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Jeff Meade

Phillies Irish Heritage Night 2019

It’s a cinch that more than a few lined the outfield railings of Citizen Bank Park Wednesday night to get a close-up view of the Phillies-Diamondbacks game. Probably just as well—the home team lost.

They were mostly proud parents with their cell phone cameras at the ready, as Irish dancers from several Philadelphia-area schools took to the warning track of CBP to put on a high-stepping pre-game exhibition.

The reason? It was the Phillies’ annual Irish Heritage Celebration.

The Irish traditional band Fig for a Kiss also put on a well-received exhibition of their own at Pass and Stow restaurant. (More cell-phone cameras.)

Not to be outdone, we had a camera of our own.

These photos are the result.

June 13, 2019 by Jeff Meade

Music, People

Joe Reavy: Reflections on “a Great Run”

Irish musicians throughout the world are familiar with the music of Philadelphia’s Ed Reavy. That so many know his work is largely a tribute to his son, Joseph M. Reavy, 91, recipient of Mid-Atlantic Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann’s Gradam Comaoine/Outstanding Contribution Award, conferred June 8 at the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Region’s Hall of Fame Banquet. It was Joe Reavy—a talented multi-instrumental musician in his own right—who collected and transcribed his father’s many tunes into a thick book of sheet music.

He is characteristically self-effacing when he talks about the project.

“I don’t want to put myself in the forefront,” he says. “This is my father’s music. I published it so people would know it. He had an unbelievable musical memory, but my father did not write out the music. Of course, I read music and so I did most of the work, unless it was very, very technical stuff, and then I would call on someone else to help with it. Musicians—especially among advocates and people who loved his music—welcomed this (compilation) because they could put it in front of other musicians who maybe didn’t know too much about Irish music. I spent two years’ time with my father; almost every week we worked on it.

“It was just wonderful working with him. I learned so much. Even though he didn’t know how to write out the music, he knew how to talk about music. He had the greatest memory for tunes.”

June 9, 2019 by Jeff Meade

How to Be Irish in Philly

How to Be Irish in Philly This Week

Summer’s here and the time is right for Irish and Celtic events of all kinds.

We’ll start with what is shaping up to be a very busy Saturday.

Kilt Fest, a celebration of all things Celtic, debuts at the Trifecta Sporting Club, 4666 East Bristol Road in Feasterville, Bucks County. It’s the first time on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware for this event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Strap your kilt on for the Kilted Fun Run, which starts the day (10 a.m. to 11 a.m.). Kilts are mandatory for this one, though for nothing else during the day.

Gaelic sports continue the festival at noon, running through 5 p.m., with kids’ Highland games from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Irish dance goes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. And there’s music, including na Bodach and the Kilted Rogues, both of which combine Scottish and Irish elements, together with entertainers like C.J. Mills and Seamus McGroary. Also: food and vendors throughout the grounds.

Sounds like a great time.

June 7, 2019 by Jeff Meade

Arts, News

Orbis Books and Villanova University’s Center for Peace and Justice Education Host Event Honoring Daniel Berrigan

NEWS RELEASE: Orbis Books, the publishing arm of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, and Villanova University’s Center for Peace and Justice Education will host an event honoring the late Jesuit priest, poet, prophet and peace activist Daniel Berrigan on Sunday, June 9^th,from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Driscoll Auditorium of Villanova University. The event is free and the public is invited.

James Carroll, former Catholic priest and award-winning author, will be the featured speaker at the event. Carroll, a fellow activist and former priest on the Catholic Left, was a close friend and spiritual brother of Father Berrigan.

The event will include the unveiling of a commissioned 4- by 5-foot oil portrait of Father Berrigan by renowned artist Ruane Manning and a book signing and talk by Jim Forest, author of At Play in the Lion’s Den, a memoir and biography of Father Berrigan, followed by a reception and entertainment by Hollis Payer on fiddle and Rob Curto on accordion.

June 5, 2019 by Jeff Meade

Arts

“Photographs of Irish Writers” Opening Reception at Neumann University Rescheduled

NEWS RELEASE: Neumann University is hosting an exhibit of photographs by Robin Hiteshew. Entitled Beyond the Words: Portraits of Irish Writers, the free exhibition runs June 5th to June 23rd in the McNichol Art Gallery.

The opening reception, originally set for June 6, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, June 11, from 4-7 p.m.

Beyond the Words: Portraits of Irish Writers represents one of two long-term projects Hiteshew has worked on for more than 39 years. He first began taking photos of authors in 1969 and is still actively working to document the ongoing literary world. He has nearly one hundred authors represented in his collection of portraits, including Moya Cannon, Michael Longlay, Seamus Heaney and Ann Enright. The Donegal Association of Philadelphia sponsors the exhibit, which is funded in large part by an Irish Heritage grant through the Irish government’s Emigrant Assistance Programme. The aim of the grant is to connect with Irish citizens living in the United States.

June 5, 2019 by Jeff Meade

Audio, Audios, Music, Photo Essays, Photos

Sights and Sounds of the 2019 Philadelphia Irish Festival

The 2019 Philadelphia Irish Festival at Penn’s Landing is history. A very good festival it was. With temperatures in the 80s and a nice breeze along the Delaware, it was picture-perfect most of the day.

Seamus McGroary, C.J. Mills and Joe Kirschen started playing just after noon, and the tunes flowed on into the afternoon, with the McLean Avenue Band of New York City and Philly band Jamison taking the stage later in the day, undaunted by occasionally threatening skies.

A good-sized crowd showed up to take in the tunes, buy Irish shirts and hats, slurp water ice, sip a brew, feast on funnel cake, or watch the Irish dancers. For the kids, there were balloon hats, face painting and a moon bounce.

June 2, 2019 by Jeff Meade

How to Be Irish in Philly

How to Be Irish in Philly This Week

Big doin’s this weekend!

Tomorrow, Saturday, you can get a total immersion sneak preview of the Irish language at the Commodore Barry Arts and Cultural Center (the Irish Center).

It’s called Satharn na nGael. Although about a third of the attendees are expected to be Irish language newbies, there will also be intermediate and advanced classes.

In addition to language, there will be a focus on Irish folklore, customs, music and poetry.

The language classes take place in the morning and afternoon. You’ll also get a chance to try your hand (or foot) at Irish dance.

It’s all expected to be pretty informal, with lunch provided, and a traditional music session (seisiún) at the end of the day. You’re invited to bring snacks. The cost of admission is $50. The event is sponsored by Daltaí na Gaeilge (Students of the Irish Language).

For details, call Aengus Lawlor at 484-854-1040. Visit the Daltai website to register.

The Irish Center is at 6815 Emlen in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Next up:

If you’ve never been to the Philadelphia Irish Festival at Penn’s Landing, here’s your opportunity. (And if you have been before, you already know what to expect—and why it’s a guaranteed great time.)

The festival kicks off Sunday at noon on the waterfront below Front and Chestnut, and runs through 7 p.m. Throughout the day, you’ll be treated to Irish rock on the main stage—local bands and performers Jamison, and CJ Mills, Seamus McGroary and Joe Kirschen, along with first-timers from New York City, the McLean Avenue Band. And throughout the venue, you’ll find plenty of food and drink, and vendors selling Irish tchotchkes all over the darn place. If you dig Irish dance, you’ll be able to take in a good deal of high stepping, too.

May 31, 2019 by Jeff Meade

How to Be Irish in Philly

How to Be Irish in Philly This Week

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Here’s how the week is shaping up.

Saturday night, Nathan Carter brings his Celtic country show to the Keswick Theater, 291 N. Keswick Avenue in Glenside, Montgomery County. The show starts at 8. Carter is hugely popular all by himself, but for this concert he is also joined by Celtic Woman alum Chloe Agnew. He has a superb band as well. Carter was a big hit a few months back at the Irish Center. Here’s another chance to catch his act.

May 24, 2019 by Jeff Meade

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