It’s March, and we’re off and running.
First up, Saturday, and lots to do, more than we often have in a whole week:
- From 7 to 9:30 p.m., we have the very first ever Middle School Social at the Irish Center, 6815 Emlen Street in the Mount Airy neighborhood. The event is for 6th, 7thand 8th (We’ve written about it before. Read the story.) It costs $10 to get in. Kids will be treated to D.J. music, pizza, snacks and soft drinks. Pre-registration is required. For details, contact Lisa Maloney at lisamaloney29@yahoo.com or call 215-514-1654. The social is well-chaperoned. Looks like a good time.
- Silver Lake Nature Center, 1306 Bath Road in Bristol, hosts the inimitable Irish singer Mary Courtney in concert in the Visitors Center. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 a person in advance (by March 1 at 5 p.m.) and $15 at the door. All the details here.
- Starting at 6:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Catholic School hosts Irish Night. The school is at 835 North Hills Avenue in Ardsley. This beef and beer is 40 bucks a ticket. Galway Guild provides the music, you provide the dancing. The tunes start at 8.
- Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 6 Montgomery County is kicking off the month with a St. Patrick’s Party, from 7 to 10 p.m., at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta School, 256 Swamp Pike in Schwenksville. Music by Reilly’s Daughter, featuring Tommy Conwell.
- The GAA hurling and camogie club Na Tóraídhe holds its biggest fund-raiser of the year at Tir Na Nog, 1600 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19103. It’s a formal, so you can play dress-ups. Contact Katkatrinaterrysterling@gmail.com or any club member. The fun starts at 7:30.
- Later that night (starting at 10 p.m., lasting ‘til the wee hours) the John Byrne Band plays music of the Pogues, also at Tir Na Nog.
- The Burlington County St. Patrick’s Day parade steps off at 1 p.m., marching down High Street from Fairgrounds Plaza in Mount Holly. In the neighborhood of 60 groups take part in the parade, including bagpipe bands and some of the area’s best Paddy Rock bands.
- It’s Irish Night with Round Tower, at Upper Darby American Legion Post 214, 6914 Chestnut Street in Upper Darby. The party starts at 8 p.m. Admission is $25 per person in advance, $30 at the door; or $40 per couple in advance, $50 at the door. Call 610-352-0702 for more information. Includes food and bottled beer. 50/50, raffles, and much more fun.
Sunday’s crazy, too:
- Over on the Jersey side of the river, the 4thannual Gloucester City St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off at 1 p.m. at Martin’s Lake (Baynes Avenue and Johnson Boulevard) and heads down Monmouth. Here’s your chance to get an early start on all the St. Patrick’s month parading, with bagpipe bands, Mummers, Irish dancers, and much, much more. The day starts with an Irish Mass at St. Mary’s, 426 Monmouth St, Gloucester City, at 9:30 a.m.
- The 7thAnnual Duffy’s Cut Memorial Service honors the Duffy’s Cut railroad workers interred at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, which has partnered with the Duffy’s Cut Project to host the program. The ceremony runs from 2 to 4 p.m., with remarks by Dr. William E. Watson of the Duffy’s Cut Project.
- At 3 p.m. the same day, the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade hosts a fund-raiser at Springfield Country Club, 400 West Sproul Road in Springfield. $30 admission includes a buffet. ($10 for kids 12 and under.) There’s a cash bar. You can meet this year’s parade grand marshal, Sean McMenamin, and members of the Ring of Honor, along with Fox29 personalities. If you’re a dab hand at scone making, you can enter your tastiest creation in a contest for the “Best of Delco.” Gift baskets will be raffled off as well. There’s also a best Irish dressed contest for kids 6 and under. For details, For more information, contact Colin Bradley at cbradley715@gmail.com or Karen Boyce McCollom at kboycemccollum@yahoo.com. This is one festive occasion, and an opportunity to support the big parade.
- Are you a burgeoning artiste? Check out the Saint Patrick’s Paint Party at the Red Rooster, 7960 Dungan Street in the Northeast. $35 includes all your painting supplies. Call 215-745-1919 to reserve your spot or message the Red Rooster on Facebook.
On to the rest of the week:
Tuesday, there’s a Camden County, N.J., Irish Flag Raising Ceremony in Wiggins Park, MLK Boulevard and Riverside Drive in Camden. Check out CamdenCounty.com for more information.
The Legendary Wolfe Tones drop by the Irish Center in Mount Airy Wednesday night at 7. Tickets are $30. They’ve been away for a long time … but they’re back. Do yourself a favor … pick up some tickets and get to this show. You can also purchase tickets by calling the Irish Center at 215-843-8051, emailing management@theirishcenter.org or by contacting Fiona Curran at 484-716-1627.
Thursday night, get your personally etched Guinness glass at Byrne’s Tavern, 3301 Richmond Street in Port Richmond. And check out the $5 Guinness pint special during the event.
Friday, enjoy the Rhythm of the Dance featuring the National Dance Company of Ireland, starting at 7:30 at West Chester University Emilie K. Asplundh Hall, 700 South High Street in West Chester. It’s billed as a “two-hour music and dance extravaganza.”Just about everything about it is new: new choreography, new costumes, new music, new multi-media. Tickets and info here.
That’s it. (Isn’t that enough?) In the meantime, we strongly recommend that you keep tabs on our calendar for events that might pop up after this extra-long HTBI was written.
Happy St. Patrick’s Month!
