Sober St. Patrick’s Day will be celebrated Sunday, March 10, from 4 to 7 p.m., at The High Point Bank Barn at St. Peter’s Church, 2475 St. Peter’s Road in Malvern.
Sponsoring the event is the local Irish music and cultural organization Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann-Philadelphia/Delaware Valley—CCÉ, for short.
“We have a super line-up this year, with Shannon Lambert-Ryan and Fionán de Barra joining us for the first time,” said Katherine Ball-Weir, CCÉ-Philadelphia Delaware Valley chairman. “They are such great musicians and performers, and real favorites of mine. I’m thrilled that they could make space in their schedule to be with us. They will be touring with their band Runa around that time, but Shannon and Fionán are based here in Philadelphia and the two of them will be back for a couple of days, so we grabbed them up. They will join some of our favorite musicians from Philadelphia and Baltimore.”
Those musicians include Mikey McComiskey, Alex Weir, Paddy O’Neill, Darin Kelly, Brendan Callahan, Eamon Kelly, Kathy DeAngelo and Dennis Gormley, and Bob and Patch Glennan. The Dó Cairde School of Irish Dance will also be on hand, as will 2018 Philadelphia Rose of Tralee Katie Keenan.
“This is our fifth anniversary year,” said Ball-Weir. “When Frank Daly (of Jamison Celtic Rock) and I started this event in 2015 with the CCÉ Philadelphia board, we hoped that we’d appeal to people in our community who were eager for an authentic Irish celebration with music and dance, but without the over-indulgence of the holiday, and we did. We’ve had such a wonderful response over the years, and some really fabulous parties.”
In addition to music and dance, the event also offers children’s activities with prizes, and ceili dancing hosted by Kathy and Dennis.
Admission includes free parking, snacks, baked goods, coffee, tea and soft drinks. Tickets can be purchased at www.SSPDphilly.com
Cost of admission is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, and $10 for kids 10 and under.
For more information, please contact Katherine Ball-Weir at kballweir@gmail.com, or 610-517-0143.
