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March 2011

News

School Days, Irish Style

 

 

The kids of Gael Scoil 2011.

The kids of Gael Scoil 2011.

By Tom Slattery

Not only did Mercer County’s AOH Division 10’s 4th annual Gael Scoil attract a record number of students, but it also added new cultural sessions, some high-profile teachers and an Irish breakfast. As the student count kept rising, the committee had to scramble to keep up, but like any good show, the audience was unaware of the backstage maneuvers.

At the last minute we had to go to a three-track program; however, this was almost seamless because we had put in place a formal monitoring system, with a supervisor moving the monitors as necessary. Yes, you have to have at least a male and a female monitor in each session to accompany the kids for nature calls and to report quickly on any student or facility problem. You also have to have a registered nurse on duty for emergencies which are going to occur when you have 64 7- to17-year-olds moving around, including an hour session outside learning Irish football and hurling.

But it was the infusion of qualified (actually, overqualified) faculty that marked the success of our 2011 offering. Dr. Christine Kinealy, author of seven books on the Great Hunger, gave two classes for the older children (12-17). Of course, she presented An Gorta Mor, along with a session on Irish Women. Carol Russell, author, art critic and Northern Ireland activist gave a class on Irish Literature, again for the older kids. Mary Kay Mann, an outstanding musician who also teaches, ran two classes on the tin whistle, each class with close to 30 students. The only way to prevent pure mayhem was to have three monitors in the room holding onto the whistles until Mary Kay had a chance to introduce the topic and was ready for the kids to sound off. Realizing the number of younger kids, we added a second storyteller, Dave Emerson, who has already been invited back for 2012.

Pat McCabe, a Dubliner and brother of Mick, who started the program, once again came over from Dublin to help the GAA run their sessions; however, as a chef by trade he indicated he would like to cook up something for the kids. As a result, with the generosity of Breffni Foods of Hamilton, owned by Division 10 member Frank Connell, and a contribution by Gerry Maguire, another Division 10 member, the 64 kids and some of their parents were served a great Irish breakfast of sausage, bacon, eggs and scone. Michael Snowden, a horseman who has taken two horseback riding vacations in Ireland and who was attending as a driver, ran two showings of National Geographic’s video “The Irish Horse,” and showed pictures he took in Ireland—including riding the horses into the Atlantic Ocean. These were run for the younger kids. We also showed “The Secret of Kells,” a great documentary making full use of today’s graphics, in the cafeteria during lunch. Lunch (pizza, juice and cookies) was included in the program.

Other sessions included Irish Language once again run by Daltai na Gaeilge, this time just for the younger students; two musical instrument sessions taught by Mark and Tim Carroll; a bagpipe demo and talk by Marty and Ian Ferrick; an Irish Song session led by Tom Glover; a step dance exhibition by the DeNogla Dancers; Irish Geography by Jim MacFarland; a session on Irish Heroes and one on the Wee People by Tom Slattery.

Saturday afternoon we handed out the “hoodies,” which always seems to create the sense of a school and camaraderie. On Sunday, like every Sunday before, all students wore their hoodie.

Sunday’s lunch time has become a beehive of activities, with the entire school moving around the spacious cafeteria, which is decorated not only with the Irish flag but also with the 32-County and Four-Province flags. One group is eating, while another is baking (scone), and still a third is making Brigid’s Crosses. Those who finish ahead of their classmates are able to view the copy of the Book of Kells, check out the GS library of 40-plus Irish youth books, or just relax and listen to the traditional Irish music in the background.

Sunday’s last half-hour was a great wrap-up. The kids all got called up to get their Certificate of Completion. This year they also received a scroll tied together with a green ribbon. The scroll contained the Irish Declaration of Independence. In their binders they got handouts from some teachers, a tri-fold on the Book of Kells; and info on the Irish Way Program presented by the Irish American Cultural Institute, who also loaned us a copy of the Book of Kells.

Of course, all of the above does not just happen. Starting in late September, the committee starts biweekly meetings. Within a month we move to weekly meetings. The committee, which has been intact since the first Scoil, includes GS founder Mick McCabe, Division 10 members Don Carroll, Gerry Maguire, Gerry O’Rahilly (Division President), John Walsh (Division Past President), as well as Trenton Division 1 member Jim MacFarland and Montgomery County (PA) member Tom Slattery. This year we added June Balaz, Division 10 LAOH, to oversee the Monitor program.

Key to keeping the cost low ($100 for first child in family, $75 for each additional) is the generosity of Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, N.J., which permits us the use of their fantastic facility, along with major sponsors McCabe Concrete, CCC Celt, and Niall Brady. Thanks to those who sponsored students; AOH Philadelphia Division 88, NJ AOH State Board, and Bob McNally.
Thanks to LAOH 10 for supplying the scone baking assistance; and to James “Trader Jim” Walsh who made the tin whistles available for every child. Thanks to Daltai who made the language support pins available to the children.

Planning for 2012 is already under way. We look forward to creating a fourth-track for the young’uns (6- and 7-year-olds) that will pave the way for future entry into the 8- to 17-year-old main program.

You can follow the Gael Scoil history on www.gaelscoil.us . At their March 10 banquet, the Friendly Sons & Daughters of St. Patrick of Mercer County presented their annual Community Service Award to the Gael Scoil.

 Photos by Gerard O’Rahilly


March 25, 2011 by
Arts, Music, People

RUNA: “Stretched On Your Grave”

RUNA Launches Their New CD, "Stretched on Your Grave"

I first heard RUNA perform live almost two years ago, shortly after they had recorded their debut CD, “Jealousy.”  I fell in love with that album, and I fell in love with the band that has pioneered their own innovative style of taking traditional Irish songs and “Celting them up” in a way that is uniquely their own.

With the release of their second CD, “Stretched On Your Grave,” they have only managed to surpass themselves.

RUNA is Philadelphia-based: singer Shannon Lambert-Ryan is a home-girl who grew up at The Irish Center in Mt. Airy, first as a step-dancer with the O’Donnell School of Irish Dance, and later dancing at the Friday-night ceilis with her mom, Julie Lambert.  Percussionist Cheryl Prashker may have been born in Canada, but she was adopted by the folk scene here years when she joined up with the band Full Frontal Folk.  And Dublin-born guitarist, Fionán de Barra, had no choice; he became a full-fledged Philadelphian when he showed his brilliant taste by marrying Lambert-Ryan.

This is an album whose release I have long been awaiting, if only because I knew it would contain the song that I have come to think of as RUNA’s signature piece, “The House Carpenter/Jolene.” “The House Carpenter,” a traditional ballad that is also known as “The Daemon Lover” and “James Harris,” is a well-known work that tells the story of a young wife and mother who is lured away from her home by a former lover who promises her the world. Shortly into their voyage, she regrets her decision and is drowned, never to see the face of her young child again. 

Lambert-Ryan and de Barra were playing around with the tune one day, working with the verses: “There are many versions of the song…we wanted to craft the song to fit our style without changing it,” Lambert-Ryan explained. At the same time, they were listening to Dolly Parton’s classic song “Jolene,” and they realized that they could both be sung in the same key. Adding Prashker’s percussion underneath, the two songs blend perfectly, and create a brilliant and addictive take on an old ballad.

This is what comes through on the cd, the band’s love of “haunting melodies and universal themes.” Lambert-Ryan’s pure vocals shine on “I Wish My Love was a Red, Red Rose/Hector the Hero,” accompanied only by de Barra’s guitar playing. Simple, quiet and affecting, Lambert-Ryan preserves the original grace of the song while imbuing it with the passion that she imprints on everything she sings.

The title song, “I Am Stretched On Your Grave,” opens with Lambert-Ryan singing sean-nos, and then builds on the raw emotion of the tune as de Barra comes in with guitar, and fiddler Tomoko Omura draws the energy of the song to its conclusion. It’s an artistic fusion that creates a captivating and satisfying arrangement to the 17th century Irish poem originally titled “Táim sínte ar do thuama”.

Lambert-Ryan also sings several songs in their original Irish, “Cailín deas Crúite na mbó” and “Siúbhán Ní Dhuibhir.” The lovely ballad “Cailín deas Crúite na mbó” is performed with an effortless straightforwardness that captures the tale of “The Pretty Girl Milking a Cow,” while “Siúbhán Ní Dhuibhir” is infused with energy and percussion and the peerless flute playing of Isaac Alderson.

de Barra displays his own vocals on “Fionnghuala,” a tour de force of what has been described as Gaelic scat. The Scottish song was made famous by The Bothy Band, but de Barra’s version is a joyful gem that deserves its own place in the annals of Celtic music.

Throw in the instrumental “The Star of Munster,” which showcases Prashker’s percussion, de Barra’s guitar, and Alderson’s flute, and you have an album overflowing with stunning tunes and songs.

“Stretched On Your Grave” is an inspired album from a group that has found its voice, and its place, in the world of Irish music. With songs like “The Newry Highwayman” and “Lowlands of Holland,” played to traditional perfection with RUNA’s Celtic twist, it’s a CD that will get frequent play when you add it to the music shelf.

And those of you fortunate enough to live within traveling distance to Philadelphia can see them play live at their launch concert this Saturday, March 26th at The Irish Center in Mt. Airy.

For more information, check out their website: http://www.runamusic.com/

March 25, 2011 by
Music

Gaelic Storm Blows Into Town

Gaelic Storm: That's Steve Twigger second from the left.

Like Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in the blockbuster movie, Titanic, Gaelic Storm went down with the ship. However, it worked out well for this Celtic group, that started out playing gigs at a friend’s Irish pub in  a Santa Monica, California. Their screen time in the film—they’re the Irish band that gets DiCaprio and co-star Kate Winslet dancing on the tables in steerage—garnered them so large a following that since then they’ve spent as much as 200 days of the year on the road.

They appeared on March 24 at The Colonial Theater in Phoenxiville and writer/photographer Brian Mengini caught up with them. Here, his interview with Steve Twigger, GS’s Coventry, England-born guitarist and singer.

Your music definitely has a down home southern kinda feel to it.  Where does the inspiration come from?

Over the last 10 years or so much has changed.  I live in Austin, Texas now; I’ve been listening to a lot of the southern bands.  Ya know there is a lot of connection with the blue grass players as well. Irish music has an influence in a lot of bluegrass music.  So I think perhaps that connection exists.

You guys just raised over $16,000 for St Baldricks Foundation which is for children’s cancer research.  As a result, Pete and Patrick shaved their heads bald.  How did GS get involved with this foundation and how did you raise the $16,000?

Some time ago, we connected with some friends in Green Bay, St Brendan’s Inn.  Larry Fitzgerald who runs the place is an Irish fella who got involved himself with the St. Baldrick Foundation. Whenever we’re in town there, we stay at their hotel.  They run a great little hotel there with an Irish bar.  We actually play a couple of gigs right there at the bar.  It’s the only bar we play in America.  They wanted us to participate in this and they explained it to us.  We’ve seen the operation around the country but this was a chance to get involved and Patrick jumped straight on board.  I think it’s been three years now, three straight years that Patrick’s shaved his head and Peter Purvis joined in this year.  We sort of took it out on the road and every night just asked for donations which all literally just went into a bucket.  We counted up the money to the penny every night.  We’re finishing it on St Patrick’s Day and I think we’ll be up to about $17,000.  People have come up to us after shows and explained how that foundation has helped them also when his 4-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia and he lost his job, the foundation funded him and kept him afloat for six months.

The song “Green Eyes, Red Hair” is that inspired by a true story?

Ya know, I think, there’s many true stories in there.  We’ve been on the road now for 15, 16 years and we’ve certainly met our fair share of fiery red heads.

What is the music scene like over in England versus here in the States?

Ya know, we’ve been out here so long.  When I was playing way back when in England, it was a completely different world.  So we really don’t know.  We’ve travel more in France and we were in Spain last year, more then we have in England or Ireland.  There’s a vibrant Celtic scene in the north of Spain and also in the northwest of France.  We’re hoping to get out to France and Spain again this year to play.  It is different.  It’s a lot more traditional, I would say.  I think they are starting to enjoy the sort of crossover now and the more contemporary feel that bands like ourselves bring to what they consider to be their music.

What is your favorite GS song to play live?

Strangely enough, we’ve been doing an old children’s song from Belfast that we’ve been doing since the first time we started playing together called “Tell Me Ma.” I mean it’s a very popular song in the Irish community–every Irish band plays it.  No matter what happens, we tend to throw it in at the end of every night, especially when there’s a really rowdy crowd.  It just seems to close the night up perfectly.

Speaking of rowdy, what’s the rowdy’s place or show you’ve done?

We get up to northern Minnesota, up in Minneapolis.  Up there in the winter, ya know, their winters are severe. I think people get a bit of cabin fever.  We were up there just a few weeks ago and the crowd’s  crazy up there.  But like I say, I think it’s a bit of this cabin fever.

GS has a really wonderful outreach program with Pub of the Month, Storm Chasers, etc, which I think is great!  People love feeling like they are a part of something – that sense of family or more intimate communal circle!  How do you come up with the ideas for these initiatives?

I come from an advertising background.  I have an art degree and was an art director in advertising for about 12-13 years, doing advertising in Los Angeles and London.  Everybody throws in their ideas and we just do them, ya know.  We don’t think too hard about it.  As far as the pub of the month goes, we pretty much try and get out and meet our fans at the pubs at most places.  We just sort of put a name to it.  Storm Chasers is our version of our fan club.  It’s not that unusual, we just put a name to it.

How long are you generally on the road for?

We all have wives or significant others.  We try not to be out for more than three weeks or so.  This tour is about three months long and in that three months, I think we’ve been home for about ten days.   So it’s a sort of grueling tour.

What makes Cabbage different then previous albums?

We don’t sort of set out to make anything a bit different.  We don’t have a preconceived notion of reinventing the wheel.  We let our influences take over and then don’t hold back.  I think if there was an effort, it would be to get closer and closer to the feel of our lives shows.

How long did it take you to make it?

It’s all studio time.  6-8 weeks.  There are all kinds of writing sessions and pre studio sessions.  When you are coming down to it I guess about two months.

For someone who hasn’t been to a Gaelic Storm show, what can they expect?

Ya know, it’s a question I get asked a lot.  We’re known for our live shows.  It’s a lot of energy, a lot of participation from the audience.  We’ll put together a set list that brings famous songs from all of our CD’s.  We have 7 studio CD’s.  We’ll involve the audience and get them out of their seats!

What advice do you have for a band wanting to progress from a local band to a national or festival band?

It’s a hard transition to make because it’s an expensive proposition to head out.  It does require funding.  It’s easy to perhaps get gigs on Friday and Saturday nights but to then stay out on the road of course you have to be working Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.  You end up making your money on the weekend then losing it during the week.  So most bands start out just doing short runs until they build up a reputation then they can push their Friday and Saturday night shows back in the week when they get popular.  Just in general to any band, make sure you have a story, make sure you have something that is of interest to people.

 

 

 

 

March 25, 2011 by
Columns

The Wild Geese

Wild geese. Photo from iStockphoto

By Tom Finnigan

On a business trip to Savannah in Georgia, I showed some pictures of Malin Town to my American supplier.

“That’s a real pretty place ya have there,” Dozier Cook said. “D’yall have ya own mayor and sheriff?”

I pondered this driving over Malin Bridge on my way home from Dublin Airport. Slowing down for horse riders near Rose Cotage, I imagined John Henry McLaughlin, the chairman of our Tidy Town committee, raising a posse to chase the boy-racers of Carndonagh. Star glinting in his lapel, I saw him on a white stallion leaping ditches of red fuchsia to head off a souped-up Toyota that roared along the Lagg Road.

Back home in Goorey, looking into Trawbreaga, I watched a cormorant patrol the bay dam-buster style, wings flicking the water. I heard curlews cry and smelt salt. I was home from a distant place. Not like those Earls – The O’Donnell and The O’Neill – whose flight from Rathmullan ended in exile four hundred years ago. More like the wild geese that come and go with the seasons.

In Manchester, my parents belonged to The Wild Geese club. We were a family of emigrants who celebrated a romantic Ireland that existed only as a myth to expunge the bitter memories of Mayo poverty. As my father’s business grew, we explored Kerry and Sligo, even came to Donegal. Aer Lingus offered a car-carrying service and once we flew with a car from Speke to Dublin.

Today everyone travels. If O’Neill and O’Donnell were still here, they could fly to Spain or Italy in a couple of hours with Ryanair, instead of waiting for wind off Fanad Head.

A week later on a visit to my sick father, I arrive in Manchester four hours after passing Slieve Snacht. “It took us three days to get to England,” he recalls. “And now they fly from Knock to do their Christmas shopping in New York…”

Stomach cancer makes it hard for him to eat. His flight is ending, wheels are down, seat-belt fastened. “I’m as week as a traneen,” he whispers over breakfast, mouth smeared with porridge. “D’ye know what a traneen is?” I shake my head. “It’s a small bladeen o’ grass – and not a very good one at that…”

When I return to Malin, white water jumps in Trawbreaga. Smoke drifts on the Isle of Doagh, and a breeze carries the smell of burning turf. I carry sods in a basket – the same fuel they carried to keep O’Neill warm on his last night in Rathmullan, the same sods my father dug in the bog below Killinaugher.

They sold Guinness in the Kevin Barry Pub in Savannah. There was bacon and cabbage on the menu and someone sang ‘Danny Boy’. The place reeked of tobacco and sweat. In a corner by a rocking chair, I noticed a basket of turf.

“Do they burn it?” I asked my friend Dozier Cook.

“Whatever for?” he replied.

The geese have returned to Inishowen for winter. On their evening passage from feeding by the Swilly, they honk and swoop in an arc towards Glashedy. I watch them swing towards a blood-red sun.

O’Donnell and O’Neill never returned to Ireland. Nor will my father.

I raise a glass of iced gin to toast all who pass from one place to another. Slainte!

“We are like grass which springs up in the morning,” the psalmist sings. “In the morning it springs up and flowers: by evening it withers and fades.”

Like a traneen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 25, 2011 by
How to Be Irish in Philly

How To Be Irish in Philly This Week

Matt Cranitch and Jacky Daly. Photo by Con Kelleher

We’re winding down St. Patrick’s Month—as it’s known in Philadelphia—but this is such an Irish region, there’s still plenty to do if you haven’t Irished yourself out.

This weekend, one of my favorite Celtic groups, RUNA, debuts its new CD, “Stretched in Your Grave” and its newest band member, Tomoko Omura, a native of Japan, a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, and a jazz violinist in New York. Omura a perfect addition to a band that is one of the more successful at creating a fusion of Irish trad and any other style their little hearts desire. The CD release party is Saturday at Philadelphia’s Irish Center, 6815 Emlen Street, in the Mt. Airy section of the city. The band recently won nine awards at the Montgomery-Bucks Music Awards. Members—Shannon Lambert-Ryan, Fionan de Barra, and Cheryl Prashker–have variously played with some of the best–Solas, Clannad, Moya Brennan, Eileen Ivers, and our own local Full Frontal Folk.

At ACT II Playhouse in Ambler, catch the The Pride of Parnall Street by Sebastian Barry, the latest entry in the Philadelphia Irish Theater Festival.

At St. Paul’s Church in Chestnut Hill, father and son musicians Mark and Tim Carroll will play Irish and Scots music in a benefit for peace activist Roy Bourgeois on Saturday night..

And a real treat—button accordian player Jackie Daly and fiddler Matt Cranitch will take you back to old Ireland at the Coatseville Cultural Society on Sunday night. Daly was born in the Sliabh Luachra region between Cork and Kerry. The area is known for its lively—some say wild—musical style filled with polkas and jigs that will wear your legs off. Expect some aching thighs after the concert. He’s joined by Cranitch, a multiple all-Ireland fiddler whose doctoral thesis at the University of Cork was about the Sliabh Luachra fiddle tradition.

Speaking of treats, one of Ireland’s other premier fiddlers, Kevin Burke, along with multi-instrumentalist Cal Scott, will be at West Chester University twice this week. On Wednesday, they’re conducting workshops as a lead-in to their Thursday concert at the Madeline Wing Adler Theatre on the West Chester campus.

If you’re a trad music fan, this is what is known as an embarrassment of riches.

We welcome April on Friday with singer-songwriter Seamus Kelleher (late of Blackthorn) at the School of Rock in Doylestown, part of its Guest Professor Program.

And next Saturday, head to the Springfield Country Club for the 10th annual Philadelphia Rose of Tralee Selection Night Gala where judges will pick the 2011 Philadelphia Rose. I was a judge last year and it’s always a lovely event.

As always, check the calendar for details on these events. And keep checking back. Procrastinators are always adding more.

 

 

 

March 25, 2011 by
Sports

“Donnybrook” Says It All

Our photographer got a little too close to the action.

Our photographer got a little too close to the action.

24-8.

That was the final score of the Donnybrook Cup in Northeast Phildelphia on Saturday, with the Irish Wolfhounds decisively winning over the USA Tomahawks.

For those new to rugby, this game was a real eye-opener. We thought hurling was nuts, but then we saw this bruising, fast-moving game—which is like American football, but without the helmets and pads, and absent all those long, dreary pauses that coincidentally take as long as a beer commercial.

The lads of the USA fought back valiantly, but in the end the Wolfhounds simply dominated and came away with the trophy.

We’re still not sure we could explain the rules, but these pictures will give you a sense of things.

March 24, 2011 by
News

A Message From Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade Director Michael Bradley

Michael Bradley

Parade director Michael Bradley in the booth with CBS3's Kathy Orr.

We started off parade season with a great fundraiser at AOH Division 39 in Tacony. Thanks to President Ed Dougherty, who provided us hospitality at their club. The event was chaired by Joe Fox, the president of the AOH Philadelphia County Board, and Kathy Fanning, the president of the LAOH Philadelphia County Board. Music was by Frank Daly’s great band Jameson; dancers were from Chrissy Zeo Harbison’s fantastic Celtic Flame School of Irish Dance. Everyone danced, sang and had a great time while raising
money for the parade.

The next major event was a fundraiser with another great night at 2nd Street Irish Society in South Philly. Thanks to President Michael Remshard who provided us a great night at their club. The event was chaired by our newest board member John Stevenson, the founder of 2nd Street Irish Society. Music was by John McGillian’s band 5 Quid and the dancers were from Jeannine McGuire’s 2nd Street Irish Society Step Dancers. Speeches were given and I made mention of 2nd St Irish Society’s 15th anniversary and that their club has a whole wall with awards won at the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day parade. After what I saw at the parade, you are going to fill up more walls! Again, our goal was to mingle with our hosts and guests in a relaxed atmosphere and have a good
time while raising money for the parade.

We had a VIP Reception for our major sponsors, which was held in the Grand Lobby at CBS3 and is the highlight of the social calendar. Grand Marshal Sister James Anne Feerick IHM was introduced, gave a heartfelt speech and even danced for us. Kathy
McGee Burns introduced the Ring of Honor: Sr. Kathleen Brabson, S.S.J., Bernadette Browne, Honorable Pamela P. Dembe, Denise Foley, Liz Kerr, Eileen Lavin, Sister Christine McCann, R.S.M., and Honorable Kelly C. Wall.

We introduced the great CBS3 /CW Philly 57 team of Susan Barnett, Kathy Orr, Bob Kelly, Perry Casciato, Chris May, Jim Donovan, Dave Huddleston, Susan Schiller and Joanne Calabria. All mingled with guests and a fantastic time was had by all in attendance.

The highlight of the night was that we had the honor of presenting John Dougherty a plaque for all his years or support with the Irish community and specifically his support for the parade. There would be no parade of this magnitude without John Dougherty and
IBEW Local 98, so make sure you thank him when you see him. We also gave awards to major sponsors Sandy Muller and Marty Farrell from Muller Beverage. The music was provided by Karen Boyce McCollum, Brian Boyce and Luke Jardel and the dancers were from the McDade School of Irish Dance. The outstanding food was served by Cescaphe Caterers; I don’t think I have ever been to a wedding as elegant as this affair.

Our next fundraiser kicked of parade week on Sunday March 6 at Springfield Country Club where we had over 850 in attendance. Blackthorn provided their usual fantastic show. The dancers were from the McDade, Cara, and McHugh School of Irish Dance,
and ended with all of them performing together as one! CBS3 anchor Susan Barnett left her own son’s christening to be there! CBS3’s Bob Kelly is always there with us and a huge crowd favorite at Irish events. I invited the “The Man of a Thousand Voices” Joe
Conklin who had the crowd in stitches with his impersonations of Philly celebrities who were supposed to be at the fundraiser but couldn’t make it, notably Allen Iverson, Charlie Manuel, Cole Hammels and Andy Reid! We were joined by our Irish radio hosts Mike Concannon, Marianne McDonald, and Vince Gallagher. Special thanks to “professional volunteers” Linda Bradley, Carmel and Barney Boyce, Frances Duffy, Pat Donnelly, Tom Kearney, Kathy Metzger and especially Chris Phillips for organizing the Silent
Auction. We had an awesome time and I have already booked Springfield Country Club for Sunday March 4, 2012, for next year so save the date!

We started Thursday March 10 at City Hall for a wreath laying and tribute to the Irish patriots with the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. We then proceeded on to the magnificent Mayors Reception Room for the Governor’s and Mayor’s proclamation of March as “Irish
Month.” Kathy McGee Burns introduced our Grand Marshal Sister James Anne Feerick IHM and Ring of Honor, and the dancing was provided by Rose Marie Timoney and the Timoney School of Irish Dance. Hard to believe that Sister James Anne was never
Grand Marshal before, I guess it just goes to show you how many outstanding Irish and Irish Americans we are blessed to have in our region. Mayor Nutter and Councilman Bill Green spoke and we were joined by State Reps Brendan and Kevin Boyle as they
read proclamations.

Over at the Doubletree Hotel for the annual luncheon, Kathy McGee Burns sashed our Grand Marshal, Sister James Anne to a thundering applause. They also sashed our outstanding ring of Honor: Kathy Orr and Perry Casciato from CBS3 were in attendance and another great time was had by all in anticipation of our parade. 2010 Grand Marshal and a celebrity in his own right, Seamus Boyle, the national president of the AOH, was saluted. We were also graced by the presence of Sandy Muller from Muller Beverage, presents from Johnny Doc and local 98, and amazingly a perfect parade book with a photo of Sister James Anne on the cover. Everyone always just takes it for granted that these books show up on time and I want to acknowledge all the hard work on the parade book by Greg Skahan from Griffiths Printing and Pat Donnelly.

On Sunday March 13, the Mass was magnificent, organized by Len Armstrong and the committee. The Emerald Pipers led a procession up the aisle to start the Mass celebrated by Cardinal Rigali, Father Kevin Gallagher, Father Chris Walsh, and others too numerous to mention for fear of forgetting someone. The singing, always an Irish tradition and treat, was headlined by the St. James Alumni Choir, Soloist Karen Boyce McCollum, and National Anthem by Frank Gallagher. While the Mass was going on, George
Hollingsworth, who is retired from the City and whom I cannot do without, was in work clothes screwing down a dance floor at the performing area, while Joe Callan was helping me organize the performing area.

We had 187 groups and started the parade at 16th & JFK at 11:15 a.m. The bands were awesome, the dancers magnificent, the marchers inspiring, and the crowd never stopped cheering. Timmy Kelly started us off with his usual jaw-dropping, tear-wiping
rendition of Danny Boy, and Frank Gallagher chipped in with America the Beautiful, and the crowd’s enthusiasm never waned the whole four and one half hours. The 2011 Theme was: ST. PATRICK, BLESS OUR RELIGIOUS SISTERS WHO SERVE, INSPIRE AND EDUCATE.

We were led off this year by our friends from Philadelphia’s Finest, the Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. I cannot thank enough John McNesby, president of FOP Local 5, and Harry Marnie for their hospitality and help at FOP 5 after the parade. Special thanks to
Captain Tom Helker, without his help and support, we could never be successful.

I have to give a special hello and thank you to our sisters who marched this year. The Immaculate Heart of Mary Nuns and the Sisters of Mercy nuns made all of us proud and had a ball while doing so. Sisters, thank you and I hope to see you all next year!

Kathy Orr, Susan Barnett, and Bob Kelly did another outstanding job and were ably assisted by Father Kevin Gallagher and Karen Boyce McCollum. I was honored to be asked to go into the booth and do some commentating, but to tell you the truth, it was so
hot in there and I couldn’t sit still that long, my ADD was in high gear and I left after I lost interest in the booth, and not being on the street. So I have a brand new appreciation of our commentators and the preparation and work that they do! If you would like to
see the parade, go to www.CBSPhilly.com and you can watch the entire parade, or it is on Comcast Video on Demand for free also.

My family joined up with Mike Driscoll’s Family and we rented a double-decker bus. We put the Philly Phanatic and the Penn State Nittany Lion up on top of the bus so all could see him and save him from being mobbed by the crowd. He was obviously a huge hit
and a great addition.

Our award winners and info on our awards party can be found on our Web site at www.philadelphiastpatsparade.com. We look forward to seeing all the winners, sponsors, marcher and friends at our awards party on Wednesday April 13, 2011, at
Finnigan’s Wake at 6 p.m., where we will also announce our Trip to Ireland Winner.

If you have any questions or require information, please visit our Web site. Come join the fun and get to know our board members and the CBS3 celebrities!

The next major Irish event that I am hosting is on Sunday, June 5. We will have the 13th Annual Irish Festival at Penn’s Landing with vendors, dancers, bands, entertainment and the Man and Woman of the year awards. Do not miss it, it is a great event!

Please go to the CBS3 Web site and tell them how much you appreciate their involvement in the Irish community. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the Denise Foley, a proud 2011 Ring of Honor member, and Jeff Meade for all their coverage and support not just this month, but 365 days of the year. Their photos are simply “THE BEST” I am proud to call them friends!

Special thanks go out to my wife Linda, and sons Mickey and Colin, for understanding all the time that I have been missing from their lives the last month, to president Kathy McGee Burns and 1st VP Bob Gessler, 2nd VP Chris Phillips, Secretary Mary Frances
Fogg, Treasurer Len Armstrong, all our Board Members, CBS3 President Jon Hitchcock and his staff, Mayor Nutter, Melanie Johnson, Jazelle Jones, George Hollingsworth, Joe Callan, our producer and friend Liz Naughton, and 2nd VP Chris Phillips, who ably handled all the chaos at 16th and JFK and Pat Donnelly for all her help, and to my good friend at CBS 3, without whom this parade wouldn’t make it one minute on TV, Perry Casciato. And a really big special get well quickly to Paul Phillips, I need you to get
well NOW, because I need someone to tell me how bad I screw things up now that Jim Kilgallen, Jack McNamee, & Tom Moffit are gone!

If you are reading this, and missing all this fun, why don’t you get a group to march? All you need is one key person and we’ll do the rest. Contact me at www.philadelphiastpatsparade.com!

By the end of the parade we had over 20,000 marchers strong pass through. To the six groups who did not pass through before TV coverage ended, please accept our apologies, we will make it up to you next year or in some way through this year. The last group is
just as special as the first group to me! We certainly were blessed with great weather!

The title of parade director carries a tremendous responsibility that has been placed on me, but even though it is an unbelievable amount of work, all I can think about, is what an honor it is for me to serve and honor, you and your ancestors. I am very proud to
have that responsibility, and promise to do my best at all times, for everyone in the Irish community. Don’t forget, we have 26 members on our board and they all contribute in some way this fine parade! Make sure you thank them when you see them.

On behalf of the Saint Patrick’s Day Observance Association, thanks again for a wonderful display of religion, tradition, culture, friendship, and love for all things Irish!

In Honor of St Patrick,

Michael J. Bradley Jr.

Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade Director

March 24, 2011 by
How to Be Irish in Philly

How To Be Irish in Philly This Week

Dervish will be performing for The Little Sisters of the Poor.

Have you recovered from St. Patrick’s Day? Hope so, because there’s plenty going on this week and you need your strength.

Here’s how it goes:

Saturday

Michael Flatley’s “Lord of the Dance” is showing on movie screens in the area—in 3D! Watch out for those flying feet.

The 8th Annual Notre Dame Alumni 5K Race and Walk will explore Valley Green in Fairmount Park—the physically fit are doing it to benefit St. Malachy’s School.

You can pretend it’s still St. Patrick’s Day at Triumph Brewing in New Hope where the Bogside Rogues are playing.

A must-see! The Donnybrook Cup, which pits American rugby team the Tomahawks against the Irish Wolfhounds at Charles Martin Memorial Stadium on Cottman Avenue. Gates open at 2:30, kick-off and blood flow starts at 4 PM.

Irish tenor Anthony Kearns will be on stage at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center.

Altan, one of Ireland’s top trad groups, is on stage at the Zellerbach Theatre in Philadelphia.

Fresh from their CD release party, Burning Bridget Cleary will be rocking it at The Farmhouse Tavern on Doylestown.

The Waterfront South Theatre in Camden is presenting the play, “Go Irish: The Purgatory Diaries of Jason Miller.”

Sunday

They’re taking it all off for kids with cancer: Collingswood, NJ, firefighters along with friends and family are shaving their heads at this annual St. Baldrick’s Day fundraiser at Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood. The Broken Shillelaghs are playing music to go bald by.

Rita O’Hare, Sinn Fein representative to the US, will be speaking on the role of Irish Americans in fulfilling one of the tenets of the Good Friday agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland—eventually, one Ireland.

If you live in Allentown, you have a parade marching by—the St. Patrick’s Day parade steps off 1:30 for our northern brethren.

The Irish band Dervish will be at Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill for a benefit for The Little Sisters of the Poor.

This one’s a freebie: Dublin comes to Ambler, An evening of Irish music, poetry, food “and general mayhem.” We like the sound of that. And Barleyjuice will be there—we really like the sound of that. This is to lead up to Act II Playhouse’s production of Sebastian Barry’s “The Pride of Parnall Street.”

And DeDannen is going to be at the Sellersville Theatre!

Monday

Oisin MacDiarmada, fiddler and founder of the acclaimed group Teada, and Seamus Begley, quintessential Irish musician and story teller, will be peforming at the Spring Lake Public Library in Spring Lake, NJ. You can also catch them at a house concert in Voorhees on Tuesday. See our calendar for contact info for the house concert—it’s a real house and seating is limited.

The High Kings, a group in the tradition of the Clancy Brothers (in fact, one of them is a Clancy), will be at the World Café Live in Philadelphia.

Wednesday

“The Pride of Parnall Street” by Sebastian Barry opens at the Act II Playhouse in Ambler, part of the Philadelphia Irish Theater Festival.

Thursday

Gaelic Storm is on stage at The Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville.

Friday

Put on your dancing shoes—there’s a St. Patrick’s Day Ceili Dance at the Irish Center in Philadelphia.

One teeny, weeny peek ahead: RUNA, a Philadelphia based Celtic group, will be releasing its new CD—and playing from it—at a party at the Irish Center on Saturday, March 26. Even our non-Irish friends love them.

March 18, 2011 by