If you’re colorblind, Old City this weekend might look like a giant “Where’s Waldo” game as Celtic supporters—that is, superfans of the Celtic Gaelic Football Club in Glasgow—descend on the city for their annual Celtic fest. You’ll know them—they’ll be the ones in the green and white jerseys with great big smiles on their faces.
You’ll run into them mainly at The Plough and the Stars, home of the Second Street PloughBhoys (the local branch), where they’ll be having lots of good food and listening to great live music (including Irish transplants Derm Farrell and Raymond Coleman) in between watching games and talking about games. It’s all great craic, even if you don’t care much about football.
Catch Slainte, Jamison’s Frank Daly and CJ Mills, at Paddy Whacks on Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday, the Sons and Daughers of Derry is sponsoring its annual Bloody Sunday Mass at the Irish Center to honor those killed and injured 44 years ago when British soldiers fired on peaceful demonstrators in Derry’s Bogside neighborhood. Father Ed Brady will celebrate the Mass.
Also on Sunday, the annual Celtic Spring concert takes place at Sacred Heart Church in Camden, featuring Meara Meara—All-Ireland fiddle champion Haley Richardson, her brother Dylan, and Mid-Atlantic pipe and whistle champ Keegan Loesel; All-Ireland harp champ Emily Safko and her sister Livia, Mid-Atlantic fiddle and concertina champ; Barbara and Shauna Dever, and Irish dancers.
At Trenton’s Tir na nOg Pub, singer Mary Courtney , who won hearts at last year’s Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival, takes the stage for an evening of song, starting at 5 PM.
And the fun doesn’t stop when the work week (and February) begins. On Thursday, Solas comes to World Café Live (as of yesterday there were very few tickets left) as part of its 20th anniversary tour. Founded by Seamus Egan and Winifred Horan, who are still with the band, Solas has arguably become the gold standard by which other traditional bands are measured. The Boston Globe once called them “the finest Celtic ensemble this country has ever produced.” And they’re largely Philly grown—Eagan, who grew up in County Mayo, Ireland, was born when his émigré parents lived in Hatboro. Horan, a New Yorker who was part of Cherish the Ladies and the Sharon Shannon Band, lives in Philadelphia.
They’ll be debuting songs from their new album, “All These Years,” which unites the entire band, past and present.
Also on Thursday night, Slainte is on stage at Con Murphy’s Pub on the Parkway in Philadelphia.
And on Friday, a couple of first Friday events: Round Tower will be playing at Maggie O’Neill’s in Drexel Hill and the Paul Moore Band will be in their usual spot, Brittingham’s in Lafayette Hill.
Check the calendar for more details, including times and addresses.
