Jam-packed is the word for this week. Lots of Celtic craic and, of course, much of it at the same time.
If it’s not washed out, tonight (Friday, May 16) is Irish night at the Phillies. Along with the Toronto Blue Jays, you can see the Bogside Rogues, singers Vince Gallagher and Timmy Kelly, a host of Irish dancers—but no green hats on the Phils. We hear from a reliable source that since the team lost while wearing green hats, they’re not wearing them again. At least, not during the season.
There’s a $4 discount if you use the word “Irish” when ordering tickets. If you haven’t been to Citizen’s Bank Park, it’s great fun, even if you couldn’t care less about baseball.
Saturday at noon, the Camden County Emerald Society Pipe and Drums is holding its Irish Festival at the RiverWinds Community Center in Thorofare, NJ. There will be a pipe band competition, of course, but also a fire truck pull, so it sounds like a great day for kids. The adults aren’t left out either—there’s also a beer garden, craft vendors, and great live music presented by Blarney, Birnham Wood USA, and the Broken Shillelaghs.
That night, plan on being at the Irish Center for a one-man show by the amazing Sean Tyrell, who will tell the story, in words and song, of lesser-known Irish hero John Boyle O’Reilly. “Cry of the Dreamer” traces Reilly’s journey from early childhood set against a backdrop of famine, revolution, Fenianism and penal servitude for life in Australia and his great escape from there to the US where he became a newspaper editor and poet. It’s a coup to have this show in our area. Tyrell plans to take it wherever Reilly went: Dublin, London, Fremantle, Liverpool, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.
On Sunday, head over to Park Polanka in Bensalem for the annual Bucks County Irish Center Irish Festival. Then make time to watch the Allentown Hibernians in their first match ever against the Philadelphia Shamrocks at Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia. The game is hurling and starts at 4 PM. Read our story.
At the Irish Center at 5 PM Sunday, Michelle Mack will be crowned the new Mary from Dungloe. An Irish dancer and assistant director of residence life at Holy Family University, Michelle will travel to Dungloe, County Donegal, Ireland, in August to compete in the international contest.
If you’re in or near Gloucester City, NJ, a lovely candlelight Celtic service is planned at the First Presbyterian Church of Gloucester City, with Celtic hymns, harp music, and healing prayers.
On Monday night, all you set dancers should head over to the Knights of Columbus Hall in Glenside where the fabulous Matt Cunningham band from County Galway will be providing the get-up-and-dance music.
On Tuesday, May 20, The Swell Season (Oscar winners for best movie theme, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglov from the movie, “Once”) will be performing at the Tower Theater to a sold-out house. Opening for them is Fergus O’Farrell and Interference, a little known but profoundly influential group from Ireland making its first appearance in the US.
The great King of the Pipers, Paddy Keenan, will be playing at upstairs at the World Café Live in Philadelphia on Wednesday, May 21. On May 22, Keenan will be giving both piping and whistling workshops at the Irish Center.
Also on Wednesday, soccer fans can head on over to Fado Pub in Philly to catch some live action between Manchester United and Chelsea. Well, live on TV. It’s the 2008 Championship Final. Word of warning: Everyone needs to behave themselves.
“The Irish and How They Got That Way,” a musical by Frank McCourt, is still playing at the Walnut Street Theater and will be there till the end of June.
You’ll find all the details and even some maps on our calendar, which really wishes it had called early for tickets to see The Swell Season. Oh well, it might be getting in to the sound check.
