Eric Van Horn of Delaware County knows how to be Irish.
St. Patrick’s Day dawns bright and early with the annual Judge Jimmy Lynn breakfast at The Plough and the Stars (7:30 AM) in Philadelphia, where you’ll hear music, singing, recitations, and, if you pay close attention to the conversations around you, some interesting political gossip. This is the go-to party for city pols.
Afterwards, there’s a lovely ceremony at the Irish Memorial at Front and Chestnut Streets and ceremonial planting of shamrocks in the raised flower beds.
If you have the energy, join the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 5 K on Forbidden drive in Fairmount Park. You can park at the Valley Green Inn. Proceeds from this charity run go to St. Malachy’s School in Philadelphia.
If you’re from Delaware County, however, you may need to rush right back to Springfield, which holds a spirited parade every year right there in the heart of Irish territory. There are so many Irish immigrants living there, you’ll think you’re in Ireland.
Likewise, Trenton is having its St. Patrick’s Day Parade right on the holiday.
Mass and festivities are being held at the Irish Center in Mt. Airy. We’ve heard there’s a huge feast planned by two of our favorite chefs, Geraldine Quigg and Sarah Walsh. And if I wasn’t going to the Donnybrook Cup—the annual faceoff between the USA Tomahawks and the Irish Wolfhounds in League Rugby—that’s exactly where I’d be.
The two teams last year resurrected The Donnybrook Cup which is being held this year at Quick Stadium at Widener University in West Chester. Afterwards, Blackthorn will be hold court at a post-rumble party at Harrah’s in West Chester. The Irish team, which arrived in town on Thursday, comes to the scrum with last year’s trophy. The national anthem will be sung by John and Michael Boyce of Blackthorn, and the Irish national anthem by their sister, Karen Boyce McCollum.
Also, the Erin Express pub crawl starts at noon on Saturday and goes to 15 pubs. Buses are provided. Remember, you don’t have to drink at all 15 pubs to make this a worthwhile day.
This is the last St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the Shanachie in Ambler. Owners Gerry Timlin and Ed Egan have sold their popular Irish spot after 7 ½ years in business. You probably can’t get reservations for dinner (you can try), but you might be able to squeeze inside to say goodbye to this great Irish pub. Some of us are really going to miss it.
There will be live music all over the place, but of the groups who’ve made use of our calendar, I can tell you that The Shantys will be playing at Reedy’s Tavern in Philadelphia, the Broken Shillelaghs will be at McMichael’s Pub and Grill in Gloucester City, NJ, and Blackthorn will be following up its gig at Harrah’s at Brownie’s 23 East in Ardmore. Bogey Phillips will be singing traditional Irish folk songs at Kennett Flash in Kennett Square.
There’s also a St. Patrick’s Day Party at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Glenside, sponsored by AOH Div. 2. There will be live music, dancing, and activities for the kids.
Things don’t grind to a halt after St. Patrick’s Day, but they do, mercifully, slow down a little.
On Sunday, for example, the St. Malachy’s College Orchestra from Belfast will be teaming up with the Temple University Newman Center and the St. Malachy’s Philadelphia choir for the 11 AM mass at the church in North Philadelphia. This could a religious experience like you never had.
IN-Philly, not letting a few trouncings stop them, will be heading back to Star Finders in Manayunk for their next 7-a-side soccer game. They’ll be playing AC Philly.
A total treat on Wednesday: Celtic Thunder’s George Donaldson will be joining Raymond Coleman live at the Plough and the Stars in Philadelphia. This is a great, intimate setting for hearing live music.
On Thursday, enjoy a real old-fashioned Irish Ceili at the Falvey Memorial Library at Villanova University with musicians and dancers from the Philadelphia Ceili Group and the Villanova Irish Step Dancers.
Then on Friday, the great Scottish & Irish Music Festival and Fair comes to the Valley Forge Convention Center a month late, but with the same great bands and vendors. Expect to see Rathkeltair, Albannach, Searson, the Hooligans, the Bogside Rogues, Andy Cooney, the Mac Leod Fiddlers from Canada, and many, many more. It’s all weekend, and oh what a weekend it is.
Genealogists and wannabes take note: The Ulster Historical Foundation will be at the Irish Center on Saturday to help you find you Irish and Scots-Irish ancestors. Ulster is one of the four provinces o Ireland and includes Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan in the Republic, as well as Antrim, Armagh, Fermanagh, Derry, and Tyrone in Northern Ireland.
