It’s going to be a very Christmassy week here in Irish Philadelphia land.
An American Celtic Christmas, a multi-media, multi-genre spectacular, produced annually by Frank Daly and CJ Mills of Jamison and American Paddy’s Productions, will be on stage twice on Saturday at Bensalem High School—a matinee at 3 PM and an evening show at 7 PM. Along with Jamison, you’ll hear John Byrne of the John Byrne Band, Bob Hurst of the Bogside Rogues, singer Kimberly Killen Clark, and Sean Hicks. The Celtic Flame School Of Irish Dance and the Bucks County Dance Center will, obviously, be providing the dancing—and it will be thrilling.
On Sunday morning, local Irish folks and organizations will be massing on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum for a photograph to send support and holiday wishes to political prisoners in Northern Ireland. All are welcome.
On Sunday afternoon, the Divine Providence Village Rainbow Irish Step Dancers will be presenting their Christmas show with their friends, the Tara Gael Dancers, at the Irish Center in Philadelphia. The Rainbow dancers are a group of developmentally disabled women living at the archdiocesan home in Delaware County who have been taught by local Irish step dancer Kathy Madigan. This year, the ladies asked me to be part of the event, so I will be reading two poems. Hopefully, without sniffling. This is one of the most touching events I go to every year and I’ve been known to well up with tears.
If you’re an alum of the Delaware County Gaels, the youth sports club, you’re invited to a free breakfast at the Marple Newtown Library in Broomall to help the club decide its direction for the next 20 years (yes, they’ve already been around for two decades!). They promise the whole event will be over by the Eagles game kickoff.
Speaking of the Gaels, they’re having a Night at the Races holiday party on December 12 at JD McGillicuddy’s in Upper Darby. The event will raise money to help families defray the costs of sending their young athletes to Ireland to compete this coming year. If you can’t go, consider being a sponsor. Contact them at johnbmcdaid@msn.com or bradleyconstruction1@verizon.net.
On Wednesday, December 9, the group Makem and Spain will be doing a house concert at the home of Bob and Susan Glennan in South Jersey. See our calendar for contact details.
On Friday, the McGillians will be providing the music for the annual Christmas Ceili at the Irish Center, sponsored by the Philadelphia Ceili Group, starting at 8 PM.
On Saturday, December 12, the Philadelphia Ceili Group is presenting the play, “Kitty in the Lane,” a debut production by Irish playwright and actor Aine Ryan. The production got rave reviews at the 2015 San Francisco International Arts Festival. It looks at the life of a 20-year-old girl living in rural Ireland as she waits for her boyfriend to pick her up to take her to a local beauty pageant–her only means of escape.
Also on December 12, AOH 87 will be holding its annual Children’s Christmas Party at their HQ at 2171 Wakeling Street in Philadelphia. All kids are welcome to meet Santa between 1 and 4 PM, while adults and kids alike can enjoy the live music (Malone and Ward). Like just about everything the AOH does, there’s a charitable component. So, if you can, bring gift cards, unwrapped toys, and warm coats to donate to those who really need them.
Please check out our Facebook page (you have to apply to be a member–it’s a group) for any late-breaking events. We’re quickly approaching 6,000 members!
For musical Christmas giving, consider the just-released John Byrne Band EP of holiday music and the Cherish the Ladies “Christmas in Ireland,” which has a lovely track with singer Don Stiffe, who’s performed in this area several times. You can order the album by emailing merch@cherishtheladies.com or download it at CD Baby.
We included a track from The John Byrne Band last week, so below there’s a wee taste of the Cherish-Don Stiffe collaboration. Tune in to the Marianne MacDonald “Come West Along the Road” radio show on Sunday at noon at 800 AM to hear more songs and tunes.
