It’s Runa.
Hugely talented local Irish bands take to the stage at the venerable Philadelphia Folk Festival this weekend. As if you needed a reason to head out to this incomparable annual event out at the Old Pool Farm in the bustling metropolis of Schwenksville.
Burning Bridget Cleary takes to the Craft Stage Saturday the 17th at 11 a.m. And just in case you missed the recently well-traveled band Runa, they’ll head up what’s being billed as A Celtic Afternoon on the Camp Stage on Sunday at 2 p.m. They’ll be joined by the aforementioned Burning Bridget Cleary, and more. Get other details and purchase tickets here.
Also on Sunday, at exactly the same time—we don’t envy you having to make the choice—Kathy DeAngelo and Dennis Gormley, otherwise known as McDermott’s Handy, will be celebrating the release of their new CD at a party. It’s called “Bound for Amerikay,” and you can hear many of the tunes at The Center for the Arts in Southern New Jersey in Marlton. Details here.
If you crave a thoroughly Irish meal in a thoroughly Irish place, we recommend the Sunday dinner at the Philadelphia Irish Center in Mount Airy from 5 to 7 p.m. We recently hired the folks who are preparing the three-course meal, Tullamore Crew Catering, for our own CD release party, and weeks later we’re still saying: Yum! Learn more here.
Earlier in the day at the Center, the Mayo Association will gather at 2:30 for its Lady of Knock Mass, also celebrating the 10th anniversary of Philadelphia’s very imposing Irish Memorial. Has it really been 10 years?
Now catch your breath, because there’s more.
On Sunday night, the Coatesville Traditional Irish Music Series hosts a spectacular concert, featuring concertina player Edel Fox, from Miltown Malbay, County Clare, with fiddler Neill Byrne, who plies his trade around County Waterford. CTIMS is a real gem, and completely worthy of your support. The concert starts at 8 at the Coatesville Cultural Society, which is its own sparkling little gem. Check it out.
OK, we’re finally past the busy weekend, but don’t get too settled. The iconic Celtic punk rock band, the Dropkick Murphys, drop into the Mann Center on Wednesday night at 7:30. The band’s founder Ken Casey is also associated with the very important Claddagh Fund, which raises money for underfunded nonprofits in our area. Visit the Mann Center website.
And now for something completely different: Galway children’s book writer and illustrator Derek Mulveen will be reading from his book “Oisin the Brave-Moon Adventure” at 5 p.m. at Maggie O’Neill’s in Upper Darby. The book is for kiddies 2 to 7. There will also be activities. Check this book out—and the reading, too.
And that’s it for now. Hey, isn’t that enough?
We also want to remind you that tickets are on sale for one of the area’s most important musical and cultural events, The Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival, at the Irish Center September 12-14. This is huge. If you ain’t there, you can’t call yourself Irish. Visit the Ceili Group online.
