It’s pretty busy this coming week, with a wide range of events—from Gaelic athletics to fund-raisers to a concert by one of the best Irish traditional fiddlers on the planet.
So here goes.
Tomorrow, Saturday, there are two noteworthy events:
The first is the Liam Hegarty Liberty Bell Tournament, a huge youth Gaelic Athletic Association tourney in Malvern. The event is named after the late Liam Hegarty, a man deeply dedicated to many local Irish causes, including the Delco Gaels youth athletic club and Gaelic athletics writ large. He passed away in December and is sorely missed.
We have a story about the tournament that provides a lot more details, but the long and short of it is, hundreds of young hurling and Gaelic football athletes from up and down the Northeast coast will converge upon the Line Road Fields, 137 Line Road, in Malvern, starting at 9 a.m. and going all day, culminating in a match between the adult Delco Gaels and Donegal Philadelphia. It’s all in support of a great cause, and a terrific way to learn more about Gaelic sports—if you’re not already intimately familiar.
Also Saturday, there’s a fundraiser for Frank Tierney and family at VFW Post 7878, 471 East Church Road in King of Prussia. Frank recently had a bad accident and will be recuperating for several months. The event starts at 2 p.m. and runs through 6.
Your $20 ticket includes domestic draft beer and food provided by Bridgeport Elks 714, along with live music and a basket of cheer.
Details: Don C., 610-324-5604; Ronnie Trask, 215-804-8323, or Bob W., 484-636-8195.
We move on to Monday, when National Park, N.J., Ancient Order of Hibernians, hosts an East Monday flag-raising. They’ll raise the Irish flag at 10 a.m. at the Richard Rossiter Memorial Hall/Fort Mercer club in National Park. Mass will be celebrated by the division’s chaplain, Father Ken Hallahan, following the flag-raising at St. Matthew’s Church.
There’s a luncheon after Mass.
National Park AOH is at 200 Columbia Boulevard, in National Park.
Later in the week, Thursday, Irish language instructor Kathleen Warren hosts a beginning Irish language sampler at Cathedral Church of the Nativity, 321 Wyandotte Street in Bethlehem. Interested in learning the Irish language, Gaeilge, but maybe not completely sure? You can learn basic pronunciation, expressions and word meanings, and see whether learning the language of your forefathers (and mothers) is your cup of tea. The class starts at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday night, going in the opposite direction, check out a concert by famed Irish fiddler Kevin Burke at Blue Ball Barn, 1914 West Park Drive, Alapocas Run State Park, in Wilmington. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Cash, check or credit card accepted for payment at door. $26 online, $30 at the door, 17 & under free with paying adult.
Also Thursday, Irish Philadelphia’s genealogy maven Lori Lander Murphy hosts a genealogy group at the Irish Immigration Center, 7 South Cedar Lane in Upper Darby, starting at 7 p.m. Learn more. And check out a detailed story.
Friday night is Bingo Night at the Philadelphia Irish Center/Commodore John Barry Arts & Cultural Center, 6815 Emlen Street, in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia. The event is sponsored by the Tyrone Society of Philadelphia.
Doors open at 6:30, and the games begin at 7. There are some serious prizes, including cash (of course), designer bags and power tools. Tickets are $30. There will be a cash bar. BYO food and snacks. To purchase a ticket, contact Bernadette Coyle at 215-815-1075, Siobhan Trainor at 215-990-2686, or tyronesocietyphiladelphia@gmail.com.
Tickets can be purchased via cash, check, Venmo (@Tyrone-Society-of-Philadelphia), or PayPal (tyronesocietyphiladelphia@gmail.com).
A pretty packed week, all told—and plenty to help you get your Irish on.
See you next time!
