On November 13, 27-year-old Shane Kelly—an officer in the Ancient Order of Hibernians Div. 61, soccer player, pharmacy tech specialist at Jefferson Umiversity Hospital—was shot to death during an attempted robbery in Fishtown.
This Sunday,January 29, his friends and fellow Hibernians will be remembering him and raising money for his family at a benefit they’re calling “A Celebration of Shane’s Life” ay Cannstatters in Northeast Philadelphia. There will be lived bands, a DJ, live and silent auction, food and beer. Space is limited, so contact AOH Division 61 at 215-624-3007 for tickets, which cost $40.
Saturday night marks the return of Blackthorn to Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia to raise money for the school’s scholarship fund. This annual event is always a sellout so check for details on our calendar and get tickets asap.
Also on Saturday night, the annual Celtic Spring concert at Sacred Heart Parish in Camden raises money for this parish and The Heart of Camden, a program founded by the late Sister Peg Hynes to help the poor and homeless. Singers Timlin and Kane, Marian Makins, fiddler Mary Malone, piper Den Vykopal, and the Miller Dancers plus other performers will be donating their talents.
On Sunday at noon, tune into WTMR-800 AM for the latest pledge drive for “Come West Along the Road,” the Sunday Irish radio show hosted by Marianne MacDonald. Eileen Lavin and the Tara Gael Dancers will be in the studio to take calls. Donors can win some great prizes, including tickets to see Solas, Paddy Maloney and the Chieftains, Altan, Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfetones. Pledge $50 or more and you’ll be entered into a a contest in which the grand prize is tickets to see “Evita” on Broadway–transportation included!–on March 24, or two tickets to Irish Night at the Phillies on June 19. Anyone who donates at least $50 will get a CD.
The Cara Irish Society of New Jersey is holding a membership drive open house on Sunday at the VFW Post on Black Horse Pike in Williamstown, NJ, from 1 to 5 PM. There’s food, beer, wine, and soda, and music will be provided by Celtic Spirit.
The Irish American Family History Society is meeting on Thursday at 11 AM in Voorhees, NJ. Genealogist Deborah Large Fox will present a program on the basics of Irish research.
Annalivia, five seasoned folk and Celtic performers, will appear at the Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, DE, on Thursday night.
Also on Thursday, the group Sylvia Platypus, is performing its rock opera, “Le Mirage/Dead City Philly” at the Rotunda at 4014 Walnut Street in Philadelphia.
On Friday, one of the most electrifying Celtic groups in the world, Solas, will be doing two shows at World Café Live in Philadelphia. And another of our favorite bands–this one local–will be playing at JD McGillicuddy’s. The John Byrne Band will be sharing the stage with the reunited band, Lazlo. Okay, so they share Andy Keenan, who also plays with Amos Lee and Citizens Band Radio. They’ll all be there together, and Keenan will be doing double duty.
On Friday, you can also catch up with Belfast Connection–they’re a spinoff ffrom Paddy’s Well–at Doc’s Irish Pub in Burlington, NJ (that’s right across the bridge from Bristol–you know, the Burlington Bristol Bridge).
We’ve been updating our calendar this week, and there’s plenty of craic coming up. Wait till you see the lineup in March. You’ll be seeing green! Have a St. Patrick’s Month event? You can put it on our self-serve calendar or email us with the information and we’ll put it on for you.
