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May 2013

How To Be Irish in Philly This Week

Hey, we did this!

Festival fever this weekend!

The annual AOH Montgomery County Irish Festival runs all weekend at St. Michael’s Picnic Grove in Mont Clare, PA, featuring Jamison, the Bogside Rogues, Irish Thunder, the Celtic Flame Irish dancers, the McGillians and Tom McHugh, as well as vendors, food, and kids’ activities. It’s only $7-10 to get in (or $20 for the entire weekend).

On Sunday, the annual Irish Festival on Penn’s Landing kicks off at 1 after an outdoor Mass at the Irish Memorial. Blackthorn, the Hooligans, and Jamison will be performing.

Later in the afternoon, dancers from the region’s Irish dance schools will perform together as a tribute to 7-year-old Jane Richard, an Irish dancers from Massachusetts who lost a leg in the Boston Marathon bombing. The schools and other Irish organizations have been raising money to send to the Richard Family Fund to help defray medical costs for the family. Jane’s 8-year-old brother was killed in the terrorist attack and her parents were both injured.

And it’s a festival of sorts—actually of language—at the Irish Center on Saturday. It’s the annual Satharn na nGael, a day of immersion in the Irish language. It’s the place to be if you want to learn the language of your forebears or just pick up a few more phrases other than “Erin go bragh” to mutter on St. Patrick’s Day and amaze all your friends. There will also be “craic.” You’ll have to go there to find out what that is, but trust us, you’ll like it.

Also on Saturday, you can enjoy an up-close-and-personal concert with Celtic Thunder’s Paul Byrom at Normandy Farm Hotel and Conference Center in Blue Bell. Very few tickets were available to start with—only 40—and they’re pricey. But if you’re a Byrom fan, it may be worth it.

And that’s not all: GaelFest, an all-star Irish festival featuring Joannie Madden of Cherish the Ladies and friends, is on at the Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, NJ. Some of our local GAA teams will be on hand to give demonstrations. And Enter the Haggis is on stage at the Sellersville Theatre on Saturday night.

The 40th Anniversary Show featuring Timlin & Kane in Bethlehem was cancelled and will be rescheduled later.

In the run up to Bloomsday (June 16), the annual celebration of Leopold Bloom’s famous walk around Dublin chronicled by James Joyce in “Ulysses,” the Rosenbach Museum and Library has launched a Bloomsday Exhibition of Contemporary Art and Literary Manuscripts. The Rosenbach owns a hand-written copy of “Ulysses” that you can get pretty close to. There’s also the entire text of a novel written out in 310 yellow rubber kitchen gloves. Don’t ask. Or, rather, ask—that’s what the Rosenbach is all about. It’s a magical little spot on Delancey Place in Philadelphia and worth the trip.

If you’re down in Holmes on Friday night, catch Jamison at RP Murphy’s.

If you’re closer to Philly on Friday night, come and celebrate with us. We’re having a party to honor the musicians who play on our own CD, Ceili Drive. The musicians get in free (let us know if you’re coming, guys and gals!), and there’s a $25 charge for everyone else which gets you hot and cold appetizers, wine, beer, and soft drinks, and, of course, music. It’s at the Irish Center, 6815 Emlen Street, Philadelphia, starting at 7:30 PM. All proceeds from anything we do go right back into the website, which Jeff Meade, Lori Lander Murphy, and I do in our spare time and on our own dime.

Here’s our dream: To be able to hire reporters to get to the events and write about (photograph and video) the terrific things we see in the Irish community that we don’t have time to do. We have started paying some of our formerly volunteer photographers (a pittance of course) and we’d like to have some extra cash to pass to writers. We don’t take any money ourselves. Our reward has been the wonderful people we’ve been blessed to meet while doing this for the past seven years—and the great craic we’ve enjoyed with them. But we all have spouses who think it would be nice to have a weekend where they’re not hearing yet another version of “The Fields of Athenry” (I never get tired of it) or baking in the broiling sun watching Gaelic football (I never get tired of it), so we can’t be everywhere and do everything (okay, that does make me tired).

Thanks for all the support you’ve given us in the past, especially those of you who helped us fund “Ceili Drive” in about 24 hours (we cried). Come out and let us thank you in person. (Oh, and we all have birthdays within weeks of one another, so you can help us celebrate that too.) Hope to see you there!

Click below to hear Blackthorn’s John and Michael Boyce, with their sister, Karen Boyce McCollum, sing “Peggy Gordon,” a track from “Ceili Drive.”

May 31, 2013 by Jeff Meade

History, News

Remembering Commodore Barry

Joe Tobin of the Emerald Society Pipe Band.

With an honor guard of University of Pennsylvania Navy ROTC cadets, an Irish piper, and dozens of churchgoers and representatives from local Irish organizations, the life and accomplishments of Commodore John Barry, revolutionary war hero and father of the US Navy, were remembered again, as they always are on Memorial Day, on Sunday at Old St. Mary’s Church in Philadelphia.

Barry, who was born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1745, came to the colonies as a young man with a long history at sea to offer his service to the new American Congress. The government bought his ship, the Black Prince, and renamed it Alfred. Lt. John Paul Jones hoisted the first American flag in its rigging.

Barry took over the Lexington, a ship with 14 guns, which sailed out in March 1776 and barely a week later, engaged in battle with the British man-of-war Liverpool, which he captured and brought into Philadelphia. Over the course of the next few years– the Revolutionary War years–Barry served valiantly in several campaigns, including on land in the Battles of Trenton and Princeton. In 1780. Barry and his men captured three enemy vessels and he was later wounded in battle.

After the war, Barry was appointed number one on the list of Captains in the US Navy, his commission signed by General George Washington.

He died at 58, and was buried in the graveyard of his parish church, St. Mary’s, the second Roman Catholic Church in Philadelphia. Built in 1763 as an adjunct to the city’s oldest Catholic Church, St. Joseph’s, St. Mary’s is celebrating its 250th birthday this year. Archbishop Charles Chaput, head of the Philadelphia archdiocese, co-celebrated Sunday’s Mass with Pastor, Msgr. Paul A. DiGirolamo.

View our photos of the day.

May 31, 2013 by Jeff Meade

News, People

Rest in Peace, Mary O’Kane

Mary O’Kane

A well-loved member of Philadelphia’s Irish community has passed away. Radio personality Mary O’Kane died Thursday night in hospice, attended by daughters Bonnie Kelly and Teri McQuaid.

Local radio host Marianne MacDonald remembered Mary O’Kane as “a great friend.” MacDonald will be doing a tribute show in her usual noon slot on WTMR 800 AM. Tune in to “Come West Along the Road,” and share your memories.

A funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church, in Manoa, on June 5 at 10:30 am. Burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. Reception to follow at Sacred Heart Parish Hall. All are welcome.

We’ll have more to share in days to come.

May 24, 2013 by Jeff Meade

Sports

Irish Heritage Night at the Phillies 2013

Brittany Killion and friend

We already know how amazingly talented the local band Runa is. What we didn’t know is that they can put a spin on the National Anthem, the likes of which you probably haven’t heard before. And we mean that in a really good way—not in the Roseanne Barr sense of things. Syncopated yes, with drummer Cheryl Prashker setting the pace on her djembe, a tiny bit Celtic, a tiny bit rock. All in all, probably the best version we’ve heard. Bring them back.

Runa was on the field at Citizens Bank Park last week for Irish Heritage Night at the Phillies. Many of the regions’s Irish organizations joined in the pre-game festivities. It seemed like every local dance school was jigging and reeling along the first and third base lines and the warning track. 2013 Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal Harry Marnie threw out the first pitch. (Good arm, possible middle relief. Sign him.) The Philly Phanatic smooched 2013 Rose of Tralee winner Brittany Killion. You couldn’t get more Irish.

Did the Phillies win? We forget.

We snapped a few dozen photos of the evening’s proceedings.

Check them out here.

May 24, 2013 by Jeff Meade

History

Old St. Mary’s Church Celebrates 250 Years

Old St. Mary’s

For a pastor, every church has its challenges, and its unique rewards. The Rev. Msgr. Paul A. DiGirolamo has been a pastor before, at St. Joan of Arc parish in Kensington, but for the past five years he has overseen the day-to-day running of one of the most treasured churches in Philadelphia, if not the nation. Its cemetery is a who’s who of historical figures, not the least of which is Commodore John Barry—who was born in Ireland’s County Wexford, emigrated to America, and would become known throughout American history as the father of the U.S. Navy.

Old St. Mary’s is marking its 250th anniversary on Sunday, and hosting a Memorial Day weekend observance to celebrate the life of the illustrious Commodore Barry.

Msgr. DiGirolamo is a South Philly native with a master’s degree in history from Villanova. He is also the judicial vicar for the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which oversees matrimonial cases. Like any priest, Msgr. DiGirolamo has pastoral responsibilities—masses, baptisms, funerals—but he is keenly aware that the church is also a landmark.

“I might not be dealing with 3,000 families in a large suburban parish,” he says, “but I’m running a smaller operation, and I’m doing it myself. We’re open most of the time—we’re part of the tour.” Administrative skills are required, but, he adds, “the master’s in history helps, too.”

From the outside, Msgr. DiGirolamo observes, Old St. Mary’s can seem unassuming. An entry on history.org describes it best: “The facade of the building is flat and made of brick.” But the listing goes on to say: “The church’s interior, and especially the balcony, is captivating and worth a visit. A revealing slice of religion in early America awaits.”

That’s precisely how Msgr. DiGirolamo believes visitors respond to the worship space of Old St. Mary’s. “First, they are struck by the beauty of the church,” he says. “Given the fact that it reflects different renovations, it is quite beautiful, and no one expects that. On the outside, most people don’t know it is a church. There’s just an added dimension here that a lot of parishes don’t have.”

Sunday offers a unique opportunity to visit Old St. Mary’s. The 250th anniversary observance begins with a commemorative Mass, starting at 11 a.m., and celebrated by Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput and Msgr. DiGirolamo. After Mass, a procession led by members of the Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipe Band and the University of Pennsylvania ROTC Honor Guard will make a stop outside the church for a reading at the Commodore Barry Plaque, and will continue on to the commodore’s gravesite, where a wreath laying ceremony will take place.

Several prominent organizations will take part, including Irish societies from the Philadelphia irish Center/Commodore Barry Club, the Commodore Barry Club of Brooklyn, the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and the American Catholic Historical Society.

May 24, 2013 by Jeff Meade

How to Be Irish in Philly

How to Be Irish in Philly This Week

The Commdore John Barry statue, behind Independence Hall.

Happy Memorial Day!

Since it’s the time of the year when we remember those who fought for our freedom, the Commodore John Barry Societies of Philadelphia and New York will be gathering to honor Barry, a Revolutionary war hero and father of the American Navy, on Sunday, May 26. The day starts with a Mass, celebrated by Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput, at Old St. Mary Church on Fourth Street in Philadelphia, where Barry is buried. The day ends with dinner at the Commodore Barry Club (The Irish Center) on Emlen Street in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia.

On Saturday, Slainte will be performing at Keenan’s in North Wildwood, then later that night they’ll join the rest of the gang, known as Jamison, at Casey’s in North Wildwood. It’s the weekend to open up the house, so take a break and catch these great Irish musicians after you’ve cleared out the cobwebs. You can catch Jamison at Keenan’s on Sunday night at 5 PM.

On Thursday, May 30, the Young Irelands GFC squares off against the St. Patricks GFC at Cardinal Dougherty High School field in the Olney section of Philadelphia. It’s pre-season for the Philadelphia GAA. Irish players are on their way and then it’s every Sunday. It’s great sport and great entertainment. Many families come (with umbrellas and liter containers of sunscreen) and enjoy a picnic while watching the action. The small admission price ($5) helps support the GAA which is in the process of building a complex in Limerick.

Then get ready for a fun weekend: The annual AOH Montgomery County Irish Festival starts on Friday night and runs through Sunday. Have dinner at the festival on Friday night (gates open at 6 PM), and enjoy the music (Tom McHugh, Jamison, the Bogside Rogues, Irish Thunder Pipes and Drums, and the Celtic Flame dancers) all weekend. Proceeds from the event go to AOH charities.

Also next weekend, the annual Irish Festival on Penn’s Landing is on Sunday, June 2, featuring Blackthorn, the Hooligans, and Jamison, as well as dancers from all of the region’s Irish dance schools to pay tribute to Jane Richard, the 7-year-old Irish dancer who lost a leg in the Boston Marathon bombing. The event is free.

Check our calendar for details on these events and more. And if you have an Irish event, you can post it to our calendar and get a mention in How to Be Irish, our most read feature, and promoted in Mick Mail, our e-newsletter. Just go to the orange bar at the top of the page and click on “Irish Events Listing” and do everything the nice directions tell you to do. We try to post events when we learn of them, but we haven’t gotten that mind-reading thing down pat yet.

May 24, 2013 by Jeff Meade

News, Sports

Welcome Back, Tyrone!

A valiant effort by Tyrone (in the green, orange, and white.

There’s a new team in town.

For the first time in seven years, the Philadelphia Gaelic Athletic Association football lineup will include Tyrone, a club that was premier in the city since 1949 but, like other Gaelic clubs, struggled with the loss of players—immigrants who returned home—and the pressures of fundraising and time, the two plagues of every volunteer group.

Tyrone’s first match against the Kevin Barrys on Thursday night, under storm-darkened skies at Cardinal Dougherty High School in Olney, wasn’t the best of debuts. The seasoned Barrys controlled the ball the entire game and, at least on the Tyrone sidelines, no one even bothered to keep a score. It was a rout.

But, as coach Aidan Trainor told the crestfallen team at half-time, “You can’t lose heart. “

Trainor didn’t. Nor did his brothers, Sean and Joe, who, with Peter McDermott and Noel Coyle, resurrected the team this year, basically appropriating the National Junior C champions, the Eire Ogs, to form the new team. “It’s all for the love of the red hand of Tyrone,” said McDermott, referring to the red hand that appears on the Tyrone flag. The upright hand honors Eoghain O’Neill, high King of Ulster, who, in a sea race to claim his land, took the rules literally. The first to lay a hand on the land was its king, so O’Neill cut off his hand and threw it to shore. There are those who will tell you that that exemplifies the Tyrone spirit: They’ll do whatever it takes.

That offers some hope for the season which starts now at Cardinal Dougherty and may end at the GAA’s new field in Limerick. “One of the fields is finished,” said Sean Trainor, “but we have some work to do on the parking lot.”

Also in the hope department: The reinforcements have yet to arrive, but the Irish players who spend their summers in Philadelphia just to play football in the heat and humidity are on their way. There are fewer Irish accents on the field before they arrive; many of the players these days are Irish-American (some not even Irish) who made their way through the vibrant local GAA youth clubs. It’s not easy getting even visiting players, says Sean Trainor. “Not when air fares are $1,000. But some of the players are willing to pay their own fare.” They’re that motivated.

Peter McDermott wasn’t concerned that the Tyrone team’s first effort on the field wasn’t the best. That, he said, is yet to come. “They were playing a senior team and it’s good for them,” he pointed out. “That’s how you learn, you know.”

Check out our photos of the action.

On Thursday, May 30, the Young Irelands will meet the St. Patricks on the Dougherty fields, 6301 N. Second Street, in Philadelphia, starting at 6:30 PM.

May 24, 2013 by Jeff Meade

News, Sports

Irish Heritage Night at PPL Park

Local GAA Youth footballers escorted the players onto the field.

Last Wednesday, it was Irish Heritage Night at PPL Park in Chester, home of the Philadelphia Union soccer club, and the place was packed to watch the Union square off against Los Angeles Galaxy (sadly, the Union lost 4-1). There was an Irish connection to the game in more than just the stands too–the Galaxy’s Robbie Keane is the all-time record Irish goalscorer for the Irish national football team. While in the city, Keane met up with members of the Irish Memorial (and has his photo taken there). Proceeds from the ticket sales to the game will go to help maintain the memorial, overlooking Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia.

Check out our photo essay, done by photographer Gwyneth MacArthur.

May 24, 2013 by Jeff Meade

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