When Mick Moloney comes to Philadelphia to do his annual concert to benefit St. Malachy’s Church and School, he always brings a collection of superlative performers. He didn’t disappoint this year either.
Along with premier accordion player Bill McComiskey, uillean piper Jerry O’Sullivan, and fiddler Dana Lyn, the concert featured 11-year-old Haley Richardson of New Jersey, a 2013 All-Ireland winner in two categories; British singer John Roberts; folk singers Saul Braudy (who played a mean blues harmonica), Dick Swain, and Murray Callahan; and one surprise—to Moloney at least—bodhran player.
He introduced the crowd to Mal Whyte, whom he hadn’t seen, not mentioned played with, for 40 years. The London native, an actor (Father Ted fans may remember him as the picnic warden in The Old Grey Whistle Theft episode, or, more recently, in The Borgias on Showtime), now living in Philadelphia, joined Moloney on stage and played as though no time had passed.
Mock Moloney
Check out our photo essay and watch the video of Haley Richardson playing with the big guys.
