Welcome back to HTBI, your weekly Irish fix.
We’re roughly halfway to St. Patrick’s Day, and you’ll find plenty of ways to celebrate.
Here’s how:
Sunday, September 8
It’s monthly Children’s Story Time at the Irish Immigration Center, 7 South Cedar Lane in Upper Darby, from 3 to 4 p.m. This week’s classic tale: the story of Brian Boru. Stories are followed by arts and crafts activities, supervised by Immigration Center staff and members of the center’s Foróige youth group.
Potty-trained kiddies between 3 and 9 years of age are welcome.
For details, call Ciaran at 610-789-6355 extension 3201 or email him at ciaran@icphila.org to reserve a spot.
Thursday, September 12
There’s a bit of a lull between Sunday and the next big event … but a very big deal it is. The Young Dubliners appear with special guest John Byrne at the Locks at Sona, 4417 Main Street in Manayunk. The show starts at 8 p.m. Get your tickets here.
Thursday also marks the beginning of the Philadelphia Ceili Group Music & Dance Festival, at the Commodore john Barry Arts & Cultural Center (The Irish Center), 6815 Emlen Street in Mount Airy, catty corner from the Carpenter SEPTA rail station. The first night is singer’s night, led by local musician Terry Kane.
Friday, September 13
The Ceili Group festival continues with a ceili dance, with music by the McGillians and Friends, and a Rambling House, hosted by the River Drivers with special guest Brían Ó hAirt (Brian Hart) of Bua.
Saturday, September 14
It’s Day 3 of the Ceili Group festival, and honestly, there’s so much going on that you should be able to find something (or a lot of things) to pique your interest. There’s music all afternoon, capped off by the Saturday night concert headlined by Tony DeMarco and Atlantic Wave. But in addition to that, there are workshops on everything from genealogy to tin whistle to the Irish language, and much, much more. You’ll also find plenty for the kids to do. This is a completely family-friendly event. If you like Irish and Celtic jewelry and other tchotchkes, you’ll also have no trouble finding them.
If you want to know more, we have the complete rundown here.
Also Saturday, celebrate the 2019 Commodore Barry Day at the Commodore Barry Bridge. There will be a wreath laying and ceremony by the Ancient Order of Hibernians at the Barry Monument in Bridgeport, N.J. Free parking is available next to the Delaware River Port Authority Administration Building.
Mass will follow, celebrated by Father Ken Hallahan at the Gloucester County AOH Hall at about 12 noon. The hall is at 200 Columbia Boulevard in National Park, N.J. Free luncheon to follow.
And yes, it is indeed halfway to St. Patrick’s Day, and the occasion will be celebrated in style Saturday at Gatsby’s Bar & Grill, 4936 Pennell Road in Aston, starting at 3 p.m.
The event is hosted by Sons of Thunder, featuring 10 hours of live music, featuring JOHNNYDEW, followed by ZERO HOUR.
That’s all we got—but what we got is a lot.
See you next week.
