Wa-hoo!
If you’re hankering for an Irish festival this weekend, you’re in luck. There are two! And even more to come!
On Saturday, go to St. Patrick’s Church in Norristown and join them for their 21st annual Irish Festival, featuring ceili music and dancing (thanks to Tom McHugh, Kevin and Jimmy McGillian), homemade food, and fun, all for $3 (which you get back in food tickets). We have a map to St. Patrick’s on our calendar.
On Sunday you can head out to Tabora Farm and Orchard in Chalfont. Patricia Torrice, a first-generation American, has imported the McLean Avenue Band direct from Ireland and matched them up with the Fitzpatrick School of Irish Dance and the Loch Rannock Pipe Band for a day of Irish music, food, and frivolity. Kids under 2 are free—and there are lots of kids activities—and admission for everyone else is only $5. You can find a map on our calendar.
And if you want to feel especially holy, there are two special Masses on Sunday: St. Patrick’s Church Mass of the Golden Rose in Norristown at noon, and at 2:30 PM at the Irish Center, the annual Lady of Knock Mass, followed by a dinner, sponsored by the Mayo Association of Philadelphia. (Word to the wise: The Mayos will behave during Mass, but at the dinner, watch out—these are party animals. You may want to lie and say your family comes from Mayo just so you can join up. )
Also this weekend: Jamison is at Keenan’s in North Wildwood on Saturday, while The Broken Shillelaghs are at Tucker’s Pub in Wildwood and the Shantys are at the Anglesea Pub in North Wildwood. It will be possible to see all three groups if you hustle.
Also on Sunday, join all the dancers at McGillicuddy’s in Upper Darby where they’ll be moving and grooving to the Theresa Flanagan Band.
On Sunday, Jamison heads to Shenanigan’s in Sea Isle City.
You know we’re quickly approaching the only time outside of March when the Irish events come fast and furious—September, the halfway to St. Patrick’s Day month.
There’s a night of comedy with Mick Thomas on September 5, and on September 6, a screening of an important new film about the 1916 Rising, called “A Terrible Beauty,” which will be held at International House Philadelphia, and is jointly sponsored by the Irish Immigration Center, AOH Dennis Kelly Div. 1, and the Irish Easter Rising Centennial Commemoration Committee. Also that weekend, an Irish Festival at Canstatters featuring Irish boxing along with music. Following that: The Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival, Quizzo fundraiser on September 19 at the Irish Center (September 11-13), Brittingham’s Irish Festival, Irish Weekend in N. Wildwood, and Bethlehem’s Celtic Classic. I’m going away for a week in September. I must be nuts. Or smart.
