A trio of Timoneys from last year’s gathering.
It doesn’t matter whether you’ve never visited the Commodore Barry Club, Philadelphia’s own Irish Center, and the cultural epicenter of everything Irish in the city and surrounding counties. It doesn’t matter whether you were there a long time ago, but haven’t visited since. Frank Hollingsworth invites you to come and experience the (at least for some) the hidden treasure that is the Irish Center. You can do it this Sunday from 11 to 6, as the Irish Center hosts its second annual Gathering.
“Maybe the last time they were here, it was with their father or grandfather. Maybe they moved out to the suburbs,” says Hollingsworth, now in the home stretch of planning for the weekend celebration. “Some may have heard about it, but don’t know exactly where it is.”
If you don’t know where it is, we’re happy to tell you. It’s at Carpenter Lane and Emlen Street in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia. 6815 Emlen St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19119, if you want to punch it into your GPS. Or just get off at the Carpenter Lane stop on the Chestnut Hill West regional rail line.
If you are still an amateur Irish person, no fear. The Gathering is a total immersion experience. You’ll be a seasoned pro by day’s end.
The day begins with two live radio shows—Vince Gallagher at 11, followed by Marianne MacDonald at noon. As the day goes on, there’ll be a lot more.
“We’ll feature all the different groups who use the Irish Center,” says Hollingsworth. “Emerald Society Pipe Band players will play. We’ll have the Cummins School of Irish Dance, and John Shields and his group of dancers. Kids from the Next Generation Irish music group are going to play. Rosie McGill is going to sing, representing the Philadelphia Ceili Group. The kids from the Glenside Gaelic Club (part of the local Gaelic Athletic Association) will be here, with information and posters. We’ve got Hollis Payer, who teaches fiddle lessons here, and also harpist Ellen Tepper and singer Terry Kane. Vince Gallagher will be getting some musicians together. If there are enough musicians around, they may start a session—especially if John Shields and his dancers are around. They can certainly keep things going. The library upstairs will be open, and Lori Lander Murphy will be here to answer questions about genealogy.”
And look for dancing in the ballroom. If you don’t know how, don’t worry. They’ll show you.
Hold your breath, there’s more. Vendors will be on hand with lots of arts, crafts and jewelry. You can also meet local authors, including Marita Krivda Poxon, who wrote “Irish Philadelphia,” a great pictorial local Irish history.
The Irish Center, which has been serving greater Philadelphia since the pope was an altar boy, currently has around 400 members. Hollingsworth would like to see that number grow. “We want to have them come, and let them know they’re welcome.”
