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November 2011

News

Conshy Parade is Looking for Next Grand Marshal

Spreading good cheer down Fayette Street.

Spreading good cheer down Fayette Street.

Yes, St. Patrick’s Day 2012 is still months away. If you’re like the rest of us, you’ve only just begun to think about Christmas.

The same cannot be said for the organizers of the local St. Patrick’s Day parades, who are already thinking well ahead … including the members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 1 who stage the big Montgomery County parade in Conshohocken, set for March 10.

Based in Swedesburg, the division is already searching for someone special to lead the parade. What’s more, if you know someone who’d make a great grand marshal, better let the division know soon. The deadline for nominations is December 9.

Here are the rules, according to parade committee spokesman Pete Hand. The nominee must:

  • Live in Montgomery County
  • Have contributed to the local Irish community, or the broader community
  • Be of Irish descent

“We’re looking for someone who’s really involved in the community, and in local organizations like the Ancient Order of Hibernians, CYO, the church, the fire company, somebody who actively promotes Irish culture … someone outgoing like that,” says Hand.

Whoever wins will have big shoes to fill. Two past grand marshals, former Conshohocken police chief Jim Dougherty and Verne T. Leedom, former drum major of Irish Thunder Pipes & Drums, passed away this past year. They pretty much set the standard.

So far, the division has received a few nominees, says Hand (himself a former grand marshal). He can’t say whose hats are in the ring. “I don’t know who they are … the nominations come in sealed envelopes.”

If you want to nominate someone, send a letter to:

St. Patrick’s Parade Committee
“Attention Grand Marshal”
342 Jefferson St.
Swedesburg, Pa 19405

The next grand marshal will be named on December 17, the division’s Member Appreciation Day. The Grand Marshal’s Ball will be held March 3 at the Jeffersonville Golf Club Banquet Hall.

November 25, 2011 by
Music, News, People

Wanna Bowl with the Stars?

Kevin Chapman, left, with Jim Cavizel from "Person of Interest."

If you saw the Mark Wahlberg film, “The Fighter,” you know that “Irish” Micky Ward, is one tough boxer. The movie chronicles Ward’s comeback after a series of humiliating defeats led him to abandon what had been a promising boxing career (he once knocked Sugar Ray Leonard, a fight he lost on points).

On Monday, you can see what kind of bowler Micky Ward is. He’s one of the celebrities who will be trying to score for charity—in this case, The Claddagh Fund, a nonprofit founded by Ken Casey of the Boston Celtic punk group, The Dropkick Murphys. Casey will also be there, along with actor Kevin Chapman, co-star with Jim Cavizel of the hit CBS-TV series, “Person of Interest,” and some Philly stars, including Ian Laperriere, Jody Shelley, Matt Read, and Zac Rinaldo of the Flyers. Local comic Joe Conklin will also be on hand to provide laughs, if the amateur bowling isn’t enough.

The Claddagh Fund was founded in 2009 to help raise money for underfunded nonprofits in the Boston area. It raised more than half a million dollars in its first year, supporting a diverse group of organizations mainly serving children, veterans, and people in recovery, including the Dorchester Boys & Girls Club, The Franciscan Hospital for Children, and the Greater Lowell YMCA. Since then, they’ve gone international, donating to The Belvedere Youth Club in Dublin Ireland, Springboard Opportunities in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and the Hope for Haiti Children’s Center in Port Au Prince.

This year, Casey brought his charity to Philadelphia, where the Dropkick Murphys have a large fan base, and chose as its first beneficiary, Stand Up for Kids, a virtually unknown nonprofit organization staffed almost entirely by volunteers, that does outreach with homeless and street kids in the city.

In September, in announcing the expansion to Philadelphia, Casey told us that choosing the city was virtually a no-brainer. “It is just a natural fit,” he said. “There are so many similarities between the two towns. They both love their communities, families, and sports teams. Philadelphians are good hardworking people and have always been good to the Dropkick Murphys. We want to do what we can to give back to a community that has been so good to us.”

The First Annual Claddagh Fund Celebrity Rock ‘N Bowl event is Monday night, 5:30 PM to 11:30 PM at North Bowl, 909 North 2nd Street, in Philadelphia. It costs $50 to attend, which includes two drink tickets, viewing, plus having your picture taken with your favorite celeb. A Rock ‘N Bowl package is $150 per bowler or $800 per team of six, that gets you into the VIP cocktail event, a bowling shirt, and best of all, a chance to bowl with a celebrity.

For tickets or more information, contact Kate McCloud at 267-644-8095 or Kathleen.McCloud@claddaghfund.org.

November 25, 2011 by
How to Be Irish in Philly

How To Be Irish in Philly This Week

Danu brings its Christmas show to Philly on Friday, December 2.

Finish Christmas shopping at 4 AM at Walmart. Check!

Grab a few elastic waistband pants for self. Check!

Eat rest of pie for breakfast. Check!

Go back to bed. Check!

It’s only 7 AM on Friday, but already you’ve put in a full day. Well, when you wake up, check out all these non-shopping Celtic things you can do over the coming week.

The Donegal Association of Philadelphia is having a ball on Saturday night. Right, they always have a ball, but this is a capital B Ball where they’ll also pick the 2012 Mary from Dungloe. The current Mary, Stephanie Lennon, will turn over her crown at the end of the dinner and dancing at The Irish Center.

A real treat: Timlin and Kane are appearing at The Shanachie. For more than 30 years, this duo has been drawing laughs and setting toes to tapping in the Philly area. The Shanachie is Timlin’s own pub in the heart of Ambler.

Also this weekend: The Mid-Atlantic Oireachtas will see the Downtown Marriott overrun with little girls wearing curly wigs and sparkly dresses who like to jig everywhere they go. (I’ve seen them jigging in the ladies room, though I guess that could be something else.) In any case, this is the big competition that draws Irish dancers from up and down the east coast to Philly every year and it’s always a great time.

On Monday night, you can bowl with the stars—all for a good cause. The first Annual Claddagh Fund Celebrity Rock ‘N Bowl Tournament will have you strolling down the lanes at North Bowl on Second Street (actually, on second thought, they frown on that) with the likes of Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphys, Boston boxer Micky Ward, who was played by Mark Wahlberg in the biopic, “The Fighter”), actor Kevin Chapman who co-stars with Jim Cavizel in the hit TV series, “Person of Interest,” and some Philly stars, including Ian Laperriere, Jody Shelley, Matt Read, and Zac Rinaldo of the Flyers.

The event raises money for The Claddagh Fund which was started by Casey in his hometown of Boston where it supports charities including the Boys and Girls clubs, the Franciscan Hospital for Children, veterans organizations and programs for recovering substance abusers. The Fund recently expanded to Philadelphia where its first beneficiary is Stand Up for Kids, a nonprofit staffed by volunteers that helps homeless and street kids.

And before you know it, it’s December. On Friday, December 2, have your first real Christmas experience the Irish way. Danu, one of the hottest bands on the Celtic circuit, is bringing its Christmas show to Philadelphia. “An Nollaig in Eirinn” is at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts for one show.

Check our calendar for any last-minute entries or for more details on these events.

November 25, 2011 by
Music

A Visit From an Old Friend

Mick Moloney holds forth.

Mick Moloney holds forth.

A visit from an old friend brought out Irish traditional music fans from all over the place Saturday night.

Mick Moloney, joined by the energetic fiddler Athena Tergis and the superb box player Billy McComiskey, played to a huge crowd in the Philadelphia Irish Center’s Fireside Room. They were the guests of the Philadelphia Ceili Group.

Mick himself had spent a good part of the afternoon holding forth on the Music of the West, a major theme for the Ceili Group this year and into the next. The concert was just a continuation of that theme.

We’ve a few photos from that night, and a neat little video.

November 18, 2011 by
How to Be Irish in Philly

How To Be Irish in Philly This Week

Practicing in the halls: Mid-Atlantic Oireachtas this weekend in Philly.

A very Happy Bird Day to you this week. On either side of Thanksgiving, there are plenty of ways to get your Irish on.

“Woman and Scarecrow,” Marina Carr’s play about life and death, finishes up its run this week at Villanova Theatre (November 20).

Recession or not, many local Irish bands are certainly getting work. You can hear Jamison at Curran’s in Northeast Philly which we hear (from one of the bartenders!) is a hopping spot all weekend. On Saturday night, with Jamison there, it will be a jigging spot.

The John Byrne Band will be doing an acoustic set at MilkBoy Coffee in Ardmore on Saturday night. It’s a great BYOB venue where you can actually hear the music you paid to hear, and not the loud conversations of the patrons which you didn’t pay to hear. (Yes, you’ll know us at the concerts—we’re the ones wearing the “Shut up and listen” buttons.)

The Broken Shillelaghs will be rocking Thanksgiving eve on Wednesday at McMichael’s Pub in Gloucester City, NJ. We’ve told you about Gloucester City before—just over the bridge, on the river, and Irish as all get-out.

On the same night, the Gloucester County AOH is hosting an open house at their place—Richard Rossiter Memorial Hall—in National Park, NJ. That’s really just over the bridge.

And since we’re coming up on Thanksgiving weekend, that means that the Oireachtas is in town! Pronounced or-ack-tus, it’s a major regional championship competition for Irish dancers big and small that’s held every year at the Downtown Marriott in Center City. It’s worth it to make a trip downtown to see the Christmas lights, have lunch, and watch some Irish dancing.

Also Thanksgiving weekend: The annual Donegal Ball and the Mary from Dungloe pageant. The reigning Mary, Stephanie Lennon, will give up her crown.

Check the calendar for any last-minute additions.

November 18, 2011 by
News

Aon Sceal?

Celeb TV chef Gordon Ramsay with Blind Pig owners Debra Ciasullo and David Hentz.

It’s every restaurant owner’s kitchen nightmare—to see Gordon “Kitchen Nighmares” Ramsay, l’enfant terrible of FOX-TV’s food programming, stroll through the door and ask for a table.

But the Scottish-born Ramsay, in Philadelphia to film an episode of his restaurant rescue show in West Philly, came to Northern Liberties’ latest pub, The Blind Pig, just to eat, says part-owner and barman John Byrne, the Dublin-born singer-songwriter. Byrne had a gig that night, but he shared what he heard from his partners Debra Ciasullo and David Hentz:

“He apparently became aware of the bar through Yelp [a “real people” review site on the Web where The Blind Pig gets four stars], looked online and liked the look of the menu and about six of them came in,” says Byrne. “He had lamb sliders and a burger, and the table ordered poutine, a Canadian dish that’s fries and gravy with cheese curds.”

Ramsay, who is known for his own expletive-laced “real people” reviews, seemed pleased with his meal, Byrne says. “He said he loved everything. He took some pictures with the regulars [like the one above with Ciasullo and Hentz]. He was very nice, very gracious, like the opposite of his TV persona. He was very encouraging. He have us a lot of props.”

Weren’t Ciasullo and Hentz just a little apprehensive when they saw their famous customer perusing the menu? “Deb said she did say to him, ‘I hope I don’t see you back here in six months,’” laughed Byrne.

Mmmm, Goodies
You may not be able to imagine Christmas without candy canes or ribbon candy, but for many Irish-born (and sweet-toothed tourists), it isn’t Christmas without Cadbury. Well, there’s plenty of sweets in the Christmas Box that The Irish Center is raffling off this holiday. They’ve packed it with tins of biscuits, tea bags, jam, peas and beans (if you’ve ever been to Ireland you know what we’re talking about here), a filled Christmas stocking and lots more goodies.

The raffle raises money for the center at 6815 Emlen Street in Philadelphia. To get your tickets—they’re $5 each—contact the center at 215-843-8051, or any one of these folks:

Vince Gallagher (610) 220-4142
Denise Hilpl (215) 527-8380
Sarah Walsh (215) 855-0507
Geraldine Quigg (215) 884-4948

The drawing will be held on Sunday, December 11. If you win, can I have your Cadbury Flake bar?

Child Abuse Bill Introduced by Philly Legislator
A bill that would require Pennsylvanians to report suspected child abuse to the police was introduced this week by Irish-American state Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-172) of Philadelphia.

HB 1990 is one of several new laws proposed in the wake of the sexual abuse scandal involving former Penn State Assistant Football Coach Jerry Sandusky which led to the firing of iconic Nittany Lion coach Joe Paterno and several others, and the resignation of the university president.

Surprised that reporting child abuse isn’t the law of the land? So was Boyle. “In 80 percent of the United States it is the law, but Pennsylvania is one of 10 states where you don’t have to report to police any first-hand knowledge of or suspected child abuse,” says Boyle. “Under current Pennsylvania law, all you have to do is report it up the chain of command, which is what [Assistant Coach Mike] McQueary and Joe Paterno did. What they did was legal, but a moral outrage.”

Another bill, requiring anyone who receives a college paycheck to report child abuse, was introduced by State Sen. Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland).

Governor Tom Corbett told the media this week that he would support any legislation that toughens reporting requirements.

November 17, 2011 by
News, People

Irish Hall of Fame Dinner: A Family Affair

Honoree John Donovan and his granddaughter, Bree.

More than 400 people attended the 11th annual Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame dinner on Sunday night, November 13, at The Commodore Barry Club (The Irish Center) in Philadelphia.

Honorees this year were Tom Farrelly, a Cavan native, five-time president of the Philadelphia Cavan Society, and an international Gaelic Athletic Association representative; Kathleen Gavin Murtagh, mother of six, who has been active in the Irish Immigration Center, the Mayo Association, and various local charities; and businessman John Donovan, who was instrumental in bringing the Irish Memorial on Penns Landing to fruition and serves on the the Irish Memorial board.

Farrelly, who is usually the emcess of the Hall of Fame event, turned over the microphone to DVIHOF member Tom Higgins for the evening. But Farrelly wound up speechless for other reasons: His siblings from Ireland came over as a surprise.

We were there and took lots of photos of this very enjoyable family evening.

November 17, 2011 by
News

Doing Business In Gaelic

John Conlon of the Irish Industrial Development Agency.


The Philadelphia-based Irish American Business Chamber and Network (IABCN) and the Irish Industrial Development Agency (IDA) are co-sponsoring a conference on starting a business in or working with firms in Ireland’s Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking areas) on Wednesday, November 30, at The Union League of Philadelphia.

Representing Udaras na Gaelachta, the regional authority responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht, will be CEO John Lowery and vice president Seamus Keough. There will also be representatives from four Gaeltacht-based businesses, including Telegael, one of Europe’s leding television, animation, and new media groups; OGT of Donegal, makers of AlgaeGreen, a natural seaweed extract and seaweed fertilizer; SELC, developer and manufacturer of electronic lighting controls and photocells, based in County Mayo; and Proxy Biomedical, which develops medical products using proprietary biomaterials technology.

Among the speakers for the morning program are John Conlon, executive vice president of North American, IDA Ireland; John Brennan, former chairman of ICT Group, and Bill McLaughlin, founder and chairman of IABCN.

IDA is Ireland’s investment promotion agency, responsible for attracting and developing foreign investment in Ireland. It offers funding and grants to clients considering making a direct investment in Ireland and help secure investment in the areas of high-end manufacturing, global services (including financial), research, development and innovation.

The event begins with breakfast at 8 AM, followed by the conference at 9 AM, and lunch at 12:30 PM. To register, go to www.iabcn.ticketleap.com/udaras_30_nov_2011, or email abarry@iabcn.com. Cost is $50 for members and $90 for nonmembers. The Union League is located at 140 South Broad Street.

November 17, 2011 by