We’re getting into March! You know what that means! Spring!
Well, yes, that. And enough with the exclamation points. It means St. Patrick’s Day and all the hoo-hah that surrounds our favorite holiday.
We’ll even get into it a little bit in this particular dispatch. Which means you can get an early start.
Here’s what’s up.
Friday, February 28
Mentioned last week, but worth reiterating Glenside Gaelic Club is hosting its first ever Trivia Night Fundraiser at North Penn VFW Hall, 2519 Jenkintown Road in Glenside, starting at 7 p.m.
$25 to get in. Price includes dinner, beer, wine, dessert, and a night a trivia. Contact Noreen McAleer for tickets at 215-593-5502.
And … at the Irish Center, 6815 Emlen Street in Mount Airy, it’s the Philadelphia Ceili Group’s 4th Friday Ceili Mor and Set Dance. Loads of fun. Strap on yer dancin’ shoes. It takes place in the Fireside Room, which is one of the most picturesque rooms in the center.
Saturday, February 29
It’s Leap Day!
Get ready to listen to some of the Delaware Valley’s best Paddy rock. It’s No Irish Need Apply at McNally’s on Rhawn, 427 Rhawn Street in Philly’s Fox Chase neighborhood. The tunes start at 4 p.m.
Sunday, March 1
It’s time for the very first St. Patrick’s Day parade in our area: the 5th Annual Gloucester City St. Patrick’s Parade. It all kicks off at Martin’s Lake (Baynes Avenue and Johnson Boulevard) and proceeds down Monmouth, starting at 1 p.m., with pipers, string bands, and more from beginning to end. Time to dust off your silly Guinness hats and your shamrock deely-bobbers. Weather forecast says sunny and in the mid-40s for the afternoon—perfect St. Patrick’s Day parade weather.
The Burlington County/Mount Holly parade is not far behind. (It’s the first Saturday.) But they’re already getting set to celebrate with the Annual Grand Marshal Dinner, Dooney’s Pub & Restaurant, 1361 Fairview Boulevard in Delran, N.J., honoring Grand Marshal Richard Carty and the 2020 Miss Saint Patrick. Tickets are $65 each and include hors d’oeuvres, dinner, drinks and Irish music. Details, with info on how to purchase tickets, here.
Also Sunday, Galway Guild appears at Kildare’s, 18 West Gay Street in beautiful downtown West Chester. The music starts at 5 p.m.
Wednesday, March 4
The Irish Comedy Tour rolls into City Winery Philadelphia, 990 Filbert Street. The show features laughs from Detroit native Derek Richards; Boston-born Mike McCarthy; Nova Scotia’s Damon Leibert; and from Inchicore, near Dublin, Derrick Keane. The show begins at 8 p.m. Details here. Sounds like a great show.
The fabulous, the immortal Wolfe Tones appear at the Irish Center Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Purchase tickets here. They’ve been in the forefront of Irish music since time immemorial. Don’t miss them.
Also, it’s Temple Basketball Irish Heritage Night at the Liacouras Center, 1776 North Broad Street on the Temple campus. (Go Owls!) Every person who purchases a ticket also receives a Temple branded Irish heritage Night shirt. Just the thing. Temple’s up against Tulsa University that night. The hoops begin at 7 p.m. Tickets here.
Thursday, March 5
Here’s a chance to see Celtic Thunder’s Colm Keegan live in Philadelphia at the Irish Center. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets here. Colm will perform songs from his soon-to-be-released “Celtic Chillouts” album, as well as some original songs he has written, such as “Beautiful Day” and “Where We’ll Be.” Before the show actually begins, Colm will offer Irish Language enthusiasts an Irish Language Workshop for beginners. How could you possibly resist?
Also, it’s Flyers Irish Night down at the Wells Fargo Center, starting at 7 p.m. Purchase a ticket and receive a Flyers Irish heritage scarf.
Friday, March 6
You’ve been waiting for this one, for sure. It’s the John Byrne Band at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street. Featuring tunes from John’s recent album and a clutch of Pogues tunes, the show starts at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7. John and his band will be joined by No Irish Need Apply. Get your tickets here.
Also, Poguetry: Songs of the Pogues is on tap at the City Winery, featuring music of, of course, The Pogues. The show starts at 8 p.m. Featuring Spider Stacy and Cait O’Riordan with the Lost Bayou Ramblers.
That’s all for now. (Expect coming weeks to be even busier.)
See you next time.
