The summer is fading fast; Labor Day, that great divider between the season of sun and fun and the season of back-to-school clothes and pencil sharpeners is coming up in a week.
But that’s a good thing, because it’s bringing with it hundreds of Gaelic footballers, hurlers, and camogie players to Philadelphia for the 2012 North American Gaelic Athletic Association championships. The action will center at Pennypack Riverview Fields in Pennypack Park in northeast Philadelphia.
Tickets for the entire weekend is just $45. See our calendar for the details and a link to the ticket website.
But before the games begin, there’s the annual Irish Festival at St. Patrick’s Church on this Saturday and Sunday, August 25 and 26, with food, music, vendors, and fun. On Sunday, the Rev. Gus Puleo will celebrated the Mass of the Golden Rose to honor Our Lady of Knock. After Mass, there’s a celebration at the AOH Notre Dame Div. 1 Hall with more music, food, dancing and fun.
You shore goers can catch the Broken Shillelaghs at Tucker’s Pub in Wildwood, NJ on Saturday night and Jamison at Shenanigans in Sea Isle City on Sunday.
Our friends to the north—that would be Allentown—are holding an Irish Heritage Night at Coca Cola Park, home of the Iron Pigs baseball team, a Phillies Triple A affiliate. Check our calendar for the details because there are discounts and group benefits available.
In the not-too-distant future: The Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival of Irish Music and Dance on Sept. 6-8, with DeDannann, Paddy Keenan, Gabriel Byrne, Marian Makins, the McGillians’ topnotch ceili band (for dancing the night away), and Sean Tyrell’s one-man show, “Who Killed James Joyce?” There are also workshops for musicians and some for those interested in genealogy, St. Brigid’s Cross making, the Irish language, and other topics.
Look for The Young Dubliners to head our way in early September, and both the Mercer and Gloucester City Shamrock fests by mid-month, with AOH Wildwood Weekend, the Bethlehem Celtic Fest, and Blackthorn’s shore weekend towards the end of September. That’s your reminder that you’re more than halfway to St. Patrick’s Day.
