Donegal sean nos singer Dominic Mac Giolla Bhride will also be performing tonight.
Singer’s Night, the first event of the annual Philadelphia Ceili Group Irish Music Festival, honors the late Frank Malley, longtime organizer of the festival of traditional music and singer. He would have loved Thursday night’s concerts which featured singers such as Armagh’s Briege Murphy, Donegal sean nos singer Dominic Mc Giolla Bhride, Drogheda’s Gavin Harding, and local leading lights Marian Makins, Rosaleen McGill, Matt Ward, Teresa Kane, Ellen Tepper, Miles Thompson, Jen Schonwald, Wendy Fahr and Frank Malley’s daughter Courtney Malley.
The festival continues tonight with a Rambling House event hosted by Gabriel Donohue and featuring musicians from the group Beoga and others, along with a cdili dance in the ballroom with McGillians and Friends..
On Saturday, the John Kelly Memorial Session with the Philadelphia Ceili Band starts at 11 AM, with workshops on Irish language, calligraphy, set dancing, Irish singing with Katie Else of Riverdance, a bodhran with Eamon Moloney, and others. Food will be provided by the Irish Coffee Shop of Upper Darby (the real thing).
On the Fireside Stage from 12:30 PM till 4:30 PM you’ll find The Converse Trio Plus One, a group of talented young musicians, The Jameson Sisters, Dominic Mac Giolla Bhride, The Philadelphia Ceili Band, and the Cummins School of Irish Dancers.
The Next Generation–a group of kids who practice at the Irish Center–will be performing during the dinner hour, also catered by the Irish Coffee Shop.
The grand finale will be an evening concert featuring the Cummins School of Irish Dance, Sean Keane with Bill Cooley and Eamon O’Rourke, and FullSet, a hot new group from Ireland. Following that, a traditional Irish music session takes place–bring your instrument and join in.
View our photos of Singers’ Night.
