If you had pie for breakfast and finished all your Christmas shopping at the mall before the sun came up, you may be too tired to head to downtown Philadelphia to the Mid-Atlantic Oireachtas—the annual regional Irish dancing competition. If you just had pie for breakfast and were smart enough to realize that the stores also had online sales, you might just want to swing by the Downtown Marriott on Market Street, where all weekend you can see the top Irish dancers in the area.
Last week, the McDade-Cara School put its best dancers forward at a recital at Msgr. Bonner High School in Drexel Hill. We were there and have pictures to share.
But that’s not all that’s going on this Thanksgiving weekend. The Philadelphia Donegal Association is holding its 121st annual ball at the Irish Center on Saturday night. We heard through the grapevine that one of the attendees is coming all the way from Dublin for the event, which will feature the Sean Wilson Band from Ireland, DJ John McDaid (he’s from Ireland too, but lives here now) and the Mary from Dungloe contest.
And that will segue us right into the Christmas season. We have two Irish Christmas events coming up over the next week. McDermott’s Handy will be celebrating its Irish Christmas in music and song at the Audubon Senior Center in Audubon on Wednesday, December 2.
On Thursday, a great Christmas gift for the Irish music lover—Solas! They’re at the Sellersville Theatre and if you haven’t heard former Hatboro guy, Seamus Egan (he grew up in Ireland), and his group, you’ve been missing out. Here’s your chance to catch up with the rest of us. You will become an instant fan. Everyone does.
As we do occasionally, we’re going to give you a sneak peak into the week after this one because it’s a busy time and you want to make room on your calendar for the craic (especially the Christmas craic—we added that just because we like alliteration).
We’re going to specifically point you to Sunday, December 6, the date way too many groups in the area picked for their events. Here are your choices:
12 PM: The Mid-Winter Irish Festival at Finnigan’s Wake in Philadelphia will feature some of the best local Irish bands, including Paddy’s Well, the Broken Shillelaghs and the Bare Knuckle Boxers, along with Irish dancers, food, vendors, the works.
2 PM: The Philadelphia Rose of Tralee will hold its annual Santa’s Workshop and Christmas celebration at The Willows Mansion in Villanova. There will be music, refreshments, arts and crafts and face-painting, as well as a visit from Father Christmas, better known as Santa Claus. You need to RSVP by December 1 and they’re requesting that you bring canned or other nonperishable goods for the Delco Fish and Loaves Food Pantry Holiday Drive.
2:30 PM: Andy Cooney’s “A Classic Irish Christmas” is on tap at St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Cherry Hill, NJ. Along with his angelic voice (and face!), Cooney is bringing Ireland’s “King of Blarney” (there’s only one of those?), comic George Casey, soprano Emma Kate Tobia, and the Darrah Carr Dance Troupe.
5 PM: “Once Upon A Winter’s Night,” with noted guitarist and keyboardist Gabriel Donohue (he’s played with Eileen Ivers, Cherish the Ladies, the Chieftains and the Boston Pops); Alaskan Caitlin Warbelow who is a regular on the New York music scene, and singer Marian Makins (she recently wowed the audience at the Philadelphia Ceili Group’s annual festival) will be on stage at the Irish Center in Philadelphia.
Also coming up: Matt and Shannon Heaton will be bringing their Christmas show, “A Fine Winter’s Night,” to Godfrey Daniels Coffee House in Bethlehem on December 11. That same night, Teada is making a return visit with “Irish Christmas in America” at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.
Over the holiday season, try to remember to support your local Irish merchant, publican, entertainer, and restaurateur. They help keep the Irish culture alive and well in the region and they need our business. So, get out there and give them the business!
And if you haven’t already, fill out the Irish Community Survey being conducted now by the Philadelphia Irish Immigration Center. You don’t have to be an immigrant to do it. Even if your Irish family has been here since shortly after the Pilgrims arrived, the center wants to hear from you.
