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Jeff Meade

News, People, Photos, Religion

Celebrating the Irish People’s Mass

At a Mass at beautiful St. Anne’s Church on East Lehigh Avenue in Port Richmond Wednesday night, the Irish delegation to the World Meeting of Families got to witness brotherly love in all its glory.

The church was packed—you couldn’t find a parking space for blocks—and the fans couldn’t do much to lower the temperature inside. But no one seemed to mind—certainly not the Most Reverend Liam S. MacDaid DD, Bishop of Clogher, Council for Marriage and the Family, Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, or any of his traveling companions.

With St. Anne’s Pastor Father Ed Brady serving as host, representatives of many of Philadelphia’s Irish organizations were well represented. There was an honor guard from the 69th PA Irish Volunteers, a dance performance by the Rince Ri school, and tunes by the Second Street Irish Society Pipe Band.

Also attending with the Irish delegation:

  • The Most Reverend Donal Murray DD, Bishop Emeritus of Limerick, Council for Marriage and the Family, Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference
  • Reverend Peter Murphy DD, Executive Secretary, Commission for Pastoral Care and the Council for Marriage and the Family, Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference
  • Reverend Eamon Kelly LC, Vice Chargé at the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem

We have photos from the evening.

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September 25, 2015 by
News

Welcome to the Irish People’s Mass

Father Brady

Father Brady

The Irish American Community of Delaware Valley welcomes the Irish Catholic Delegation!

A special Mass will be celebrated with our special guest and visiting delegation from Ireland and the Irish American Community of the Delaware Valley region.

The delegation of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference includes:

  • Main Celebrant: The Most Reverend Liam S. Mac Daid DD, Bishop of Clogher, Council for Marriage and the Family, Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference
  • The Most Reverend Donal Murray DD, Bishop Emeritus of Limerick, Council for Marriage and the Family, Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference
  • Reverend Peter Murphy DD, Executive Secretary, Commission for Pastoral Care and the Council for Marriage and the Family,
  • Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference Reverend Eamon Kelly LC, Vice Chargé at the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem
  • Reverend Edward Brady Pastor, St. Anne’s Church. Plus, other local Priest and Religious.

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September 18, 2015 by
Arts, Music

For Percussionist Sean Kennedy, the Beat Goes On

Most people wouldn’t take an encounter with a vicious predator and turn it into music—especially music of such a high quality that it merits exposure at Carnegie Hall.

Sean Kennedy isn’t most people.

An accomplished percussionist and Upper Dublin School District music teacher, Kennedy recalls the moment back in August 2001 when he was snorkeling off the coast of Maui and he noticed a barracuda swimming alongside him, just a few feet away.

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September 17, 2015 by
Dance, Food & Drink, Music

Northeast Philly Irish Festival 2015

Organizer Bill Reid kept the rain out and the Irish in, all of them gathered under the big tent behind the Cannstatter Club in Northeast Philadelphia.

Deborah Streeter-Davitt of MacDougall's Irish Victory Cakes

Deborah Streeter-Davitt of MacDougall’s Irish Victory Cakes

Saturday was the first of two days celebrating all things Irish, with a raft of performers, including Deirdre Reilly,the Bogside Rogues, Belfast Connection, The Hooligans and the Fitzpatrick Dancers, plus lots of vendors hawking jewelry, T-shirts, whiskey cakes and scones.

There was a big dance floor in front of the stage, and although there weren’t a lot of dancers, those who stepped up did so with the enthusiasm dancers tend to have in buckets full.

We caught all of the action.

[flickr_set id=”72157658475557996″]

September 12, 2015 by
Music

A Taste of What’s Coming This Weekend

The singers session if always a great way to ease into the Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival weekend. It’s quiet and reflective. Mostly.

That is, it was reflective until harper Ellen Tepper sat down at her instrument and sang a hysterical little ditty called “The Pope.” Or something like that. (Video of somebody else singing it here.) As emcee Terry Kane (and frequent partner with Tepper as one part of the duo “The Jameson Sisters) put it, “That’s a hard act to follow.” So she didn’t bother. Time for intermission.

But make no mistake. Some of the area’s best singers did hold forth was some of the sweetest songs you’ll hear, including Matt Ward, who—deviating from his usual repertoire—offered up some rebel songs. Not the kind that will make you want to storm Long Kesh, but more contemplative songs that honored Ireland’s long quest for independence.

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September 11, 2015 by
How to Be Irish in Philly, Music

How to be Irish in Philly this Week

Hi, gang.

Here’s what’s what for the coming week as we head into a big month for local Irish (and Celts of all stripes).

Let’s start with Brittingham’s Irish Festival, Sunday starting at noon at Brittingham’s (of course) , 640 East Germantown Pike in Lafayette Hill. Be prepared for the long haul. After 7:30, the party continues inside and continues on into the night. Look for Jamison, Oliver McElhone, Five Quid and Bare Knuckled Boxers. Food, drink, dance, and fun for the kiddies, too.

Wednesday at 7:30, two Irish musical stars, piper Cillian Vallely (of Lunasa) and his concertina-playing brother Niall, perform in a house concert sponsored by the Barn Star Concert Series. It’s a cozy little space on Bainbridge Street in Philly, and tickets are limited. Contact the organizer to reserve a space: barnstarconcerts@gmail.com. More details on Barn Star’s Facebook page. Tickets are 20 bucks. You can bring drinks or goodies to share. You don’t have to, but it really adds to the fun.

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September 4, 2015 by
Sports

Great Day of GAA Play

gaa20150828We have nearly 60 pics from Sunday’s action at the Philadelphia Gaelic Athletic Association field in Limerick. Sadly, we couldn’t be there for the whole amazing afternoon at the GAA’s terrific new venue. (Just think … there’d probably be more than a milliion pics.)

In any case, we have the under-14 camogie (the ladies’ version of hurling) between the Philly Shamrocks and the St. Brigid’s team from New Yawk. (I didn’t really hear any of them talk like that.)

That particular game is noteworthy in that it was the first camogie played at the new Limerick fields. The Philly team beat the St. Brigid’s but it was not for want of trying by the New York team in the second half. Great game all-round.

St. Pat’s Donegal won the junior football finals against the Kevin Barry’s. On to Chicago and the North American finals. 6-9 to 1-7 in the St. Pat’s favor.

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August 28, 2015 by