John Byrne and Andy Keenan of The John Byrne Band. They're in Berwyn on Saturday.
Welcome to the merry month of May and some incredible Celtic entertainment.
First, this weekend:
You know that old show biz saying, “Break a leg!” Well, John Byrne did—playing soccer. Well, technically he fractured his hip. Either way, ouch! Nevertheless, he will be propping himself up on stage this Saturday at a brand new venue in Berwyn, the Performance Annex on Main.
The Cranberries—a blast from the past—will be at The Electric Factory in Philly on Saturday night.
Over in Burlington on Saturday afternoon, your $40 buys you all you can drink of 40 rare craft beers at the first fundraiser for the Burlington St. Patrick’s Day Parade. There will also be music by Clancy’s Pistol. Best of all—you don’t have to miss the Kentucky Derby. It will be show on a big screen in the parking lot of the Mount Holly Township offices.
There’s also an evening of Irish food and entertainment at St. James School Hall in Elkins Park on Saturday night.
And the very popular AOH Ceili will be held on Saturday at 7 PM at the AOH Div. 1 Hall in Bridgeport.
This is a major week for Irish plays, and you have quite a choice.
Brian Friel’s classic play, “Philadelphia Here I Come,” is the debut production of the Irish Heritage Theatre at the Walnut Street Theatre, Studio 5, in Philadelphia. Opening night is Saturday.
You can catch the last few performances this week of Martin McDonagh’s “A Behanding in Spokane,” at the Christ Church Neighborhood House in Philadelphia. This is a Theatre Exile production.
And the Inis Nua Theatre Company, which produces contemporary plays from Ireland and the UK, will debut the Enda Walsh play, “The Walworth Farce,” starting May 8 and running through May 27. Walsh, who was just nominated for a Tony for the book of the hit Broadway play, “Once,” explores the comic and tragic life of a family, a father and two sons in a rundown London bedsit.
Next Friday, make sure you have your tickets to the farewell performances of “Riverdance” at the Merriam Theatre. The play that made being Irish totally cool—in a way Bono couldn’t—is playing in Philly for the last time. It runs May 11-13. Click on the Riverdance ad at the top of our pages (they revolve, so wait for it) to get more information and buy tickets.
On Sunday, Roy Bourgeois, an outspoken Maryknoll priest who earned a Purple Heart in Vietnam, will speak at The Episcopal Peace Fellowship in Philadelphia after a screening of the award-winning documentary, “Pink Smoke Over the Vatican,” which explores the controversial issue of women’s ordination in the Roman Catholic Church.
Bourgeois has run afoul of the church hierarchy for his belief that women should be ordained. This event is being sponsored by the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Women’s Ordination Conference, Call to Action and the Community of Saint Mary Magdalene.
Fun stuff next week too, if you want to read ahead on our calendar.
Just a reminder: You can add your event to our calendar for free. Just go to the orange bar at the top of the page, click on “Irish Events Listing,” and follow the instructions. Bands, you’re free to add your gigs too! And pubs, listen up—if you have something going on, get it on here! This is the first stop for everyone who wants to get their Irish on.
