It's summer football season--if you're Irish.
The game is afoot this summer for the Philadelphia Gaelic Athletic Association, which will be hosting the national championships on Labor Day weekend in Pennypack Park. Local games have started up at Cardinal Dougherty High School field on Second Street near Cheltenham Avenue in Philadelphia and there’s football and hurling action this Sunday. Bring your own lawn chair, bottled water, and Celtic-strength sunscreen, sit back and enjoy the show.
We’re happy to see that Catherine Rooney’s Irish Pub in Delaware is posting its live Irish music schedule on our calendar. It’s within spitting distance of you folks in Delco and we hear that it’s a great venue for Irish music lovers. People actually listen to the music. What a concept! On tap on Saturday, Benny and Bill. Coming later in the month: Fisher & Maher, Timlin & Kane, and the Seven Rings Band. Reservations are recommended.
Also new to our calendar: Thursday sessions at Brownies 23 East in Ardmore with Scott McClatchy featuring “Americana with an Irish twist.” Bring your instrument and sit in.
On Sunday, a new caterer called Tullamore Crew is presenting a tasting of its fare at the Irish Center. They’re the answer to the question: “Whatever happened to the chefs, cooks and servers from The Shanachie?” When the Ambler Irish pub closed in April, they formed their own catering company which is one of the preferred caterers at the Irish Center.
Also on Sunday: fiddler Dylan Foley and accordionist Dan Gurney will be performing at the Coatesville Cultural Center. Foley is a former multiple All-Ireland winner (starting as a 12-year-old) who has since played with Joanie Madden of Cherish the Ladies, Brian Conway, and the John Whelan Band.
If you’re in Philly, catch Raymond Coleman at Paddy Whacks on Welsh Road. He’s one of our favorites and worth a listen.
Pay no attention to the last name: Joey Abarta is a primo piper from Los Angeles who will be doing a house concert in Havertown on Friday, June 15. He’s a member of Mick Moloney’s “Green Fields of American” ensemble and now based in Boston. House concerts have limited seating, so contact Paddy O’Neill at bogman56@aol.com to reserve your spot. There will also be a session.
Know who else is starting to use our calendar? Blackthorn! No more chasing down dates and times for you know who. They’re playing the first of their summer free concerts, this one at River Winds Ampitheater in Thorofare, NJ on Friday night. There’s a second next Sunday, June 17, at Albert Miller Memorial Park in Exton. And they’ll be front and center at Irish Heritage Night at the Phillies on June 19, right there at the Xfinity Live stage. Jamison and Galway Guild will also be playing at the park that night. Count on some great step dancers too. Maybe the luck of the Irish will rub off on the Phils. God knows they need it.
And if you’re filling out your calendar with free concerts, don’t forget to mark down June 18, Pennypack Park, with Jamison and the Bogside Rogues and Blackthorn again on June 21 at Park Square in Prospect Park.
Free music. Doesn’t get any better than that.
As always, check our calendar for dates, times, maps, and late-comers.
