and was secretary of the old Irish Musicians Union in Southwest Philadelphia for two years.

Of course, people who know her also recognize her as a superb Irish dancer. She started as a student at Sean Lavery School of Irish Dance in West Philadelphia (from 1949-1960), and she’s been on her toes ever since. As an educator, she often taught students Irish dance as a way of developing coordination.

Fittingly, the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association chose as its 2011 theme: St. Patrick, Bless Our Religious Sisters Who Serve, Inspire and Educate.

Sister James Anne is the first woman selected as grand marshal since Rosemarie Timoney, in 1997.

In what apparently marks a banner year for Irish women, Kathy McGee Burns, previously 1st vice president of the parade association, was elected president. She is only the second woman to serve in that capacity. (The first was Marie C. Burns, 1993-1994.)

McGee Burns already is a very busy and accomplished woman. She is the first president of the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame. She also was the first woman president of the Donegal Association. In 2010, she was selected to receive one of the first Inspirational Irish Women awards. Also in 2010, she was named winner of the third annual Joseph E. Montgomery Award from Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 62.

The board also elected two new members, two new board members, Mike Driscoll, owner of Finnigan’s Wake and a longtime notable parade booster, and police Sgt. John Stevenson.

November 12, 2010 by Guest

News, People

2010 Irish Hall of Fame Inductee: Kathleen Sullivan

Honoree Kathleen Sullivan

By Kathy McGee Burns

Ordinary riches can be stolen.
Real riches can not.
In your soul are infinitely precious things.
They can not be taken from you.
—Oscar Wilde

Riches to Kathleen Sullivan are family and friends. They are the core of her being and she holds them dear to her. Sullivan, former city representative under Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell, is being honored this year at the 10th Annual Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame Dinner, for her tireless efforts to bring the Irish Memorial to Penn’s Landing.

The night we agreed to meet for this interview was one of those hot, muggy, thick July evenings. We met for dinner and started out on the terrace of the restaurant. She sat there cool, calm and composed, beautifully dressed in a white linen suit and a black ruffled blouse looking positively stunning, sophisticated and self assured. Sullivan is a true Irish beauty–burnished copper hair and flawless white skin. She is one of those women about whom the Bards wrote their lilting lyrics. And, underneath that Celtic façade there lays a dynamic woman.

There are many layers to Kathleen but the foundation is family. Her Irish roots are Wexford (via her Mom, Kathryn Hannify) and Cavan (Dad, Larry Sullivan). Larry and Kate met at ages 15 and 16. It was love at first sight and they married three years later. The Sullivans settled in Kensington, in Ascension Parish, and had nine children. Kathleen was fourth from the top. Sullivan remembers a childhood with little money, but lots of fun and nuturing. The Sullivans were competitive, loving and a true team. Everyone pitched in. Her early upbringing, she says, dealing with so many diverse personalities, taught her how to resolve conflicts.

Love of community is a second layer to Kathleen. She is proud to be from Kensington and raved about growing up there. The Sullivan kids competed citywide in basketball, soccer, swimming and other sports they learned and practiced at McVeigh Center, their home away from home. One of Sullivan’s coaches was a former Olympian, Pearl Nightingale, who took her swim team to a new level and taught lessons in leadership Sullivan says she’ll never forget. This was a lesson to Kathleen in leadership.

Kathleen Sullivan graduated from Little Flower High School where she made “All Catholic” as a basketball player and was offered a full scholarship to Penn State. At the same time she was offered a job at a prominent Philadelphia law firm for $90 a week and 21 days of vacation. To the young Kathleen Sullivan, the job presented both an exciting challenge and the opportunity for a respite from academics. Later, Kathleen went to court reporting school and worked for Judge Charles Lord for 18 years.

But she had come to regret turning down the scholarship. Her mother encouraged her to go to night school and get her degree but she hesitated. She was concerned that she would be 40 years old by the time she finished. Her mother told her: “You’re going to be 40 no matter what.”

So at the age of 39, Kathleen Sullivan graduated summa cum laude from Temple University with a degree in journalism. After graduation, a friend suggested she volunteer with one of the mayoral candidates. She chose Ed Rendell, a fortuitous choice. Impressed by her talents and energy, Rendell assured her, “I’m going to win this election and I will make you one of my city officials.” That was Kathleen Sullivan’s start in public service—the new layer of her life.

She told me that her years of working as his city representative were priceless for her. Though it was a 24/7 job, she says, he was “one of the smartest people” she’d ever met: tough, a perfectionist who expected everyone else to follow suit. She said she was touched when, at the end of his years as mayor, he told her that they were like John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in “The Quiet Man,” always fighting tooth and nail about issues but he knew she had his best interests at heart.

During the Rendell administration, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick launched plans to build a memorial dedicated to the Irish immigrants who were forced to flee Ireland during “an gorta mor,” the Great Starvation. Board member and director emeritus Jim Coyne took over the job. He knew that they needed someone of importance to be an honorary chairperson.

He met with Rendell, who loved the idea—along with bringing a beautiful piece of art to the city, it would attract tourists. He immediately appointed Kathleen Sullivan to come on board as his liaison. The Glenna Goodacre sculpture on Penns Landing was uinveiled in 2003.

Jim Coyne, who nominated her as a Hall of Fame Honoree, said Sullivan was a faithful member from that day on and she now serves as vice president of the Irish Memorial. She rolled up her sleeves, helped with fund raising and was a quiet source of support with the city and state.

Joe Martz, who was city managing director during the Rendell years and an old family friend, said about Kathleen Sullivan: “She is incredibly modest, very smart, has an enormous heart and is comfortable in every situation.” Not to mention “a phenomenal” golfer, he adds.

“What makes Kathleen Sullivan special,” he wrote, “is the size of her heart, the breadth of her mind and the depth of her soul.” He said that she enriches the lives of many people and that what he knows about her family and friends, hers is a particularly “rich life.”

November 11, 2010 by Guest

News, People

2010 Irish Hall of Fame Inductee: Vince Gallagher

Vince Gallagher with fellow radio host Marianne MacDonald.

By Kathy McGee Burns

There’s a dear little isle in the Western Ocean
An island of purity, holy and grand
Whose name fills its daughters and sons with emotion
When heard on the shores of a far distant land.
It’s Ireland, God Bless her.

This is the song Vince Gallagher loves the most. He carries Ireland in his heart and soul. In turn, we all get to share Ireland with him because of his dedication to the Irish Center, where he has served as president for many years. He has worked very hard to bring that “dear little isle” to Philadelphia where we, the immigrants, exiles, descendants and lovers of Ireland, can feel at home again.

It’s fitting that Vincent Gallagher, the Founder of the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame, is being honored at the Tenth Anniversary of this great organization (his baby).

Ten years ago Gallagher, a native of Ardara, County Donegal, attended an awards presentation in New York and found himself unhappy with the way the Philadelphia honorees were being treated. They weren’t getting enough attention. He complained to his friend and fellow Ardara native, Jim McGill, who said, “Why don’t you show them how it should be done?”

Several well-placed phone calls later, Vince had his committee and the Delaware Valley Hall of Fame was born.

This is what makes Vince Gallagher so brilliant. He knows how to put people together….and they all want to work for him.Burly, funny, sentimental, laughing, generous, talented, all of these adjectives describe Vince.

Here is a tribute to Vincent Gallagher from his friends and family:

Mary Crossan
President of the Donegal Association
There are people who tell you what you want to hear and then there is Vince, who tells it like it is! Vince is the busiest and the most generous man on the planet. He is the Past President of the Donegal Association and continues to work bringing in ads for a successful Ball. He is currently President of the Irish Center which is a tireless job. But he has a good team and the place looks great! We know that Vera is Vince’s first love and music is his second. He also bowls twice a week, works a full time job and still has time to support many worthwhile causes. Congratulation, Vince, on a well deserved honor.

Nancy Potts
Daughter
The first time I met Vince Gallagher, I was a student in college. I had come home for the weekend to find him sitting at our kitchen table, only to learn he was dating my Mother. I was the only one of five children living at home at the time, and because of this I felt it was my duty and responsibility to be my Mother’s protector. To say I was a little suspect of this stranger would be an understatement. Furthermore, I couldn’t understand a word he said. But, as is Vince’s way, he disarmed us all with his warm way and quick wit; and proved to be a caring, loving and honorable man. The highest compliment that I can give to Vince is that I have come to love and respect him in a way that only a daughter can love a Father. Vince is a man of integrity and all who know him are better for it. Our entire family congratulates Vince on this wonderful honor. It is well deserved!

Denise Foley
www.irishphiladelphia.com
DVIHOF Board member
There are three things I love about Vince Gallagher:
1. When he’s telling a funny story—and he’s often telling a funny story—he starts laughing so hard that you can’t understand him and you start laughing because you can’t help yourself—his laugh is so contagious. Someday I hope to stay with him to the end of the story.
2. He has a heart as big as Ireland. When Vince finds out someone is in need, the first thing he does is reach in his pocket. He’s one of the most generous people I’ve ever met in my life. And he is also one of those people who’s happier if the beneficiary of his generosity doesn’t know it came from him. He’s not after gratitude or praise—he acts from his heart. There are a lot of people in the Irish community who don’t know that the help that came out of nowhere, just in the nick of time, came from Vince Gallagher.
3. Seeing Vince with his wife, Vera, never fails to touch my heart. His love for and devotion to her is tender and true.

Gerry Timlin
Friend, Musician, co-owner, The Shanachie Pub in Ambler
I couldn’t be happier that Vince is going into the Hall of Fame. It’s difficult to think of anyone more deserving of this great honor. Vince contributes so much to the Irish community in this area by way of his never ending effort to help the Irish culture, tradition and music. His radio show, the Irish Center and everything else he does, most of which goes unnoticed by many, is a reflection of the man himself. Always giving! Vince can’t say no and that’s just who he is. I was asked to play and sing a song at the dinner and I’m not only happy to do so but I’m honored. Over the years, Vince has been a wonderful friend and I want to congratulate him on this award which I think is long overdue. Well done, Vince and thank you for all the great times.

Rev. Msgr. Joseph McLoone
Chaplain
Vince Gallagher is the type of person every organization needs. He is a worker. He does not wait to be asked, he just goes about doing it and is happy for others to pitch in and help. He quietly and efficiently gets things done. He is very faithful to his dear wife, Vera. He outwardly looks a little stern but is a very kind, caring and compassionate person. Vince and my mother are from the same town. We share the same Donegal roots.

Rosaleen Ferry
Vince’s Sister
From the moment Vince was born, he was a welcomed guest in the Gallagher family. He was the youngest of nine and loved by each and every one of us. [Rose Gallagher, his Mother was 46 yrs old at this time and her bright-blue eyed boy weighed over 11 lbs]. Madge, his older sister, actually named him. All the sisters would help to take care of him. Baby Vince would crawl into his Mom and Da’s bed early in the morning. One day, he startled them by saying,” Up early, on the go! Up, Up, nine o’clock and the clock is slow.” Vince sang before he talked. On the farm, where the Gallaghers were raised, everyone was out to the hayfields or on to the bog, but the youngest was always missing. Vince would be sitting behind the fence or a load of turf, singing a song. He played the tin whistle and his favorite song was “Doggie in the Window.”.Vincent is very good-natured. He would do anything for you. If he had a $1, he would give away 50 cents.
He is Irish to the backbone. He will help anyone…let them be you, let them be sick or let them be strangers!

Michael Bradley
Friend, Director of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Vincent Gallagher is one of the most kind, hard working and generous men I have ever met. Occasionally he can be straightforward and tell you something that you don’t want to hear, but the answer is always honest and you know exactly where you stand. That is what I love about him; there’s no beating around the bush, he doesn’t have time for that. Yes, and occasionally he is not the most detailed oriented; I’ve gotten the phone call where he shouts into the phone “MEET ME AT THE IRISH CENTERRRRRR” and then hangs up before you can ask when or where! The Irish Center would not be where it is today without the hard work and money (out of his own pocket) of Vince Gallagher. The Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame is complete now that its founder, Vincent Gallagher, is a member. Vince, Congratulations, best wishes, and sit back and enjoy your day for once in your life, and let everyone else wait on you for a change! You deserve it!.

The Boyce Family
Friends
Vince Gallagher’s passion for the Irish Community has made a difference for so many, particularly for the hundreds of musicians who learned from and performed with him over the years. In fact, most of our family started performing with Vince at a very early age. His encouragement and support greatly contributed to our collective dedication to and love for Irish music. Whether or not you’ve ever shared the stage with Vince, it’s hard not to enjoy his singing, his candid performing style, and his bazillion song repertoire! As a leader of organizations, Vince helps others figure out what’s needed to get a job done, and without hesitation, rolls up his sleeves to get it done. The renovations at the Irish Center are a result, in part, to Vince’s hard work. Thanks to the tireless efforts of him and many others, the Irish Center is a welcoming home for the Irish in Philly. Vince is also a good friend. He’s there when life is grand, and he’s there when life throws the odd curveball. Regardless of the need, Vince supports others, often at their loneliest of moments and without anyone knowing about it. A person in need becomes a friend of Vince. Vince uses his talents to add good to the world and to the community. We’re so glad to have his good heart, his dedication to the traditions, his fast moving pace, his unmistakable BIG laugh, and his lovely voice in our lives. He’s made an impact on Irish music in our area and beyond, and through his great example, particularly for our family, musicians who learned the business and art from him, will continue to keep the music alive as a result. We wish Vince the best as he receives this well-deserved recognition.

So now, Vince, we’ve heard from so many who love, admire and respect you. You are a man of a million friends…not bad for a Irishman who comes from the home of the Patriot, Warrior, and the Bards…his own native land.

Kathy McGee Burns is the president of the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame.

November 11, 2010 by Guest

News, People

2010 Irish Hall of Fame Inductee: Msgr. Joseph McLoone

Msgr. Joseph McLoone and his mother, Bridget.

By Kathy McGee Burns

“. . .the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness. . .”

—The Apostle Paul to the Galatians

These attributes are the core components of Joseph McLoone, the man and the priest. He is the third child born to Patrick and Bridget and, with his siblings, a living example of the Irish American Dream.

The late Patrick McLoone, a Glenties man, had buried his mother and an Aunt and was left in County Donegal to watch over three maiden sisters. A fourth sister, Mary McGinley, who was living in America, urged him to come to Philadelphia to build a life and so he did. Pat worked for the Acme warehouse, a job held by many Irish immigrants at that time.

Bridget, who came from Ardara, County Donegal, was persuaded by her mother, Mary McHugh, (a woman of great vision for those times) to spread her wings, but not go far. Mary wanted to be able to see her daughter from time to time. She said, “When I am dead, you can go to America.” So off to London she went and 10 years later, after burying her mother, went to Philadelphia, to live with her sister, Sally Montague. She got a job working for a rectory.

The McLoones met at the Emerald Pub. With hard work, foresight, love and dedication, they raised a highly successful family.

Their son, Joe McLoone grew up in Olney, attending Incarnation School and Cardinal Dougherty. While a senior in high dchool, he thought he might have a vocation as a priest. At first, he sought out the advice of the parish’s newly ordained priest, Father Peter Welsh and then went to a retreat at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook. After this, he was sure that this was not for him.

He entered LaSalle College and during that first year wondered if he had given this calling a fair try and decided he had not. In 1984, Joe McLoone, graduated from the Seminary with a BA in Philosophy, then went on to get an M.Div. (1987) and a M.A. in Theology (1988). And to become Father Joseph McLoone, parish priest.

He would humbly tell you that he is just like any other priest, but, actually, he has made a meteoric rise in his career.

Most of his pastoral assignments have been in the City of Philadelphia; St. Anne’s (1988-91), St. Martin of Tours (1992-97), and the Cathedral Basilica of SS.Peter and Paul (1997-2001). On his fourth assignment, he became the youngest pastor of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Mt. Airy. At that time, he had only been ordained for 13 years. Commitment, persistence, enthusiasm and, as he’ll tell you, help from the Holy Spirit, was the impetus for this success.

He currently serves as pastor of Saint Katharine Drexel in Chester, a church in a diverse—in both race, economics—community. In recent years, Chester has gone from six Catholic schools to one in order to keep Catholic education available and affordable. Now Msgr. McLoone became a founding member of the recently chartered Drexel Neumann Academy. It is run on a four-prong sponsorship which includes the Archdiocese, St. Katharine Drexel, Neumann University and the Sisters of St. Francis.

With all of this on his plate, Father Joe, as he’s known to many, still finds time to live his Irish roots. He is an active part of the Philadelphia Irish community for many years: chaplain of the Donegal Association, caregiver to the Irish immigrant, friend to all the societies and the most important to me, chaplain for 10 years of the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame.

His Ocean City cohort, Father Kevin Gallagher said many lovely things about his friend: “Joe is a hard working pastor who makes time for everyone in his parish. He has influenced many to return to the Catholic faith through his easy nature and pleasant way. He is a doer and a thinker. He has a special place in his heart for the sick and suffering, the downtrodden and neglected. He was very influential in my entering the seminary and has been extremely supportive of priesthood.”

Father Gallagher says that Joe McLoone is a true Irish family man, devoted to his mother, Bridget. And he’s not the only member of his family who helped fulfill the McLoone’s Irish-American dream. Brother Patrick, Jr. is managing editor of the Philadelphia Daily News. Their sister Mary McLoone Hofmann, M.D., F.A.C.P. is founding chief of Geriatric Medicine, at Abington Hospital, and second sister, Kate McLoone Burns is a school nurse at Overbrook public and Catholic schools.

Kathy McGee Burns is president of the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame.

November 11, 2010 by Guest

Columns, How to Be Irish in Philly

How to Be Irish In Philly This Week

Battlefield Band, live on stage.

This weekend, three stalwarts of the Irish community will be inducted in the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame: musician and businessman Vince Gallagher, president of the Commodore Barry Society (the Irish Center); former city representative Kathleen Sullivan, vice president of the Irish Memorial Board; and Msgr. Joseph McLoone, past of St. Katherine Drexel parish in Chester and chaplain of the Donegal Association and the Irish Hall of Fame.

The three will be honored at a dinner on Sunday night, November 14, and there will be special musical guests (but we’re sworn to secrecy so we can’t say who). For more information (well, except for the musical stuff), contact president, Kathy McGee Burns, at mcgeeburns@aol.com. And read her very personal profiles of the three inductees, below.

But before that happens, consider making a little excursion down to the Coatesville Cultural Center in Coatesville to catch two great Irish traditional musicians—accordian player John Whelan of Wexford and singer Tommy O’Sullivan of Kerry. They’re on stage on Friday, starting at 8 PM.

If it’s a little Scottish music you’re after on Friday, head to Sellersville Theatre to hear the boys from Glasgow, Battlefield, do their trad-modern mix.

Saturday’s a big night for a couple of AOH divisions. AOH/LAOH Div. 87 is having its 113th Hibernian Ball at Romano Caterers in Philadelphia. The AOH Color Guard will be holding a beef-and-beer night with music by the popular Bogside Rogues at the Swedesburg Volunteer Fire Company in Bridgeport, just down the road from AOH Div. 1.

You can meet the artistic director of Ireland’s acclaimed Abbey Theatre at 3:30 PM on Wednesday at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Walnut Street in Philadelphia. Fiach Macconghail will be talking about the history of the Abbey and where it’s going in the 21st century, presenting classical and contemporary Irish and European work. You have a second chance to meet Macconghail that evening at the Philopatrian Literary Institute at 1923 Walnut Street for an Irish Network-Philly evening of Irish culture that will include local artists and author Thomas J. Lyons (“You Can’t Get To Heaven on the Frankford El”).

In Bethlehem on Thursday, you can see a rarely performed short story by Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, “The Lost Ones,” which tells the story of an entire world enclosed in a tiny cylinder and the people who inhabit it, at the Touchstone Theatre on Fourth Street. The play was performed at the Capitol Fringe Festival.

And in Philly on Thursday: the second annual Inis Nua Theatre Company “Craic Down” (craic is the Irish word for fun). Actors from this theatre company—the only one dedicated to bringing contemporary Irish, British, Scottish and Welsh plays to Philadelphia—will be playing rock stars (and some rockers will be playing, well, rockers) at this benefit.

You may want to just stay overnight at the World Cafe because the John Byrne Band with Citizens Band Radio will be performing the great upstairs room on Friday night. Call for reservations and get a bite to eat before these two rip-roaring bands get you up and dancing.

Get your phone orders in early for a Philadelphia Ceili Group house concert featuring Northern Irish singer Gabriel McArdle who was one of the musicians chosen to represent Ulster at the Smithsonian Folklife celebration of Northern Ireland several years ago. Because house concerts are held in someone’s home, seating is limited. This one is in Chestnut Hill. And give Paddy O’Neill (our own Northern Irish musician) a call at 610-393-3914 if you think you would be interested in a Friday workshop. McArdle is also a talented concertina and accordian player.

Also coming up: The Philadelphia Gaelic Athletic Association’s All-Star Banquet on Sunday, November 21, at the Irish Center. Lots of folks to honor this year, including two national ladies football club champions.

Take a number to see the calendar for all the details.

November 11, 2010 by Denise Foley

Columns

Aon Sceal?

You can go to Ireland if you can snatch the crown off Mairead Conley's head (she's the local Rose of Tralee).

Win Two–Count Them—Two Trips to Ireland!
Yes, there’s a catch. You have to be a young woman of Irish descent who wins the Philadelphia Rose of Tralee contest.

This year, according to Philadelphia Rose of Tralee director Sarah Conaghan, all city Rose winners will go to Portlaoise, Ireland in June for the North American Rose Semifinals. If you’re selected there, you’ll return to Ireland in August for the International Rose of Tralee Festival. Your airfare and hotel accommodations will be provided.

To enter, you need to be between the ages of 18-27, never married, and have traceable Irish ancestry. The Philadelphia Rose will be selected at an event on March 27.

The Philadelphia Rose has a great “Rose-in-Training” program: Girl 5-12 can be Rosebuds and girls 13-17 can be Rose Petals. But no, they don’t get to go to Ireland.

For more information, go to the Philadelphia Rose Web site.

Nine Awards for RUNA
Congrats go out to Shannon Lambert-Ryan and RUNA. Not only was this local contemporary Irish band nominated for a gabillion Montgomery-Bucks Music Awards, they walked away with nine of them at the awards ceremony on November 8 at the Triumph Brewing Company in New Hope.

The awards are strictly people’s choice—given to musical groups who get the most votes.

“We were completely surprised and beside ourselves at the result and the support of our fans,” Shannon told us the day after the event. “We are still in a state of shock and surrealism. We were expecting to have a fun time with the experience and felt so privileged to be nominated with so many other fine musicians. Never in our wildest dreams did we expect to have a night like we did.”

Among the nine awards was one for Lambert-Ryan for best female vocalist, her husband Fionan de Barra and others for best lyricist, best original song, best overall CD and best folk group. Cheryl Prasker, a Canadian transplant living in Philadelphia and drummer, rounds out the RUNA trio.

Bad News, Good News
You know what comes first. We just learned that one of our fave trad bands, Paddy’s Well, has broken up. But no, it’s not like the Beatles or anything. They’re still talking. They have to—they have a gig at the Maryland State Irish Festival this weekend. It’s their last as a group.

The good news is we now have more Paddy’s Well music to love. Paul Moore, who founded the group five years ago, is reforming as Paul Moore and Friends which will be the First Friday band at Brittingham’s in Lafayette Hill come December. Among Paul’s friends: Matt Brescia of Paddy’s Well and current fiddler Paraic Keene of Dublin. There will also be regular guest appearances.

Paddy’s Well fiddler Laine Walker-Hughes told us she and her husband, Joe Hughes, and bass player Frank Reed have formed a new band, Belfast Connection and they’ve already started recording!

Aon sceal? is Irish for what’s new–so tell us what’s new and we’ll tell the world. Send your news to denise.foley@comcast.net.

November 10, 2010 by Denise Foley

News, People

Big Night for the Mayo Association

Kathleen Paulson, center; Katelyn D'Adamo, first runner-up, left; Miss Mayo 2009 Caitlyn Lotty; and Laura Clinton, second runner-up.

Early in the night, the crew at the Philadelphia Irish Center was rolling out extra tables. As the night wore on, if you had a tray full of drinks, you’d have a hard time making your way through the hordes of dancers that filled the floor.

That was the scene at the hugely successful 2010 Mayo Association of Philadelphia Ball last Saturday night. It was a night that saw the crowning of the new Miss Mayo, Kathleen Paulson, an accounting major at Neumann University, and the presentation of the President’s Award to Sister James Anne Feerick, I.H.M.

It’s hard to tell which was the greater highlight, so we’ll say both were. Sister James Anne is the longtime chaplain of the Mayos, a seasoned Catholic school educator and also a pretty fair dancer. (You’ll see her photos in our Flickr essay.) In addition to Ms. Paulson, the Mayo Association also named Katelyn D’Adamo first runner-up and Laura Clinton second runner-up.

As we say, we have a bunch of photos from the night, plus a neat little video of Olivia Hilpl’s Rince Ri School dancers, who performed for the crowd.

Check them out.

Watch the video.

November 10, 2010 by Jeff Meade

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