Jeff Meade

It’s March, and we’re off and running.

First up, Saturday, and lots to do, more than we often have in a whole week:

• From 7 to 9:30 p.m., we have the very first ever Middle School Social at the Irish Center, 6815 Emlen Street in the Mount Airy neighborhood. The event is for 6^th, 7^thand 8^th (We’ve written about it before. Read the story.) It costs $10 to get in. Kids will be treated to D.J. music, pizza, snacks and soft drinks. Pre-registration is required. For details, contact Lisa Maloney at lisamaloney29@yahoo.com or call 215-514-1654. The social is well-chaperoned. Looks like a good time.
• Silver Lake Nature Center, 1306 Bath Road in Bristol, hosts the inimitable Irish singer Mary Courtney in concert in the Visitors Center. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 a person in advance (by March 1 at 5 p.m.) and $15 at the door. All the details here.
• Starting at 6:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Catholic School hosts Irish Night. The school is at 835 North Hills Avenue in Ardsley. This beef and beer is 40 bucks a ticket. Galway Guild provides the music, you provide the dancing. The tunes start at 8.
• Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 6 Montgomery County is kicking off the month with a St. Patrick’s Party, from 7 to 10 p.m., at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta School, 256 Swamp Pike in Schwenksville. Music by Reilly’s Daughter, featuring Tommy Conwell.
• The GAA hurling and camogie club Na Tóraídhe holds its biggest fund-raiser of the year at Tir Na Nog, 1600 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19103. It’s a formal, so you can play dress-ups. Contact Katkatrinaterrysterling@gmail.com or any club member. The fun starts at 7:30.
• Later that night (starting at 10 p.m., lasting ‘til the wee hours) the John Byrne Band plays music of the Pogues, also at Tir Na Nog.
• The Burlington County St. Patrick’s Day parade steps off at 1 p.m., marching down High Street from Fairgrounds Plaza in Mount Holly. In the neighborhood of 60 groups take part in the parade, including bagpipe bands and some of the area’s best Paddy Rock bands.
• It’s Irish Night with Round Tower, at Upper Darby American Legion Post 214, 6914 Chestnut Street in Upper Darby. The party starts at 8 p.m. Admission is $25 per person in advance, $30 at the door; or $40 per couple in advance, $50 at the door. Call 610-352-0702 for more information. Includes food and bottled beer. 50/50, raffles, and much more fun.

Continue Reading

Think of this week as a warm-up for March, which promises to be jam-packed. March 17—the big day itself—merits a “How to Be Irish in Philly” all by its own at this point, and the events keep pouring in.

It seems right to start with an event that can get you into the proper spirit for the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It’s a parade fund-raiser Sunday at Heroes Hall FOP Lodge 5, 11630 Caroline Road in Northeast Philadelphia. The event starts at 3 p.m.

You’ll get a chance to meet this year’s grand marshal, Sean McMenamin, as well as the Ring of Honor.

If you’re going—and by all means, go—the fund-raiser promises to be one super-fun afternoon. It costs $40 at the door, and $20 for children 13 and under. (Checks to be made out to SPDOA.) For your money, you get music from local Irish bands and the Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipe Band, and some high-stepping from the Cummins School of Irish Dance. There will be baskets of cheer, too, and plenty of food and draft beer. You get a lot for your money, and you can help support one of the best causes we can think of.

Continue Reading