If you’re hankering to hear the lyrical lilt of an Irish accent, the next few weeks are the answer to your prayers.
On Tuesday, the Dublin-born singer Sinead O’Connor will be performing at the Keswick Theater in Glenside. We’ve heard reports from Boston, where she appeared with Damian Dempsey, that her show was a killer. “I saw her last night at Orpheum in Boston and it was awesome!” said our correspondent. “ She played lots of old songs, a few from new CD “Theology.” The crowd loved her.”
Now, here’s where we have to synchronize our calendars. (In fact, our calendar will actually tell your calendar where you have to be to hear the best Irish performers in the country. Give it a try!) November is shaping up to be a great month for the Irish.
On November 2, “Angela’s Ashes” author Frank McCourt is giving the keynote speech at Montgomery County Community College’s annual writers’ conference. We’ve heard him speak and he’s a hoot. Worth a trip even if you don’t want to be a writer. MC3 is on Route 202 and Morris Road in Blue Bell.
At the Tin Angel in Philly that night, you can hear the wonderful Francis Dunnery, who is technically British but with a name like Dunnery, you know it can’t be natural. Fabulous voice (Peter Gabriel-like), great songwriter, very funny guy. And we say that from experience.
On November 4, there are two annual Irish-themed benefits, unfortunately at the same time. Former Penn folklore professor Mick Moloney–who helped raise Irish culture in Philadelphia from the near-dead–will be performing with “friends,” yet unnamed, at his annual benefit for St. Malachy’s Church and School in North Philadelphia. Last year, one of his friends was legendary Irish songwriter and performer Tommy Sands. Expect a few tears and some Irish sentimentality this time. Father John McNamee, St. Malachy’s longtime pastor, will be retiring soon.
At the same time in Springfield, Delaware County, Blackthorn will be performing at the annual Ceili for Kayleigh, a fundraiser for research into MMA, a rare inherited disease in which the body cannot metabolize protein. MMA can be fatal if not detected and treated. The event was founded and organized by a local couple, Marty and Kate Moran, whose daughter Kayleigh has the condition.
Earlier the same day, Moloney, Robbie O’Connell, Timlin and Kane, The Malones and several other performers will be doing a benefit concert at the Shanachie Pub and Restaurant in Ambler for Irish balladeer Danny Doyle, who has recorded 35 albums and performed at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, the National Concert Hall in Dublin. Surgery in August for a carotid blockage has left Doyle unable to perform, so friend Gerry Timlin, co-owner of the Shanachie, organized the benefit to help Doyle meet the bills. The event runs from 12:30 to 5 PM. Donation is $20.
You’ll have to be making another tough choice come Friday November 9. At the Sellersville Theater, all-Ireland fiddle champ Eileen Ivers and her group, Immigrant Soul, will be bringing down the house with their stew of international music. (One lucky Mickmail subscriber, Gerard Devine, will be going as our guest. Read his story.) And at the Irish Center, legendary singer-songwriter Derek Warfield–who blew away the crowds in Wildwood this year–and his group, the Sons of Erin Band, will take over the ballroom stage. No matter which you choose, you can expect to have a memorable evening.
See our calendar for details.
