Blackthorn is on tap this weekend--and for the following two.
A minor snafu last week put our calendar on the disabled list, but it’s back and you can post your events again, so please do.
Blackthorn is appearing this Saturday at MaGerk’s Pub, formerly The Bent Elbo, in Fort Washington. That’s always a good time. Looking ahead, the group is also going to be making return engagements to the Black Jack Kehoe AOH Div. 4 fundraiser on January 21 and Archbishop Ryan High School on January 28 for its benefit for the Ryan Tuition Assistance Fund, always a sellout.
Also this Saturday, the Centre Theatre in Norristown is presenting “She Moved Through the Fair,” a play adapted from the works of one of Ireland’s best known and critically acclaimed novelists and short story writers, Edna O’Brien, a native of Clare.
The Irish American Genealogy Group meets on Thursday at the Irish Immigration Center. This is a great way for family history newbies to get started on finding their Irish ancestors.
This is a slow week, Irish-wise, but we’re going to need a few slow weeks because the St. Patrick’s Day festivities always start gearing up earlier and earlier every year—like in February.
One thing that won’t be happening in February though, is the Scottish & Irish Festival in Valley Forge. No, don’t wring your hands and tear your hair out. It’s just been moved to the last weekend in March. Taking its place this year is a one-night (February 18) iconfluence of high-energy Celtic groups, two of which travel together so much they’ve combined their names, a la Brangelina. It’s Bronach—Brother and Albannach, two big favorites of the Valley Forge Festival. They’ll be sharing the stage in the Waterford Room (hope it’s big) at The Radisson Hotel in King of Prussia, adjacent to the Valley Forge Convention Center along with Barleyjuice and Arvel Bird. Bird is a Native American musician whose work is haunting and has a touch of Celtic because his father is Scots-Irish (his mother is Paiute). Listen here.
Another heads up for fans of the Vince Gallagher Irish Radio Hour. After moving his show to a new station (WNJC 1360 AM) for a few months, Vince is moving back to join his old partner-in-crime Marianne MacDonald at WTMR 800-AM at his old time of 11 AM the end of the month. That gives you two hours of Irish music without having to switch channels.
This week, you really can check out our calendar for all the details.
