Are you getting excited? It’s less than two weeks till March madness starts, and while we’re all about resting up for big events, there are still plenty of do-not-miss Irish activities in February.
Like this weekend’s concert at the Irish Center by Matt and Shannon Heaton, once part of the critically acclaimed Irish band, Siucra. This multi-talented couple from Massachusetts blend traditional and original tunes, with Matt on guitar and Shannon on flute. Those of you who attend the Catskills Irish Arts Weekend know the Heatons and may even have sat in on their workshops. In fact, they’re offering workshops before the concert, which starts at 8 PM on Saturday.
If you’re in the Allentown area, stop by Jack Callaghan’s Ale House on Tilghman Street to help raise money for the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, scheduled for March 30. See our calendar for all the great events leading up to Allentown’s parade, including a Mass and pre-parade breakfast. They’re also promising a coronation. We’re not sure what that is, but the King of Prussia had better watch out.
On Sunday, the Celtic Fiddle Festival arrives at the Sellersville Theater. See our review of the remarkable new CD by these four amazing musicians, each representing a different take on Celtic music.
On Monday, the Ladies AOH Division 4 of Delaware County will attend a Mass in celebration of the feast of St. Brigid (a County Louth girl) at The Church of Notre Dame de Lourdes on Fairview Road in Swarthmore. For those not familiar with the lives of the saints, Brigid refused many offers of marriage to become a nun, founding the Convent of Cill-Dara, now Kildare. She was a good friend of St. Patrick.
Of course, Finnegan’s Wake is still playing at the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City (featuring The Barley Boys). On Thursday, you can hear the local group, The Shantys, at McKinley’s Tavern in Elkins Park, and the dynamic duo of Kathy DeAngelo and Dennis Gormley (McDermott’s Handy) at the Bridgeton Public Library in Bridgeton, NJ.
The first parade of the season is March 1. They’ll be stepping out on High Street in Mount Holly for the annual Burlington County event. That weekend is jam-packed with events, so check our calendar before checking yours.