Eleven years ago, a small committee of friends of what was then known simply as the Irish Center put together an awards program to honor a very special group of 10 women, from a local TV meteorologist to a highly respected nun to a beloved princess. Proceeds of the hugely successful event benefited the Irish Center.
Now also known by its formal name, the Commodore John Barry Arts and Cultural Center, its home is a sprawling building at Carpenter and Emlen Streets in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia. As with so many institutions, the Irish Center closed its doors for many months during the pandemic, but it is gradually coming back to life as more and more restrictions are lifted.