Timlin & Kane
Play time: Inis Nua Theatre Company’s latest production, “The Walworth Farce,” is getting some great reviews and you have until Sunday May 27 to see it at the “Off Broad Street Theatre” at the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia. You can also catch Brian Friel’s classic immigration story, “Philadelphia Here I Come,” at the Walnut Street Theatre
The Newtown Celtic Fest is this weekend. Catch some of our faves, including RUNA, Timlin & Kane, the Birmingham Six, and the Fitzpatrick Irish Dancers on Saturday. There’s food and drink and vendors too, otherwise they couldn’t officially call it a “fest.” No, we just made that up.
Timlin & Kane are all over the globe this weekend. They’re at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem on Friday night (performing, not gambling) and they’re off to the Scranton Irish Festival on Saturday night (that’s a lot of festing for one day, guys).
Speaking of dueling festivals—how about two more? We knew you’d love that. In Bensalem on Saturday , they’re hold the 22nd annual Summer Irish Festival at Park Polanka, featuring Tom McHugh and Company and Irish dancers. And Jamison Celtic Rock is performing at the Molly Maguire Street Festival in Lansdale, next to Molly Maguire’s Pub and Restaurant at Main and Wood Streets, also on Saturday. Top prizes to anyone who gets to all four festivals (unless you’re Timlin & Kane).
Make sure you tune into WTMR-800 AM on Sunday at noon. Marianne MacDonald, host of “Come West Along the Road,” is having an on-air pledge drive with lots of great prizes, including tickets to some upcoming musical events.
On Sunday, Celtic Thunder performers Ryan Kelly and Neil Byrne make a return engagement to The Plough and the Stars in Philadelphia for an evening of trad, folk, and original songs billed as “Acoustic by Candlelight.” Show up at The Plough on Thursday to hear BibleCode Sundays, a London Irish rock band making its first ever appearance in Philadelphia.
On Sunday: a serious turn. The Irish American Anti-Defamation Federation will join a variety of groups marching on Martin Luther King Drive in Philadelphia in the “March Against Hate.” The march is scheduled to start at 2 PM. You can walk with them (go to the website, walkagainsthate.org to register) or stand on the sidelines cheer them on. The IADF monitors and takes action on anything anti-Irish, but particularly products that promote negative stereotypes.
On Tuesday: There will be a vigil from 4:30-6 PM at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in support of Catholic nuns and sisters, who were recently criticized by the Vatican for not speaking up against abortion and homosexuality because they were too focused on taking care of the poor. We could say something really snarky here, but we’ll just leave it at an enthusiastic, “You go, Sisters! We love you!” The event is sponsored by the Nun Justice Project.
Set your calendars for next weekend for the annual commemoration of Commodore John Barry, who is so much more than a bridge and an Irish Center. The Wexford-born Barry lived in Philadelphia when he wasn’t busy starting the new American Navy during the Revolutionary War. (John Paul Jones often gets the credit, but he was just along for the ride.)
After a Mass at Old St. Mary’s Church on South 4th Street in Philadelphia, where Barry is buried in the churchyard, there will be a graveside ceremony followed by a fundraiser and meal at The Commodore Barry Club in Mt. Airy—AKA The Irish Center—to help raise capital for the erection of a memorial to Barry at the US Naval Academy at Annapolis.
