From last August's WTMR radio on-air fundraiser, St. Patrick's Day Parade Director Michael Bradley joins host Marianne MacDonald at the microphone. Volunteer Olivia Hilpl is at left.
Snow may scotch your plans to be Irish at least part of this weekend. For example, the Rose of Tralee Winter BBQ, scheduled for Friday night in Villanova, has been postponed until Saturday, February 20. Make sure you call ahead before bundling yourself up and heading out.
The show will go on at the Irish Center on Sunday as WTMR radio hosts Vince Gallagher and Marianne MacDonald throw a Super Bowl party to help raise money for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Watch the game on one of the center’s three flat screen TVs, have a $4 pint of Guinness (or two), and choose from a buffet loaded with stromboli, wings, meatballs, hoagies, cheese and pepperoni, and chocolate cake. There will be door prizes and a raffle. All for $20. And forget the half-time festivities. You can dance to live music provided by Gallagher.
Don’t forget to tune in to the WTMR 800AM radio shows Sunday morning. They’re kicking off their on-air fund drive and offering some great prizes (we know, because we’re donating some).
In Phoenixville on Sunday, Theresa Kane and John Beatty will anchor a session at the great pub, Molly Maguire’s. If you haven’t been to Phoenixville for a while, you’re in for a surprise. There are several terrific Irish pubs and an Irish breakfast place as well as some interesting little stores.
On Tuesday, when the snow has likely melted, head down to the World Café Live in Philadelphia to hear two of the finest musicians working today. Karan Casey, former singer with the group, Solas, and sterling guitarist John Doyle have teamed up for an evening of Irish traditional and folk music.
Don’t forget the new addition to the Irish treats now on offer: Irish night at the Washington Crossing Inn in Washington Crossing (you Jerseyites can come right over the bridge) and live Irish music at Bethlehem’s St. James Pub on Thursdays at the Sands Casino.
Also on Thursday, Bob Hurst and Tim Murphy of the popular Bogside Rogues are taking a turn at Con Murphy’s Irish Pub on the Parkway in Philadelphia. We haven’t gotten there yet, but we eye it every time we’re in town. It’s perfectly located so you can watch the parade from there!
On Friday, the biggest weekend of winter kicks off with a night time concert at the Valley Forge Convention Center featuring Jamison, Rathkeltair, Seven Nations, and Albannach. These are popular groups and this will be a high octane night, so get there early for tickets. There’s music, food, drink, vendors, beauty queens, dancers, and lots of fun. We’ll be there all weekend. Stop by our table and sign up for our weekly e-newsletter, Mick Mail, and a chance to win tickets to hear those wild and crazy lads from DC, Scythian, at the TLA in March 11 or Ronan Tynan at the Keswick on March 6. We may even be able to score you some Altan tickets for Sellersville for March 13. All you have to do is allow us to come to your emailbox once a week. We don’t share our mailing list with anyone and we’ll even clean up a little while we’re there.
