What, do we have to draw you pictures? There's fun for everybody at the Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival.
This week starts with a bang.
First and foremost, Saturday is the final day of the Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival at the Irish Center/Commodore Barry Club in Mount Airy. And a full day it is, starting at 11 a.m. with the John Kelly Music Session in the club’s cozy Fireside Room, and plowing on throughout the afternoon with hands-on traditional Irish music workshops for all skill levels, vendors selling Irish merchandise, lectures in genealogy and the Irish language, dance demonstrations, storytelling for the kids, food and treats, and more. (There’s also a workshop on the ghosts of Duffy’s Cut, just added.)
Saturday night, the great local band Runa opens the festival’s closing concert, starting at 7, leading into this year’s headliners: Brian Conway, Billy McComiskey and Brendan Dolan from the world-class Pride of New York.
Full schedule and ticket info here: http://www.philadelphiaceiligroup.org/
Also on Saturday:
Attend the Gloucester County A.O.H. Commodore Barry Memorial Day, starting with a wreath laying at the Barry Monument at the Commodore Barry Bridge in Bridgeport, N.J., at 11 a.m. Mass follows at noon at the AOH Hall, 200 Columbia Boulevard in National Park. A free luncheon follows, with music by by the Broken Shillelaghs.
If you aren’t all festival-ed out, check out the first-ever Mercer Irish Festival, from 12 to 8 at Mercer County Park, 1638 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor, N.J. You’ll recognize many of the bands, including the Shanties and the Birmingham 6. Dance to “chunes” by the Moyvale Ceili Band. There are lessons from 12 to 2 for beginning dancers. There will be plenty of Irish food—how long since you last had bangers and mash?—rides and activities for the kiddies, and plenty of merch.
Full schedule and maps and directions here: http://www.merceririshfest.com/
Or, Saturday morning at 9, head down to the Irish Center (or maybe sleep in your car at the Carpenter Lane railroad station; this is early for Irish folks) for televised Irish football and hurling. Admission is 20 bucks. Check with the Irish Center for times and matchups: 215-843-8051. (More games the next morning at 11. It’s the camogie championship, Galway vs. Wexford. (Camogie is hurling for women. Not sure we’d call them “ladies.”)
If thou wish, sirs and mistresses, hie thee to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire at the Mount Hope Estate and Winery in Manheim on Saturday from 11 to 8. It’ll give you a chance to brush up your Shakespeare. You might even get to call somebody a “vile poltroon.” (We’re not sure what that is, but maybe it has something to do with chickens.)
For the rest of the week—aren’t you exhausted yet?—catch Scottish singer-songwriter Ian Bruce Wednesday night at 7:30 at Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church in Wilmington. The concert is hosted by our friends at Green Willow: http://www.greenwillow.org/
On Thursday at 11 in the morning, the Irish American Genealogy Group meets at the Philadelphia Irish Immigration Center, 7 Cedar Lane in Upper Darby.
If you’re not wiped yet, you should be. If you’re a glutton for punishment, there’s lots more on our calendar:
