isky” src=”http://irishinphilly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Billy-McComisky.jpg” alt=”” width=”380″ height=”380″ /> Billy McComiskey will be bringing his accordion to St. Malachy’s on Sunday and to a session at Maloney’s in Ardmore on Saturday after a concert at Villanova.
How to Be Irish in Philly
How to Be Irish in Philly This week
Hope Sandy didn’t scramble your plans to be Irish this week, because there’s a lot going on.
Mick Moloney is in town. This Irish musician, who once made his home in Philadelphia, is as constant as the falling leaves—he arrives here every autumn to play a fundraising concert for St. Malachy’s, the North Philadelphia mission school that was founded by a group of Irish nuns and immigrants. He’s making his first stop at Villanova to do a concert to benefit the Literacy Council. Then he’ll be at St. Malachy’s on Sunday afternoon. If you’ve never been to the St. Malachy’s concert, it is truly a religious experience. The church is a gilded treasure in this community that fell on hard times in the 1950s and 1960s, when the manufacturing plants that anchored it moved south. Check out the lovely shamrocks in the sanctuary!
After the Villanova concert, bring your instruments to Maloney’s Pub in Ardmore where the musicians Mick frequently brings with him, including Billy McComiskey and Dana Lyn, will be leading a session.
Also on Saturday, Irish glass artist Billy Healy is exhibiting his Irish and Celtic designs in glass at the Sugarloaf Craft Festival at the convention center in Oaks. If you call Healy (check our calendar for his number) he’ll give you a free pass to the show. It’s never too early to start Christmas shopping.
The AOH/LAOH members of Montgomery County will come together at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Norristown to remember those members who have passed away. That’s Saturday night at 5:30 PM. There will be dinner at the AOH Notre Dame Div. 1 hall at 342 Jefferson Street in nearby Swedesburg.
If you love Luke Jardel and the Hooligans, they’ll be performing on Saturday night at the Feast of All Irish Saints at the Church of the Holy Famil in Sewell, NJ. This indoor festival features a DJ, Irish dancers, dinner, auctions and 50/50s.
If you trace your roots to Mayo, you really need to go to the Mayo Ball. It’s also Saturday night. The Theresa Flanagan Band is providing the music, and you can see the Miss Mayo pageant.
On Sunday, TImlin and Kane will be at Brittingham’s in Lafayette Hill.
On Tuesday, poet Catherine Phil MacCarthy will be reading excerpts from her critically acclaimed fourth collection, “The Invisible Threshold,” at the St. Augustine Center Room at Villanova University.
Then, next Friday, enjoy the music of Jamison at the annual Sgt. Patrick McDonald Beef-and-Beer fundraiser at the St. Patrick McDonald Memorial Gym in Northeast Philadelphia, which honors the slain Philadelphia highway patrolman and raises money for a scholarship fund started in his memory.
Coming up: If you enjoyed the Sam Maguire Cup play that brought the prize home to Donegal this year, tell the manager. Jim McGuinness (who played GAA football in Philly during the 1999 season at Dougherty) and two players will be coming to the Irish Center on November 13—with the Sam!—to meet and greet. There’ll be music, food, and an opportunity to have your picture taken with these Donegal heroes.
