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Denise Foley

How To Be Irish In Philly This Week

Enjoy Christmas all over again at the Irish Center lunch on Monday.

Wear your green along with your red and white to the Temple-UCF game on Sunday at the Liacouras Center for the Owl’s first annual Irish Heritage Day. There are discounted tickets for Irish groups, so check our calendar for a contact and spend Sunday courtside. Go Owls!

On Monday, celebrate Little Christmas at the Irish Center at the Immigration Center/Irish Center senior lunch. It’s always a festive occasion, with great food and live music (dancing is encouraged).

While there aren’t lots of special events this week, one look at our calendar will tell you that there are still plenty of ways to be Irish, with sessions almost every night somewhere, Irish dance lessons at the Irish Center and at the New Castle County (Delaware) Irish Society hall in Wilmington, a mom and babies play group at the Immigration Center in Upper Darby on Thursday, and the Vince Gallagher and Marianne MacDonald radio shows on Sundays from 11 to 1 PM on WTMR 800 AM, which you can stream on the web rom anywhere, even Ireland. Make one of your New Year’s resolutions to get more Irish this year. It’s not just for St. Patrick’s Day.
And let us help!

We’ll be adding January events to our calendar this week so if you haven’t posted yours already, send it to us via the “contact us” button and we’ll take care of it. You’re also welcome to post your events on our Facebook page. We’re getting closer to 5,000 members on that page where there’s now a lively discussion going on about a proposed situation comedy on the Irish “famine” for Britain’s Channel 4. That discussion has spawned a change.org petition asking Channel 4 to reconsider making light of an event that killed more than 1 million people and forced another million to leave Ireland (some of whom may be responsible for us being here). Go where it’s all happening!

And do us a favor: When you’re stocking up on your St. Patrick’s Day gear or are looking for a nice Irish gift for someone, click on our ads for Celtic Clothing. Chadds Ford’s Charlie Lord, who owns the company, is giving us a 15% commission for everything sold through our site. We don’t make much money from ad sales–barely enough to cover our expenses–so we need a bit extra to add more bells and whistles to the site and to occasionally pay our fabulous freelance photographers to go to events that we can’t cover. You’ll be helping two local businesses and some deserving photographers! Thanks!

January 2, 2015 by Denise Foley

News

Gettin’ Down with the Wren

Dennis Gormley did double duty–band member and Santa.

There were a couple of fake wrens on hats, but the annual Comhaltas Wren party on St. Stephen’s Day, December 26, was more about music, singing, dancing, and laughing than it was about marking the wren’s betrayal of St. Stephen, who was discovered by Roman soldiers thanks to a noisy bird and martyred. (Yes, there’s a story to it. In Ireland, crowds carrying a fake wren around on a pole, often dressed in straw costumes and masks, and collect money which is then given to charity.)

Kathy DeAngelo and Dennis Gormley led the evening’s cdili band, which included Kevin and Jimmy McGillian, young Irish music phenoms Haley Richardson, Alex Weir, Keegan Loesel, Dylan Richardson, and Alana Griffin, and a surprise guest, champion accordionist John Whelan who came to the Knights of Columbus Hall in Glenside from Connecticut for the craic (he not only played, he danced too).

See the photos below for a look at all the fun.

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January 1, 2015 by Denise Foley

How to Be Irish in Philly

How To Be Irish in Philly This Week

New Year’s Eve at the Irish Center.

We hope your Christmas was merry indeed. This week, we’re looking at New Year’s Jigging Eve. There’s the annual New Year’s Eve party at the Irish Center, with the Vince Gallagher Band—if you know them, you know that means dancing!

There’s also a New Year’s Eve party at Marty Magee’s Pub in Prospect Park .

But you can get your Irish on before that at Paddy Whacks Pub on Welsh Road where the Shantys are playing on Saturday, with special guest, Bob Hurst from the Bogside Rogues.

“Outside Mullingar,” the play by Pultizer Prize-winning playwright John Patrick Shanley, continues at the Suzanne Roberts Theater in Philadelphia, to rave reviews.

Next weekend, (Sunday, January 4) the Irish Heritage Day phenomenon—all the sports teams seem to be having them—takes over the Temple-UCF basketball game at the Liacouras Center in the city. There will be Irish food and drink and special discounts for Irish groups (who can also get an on-court experience). Check our calendar for more details, including who to call.

And on January 5, celebrate “Little Christmas” at the Irish Center with the Irish Immigration Center—lunch, music, camaraderie.

And it’s how many days till St. Patrick’s Day 2015?

December 26, 2014 by Denise Foley

News

Celebrating with the Irish Immigration Center

Santa’s little helper.

They set up the bar, set out the the food, and pushed all the furniture out of the way for dancing, and then rocked on till after midnight (or so I hear–I left at 9:30) at the Irish Immigration Center’s annual Christmas party.

“This is like the old days when we used to have house parties,” said one attendee, referring to
the music-soaked evenings when Irish immigrants in Philadelphia would gather at one another’s homes, set up the bar, set out the food, and push the furniture out of the way for dancing, just the way they did it back home.

Along with the dancing, there was singing–in the crowd and at the microphones, where Vince Gallagher and Karen Boyce McCollum took turns at the vocals, with Patrick Kildea and Johnny “Lefty” Kelly on accompaniment. There were so many people there, you could only get anywhere by moving sideways. The food was provided by Rafael and Erick Portugal, who run the Irish Coffee Shop, who stayed to party with everyone else at this decidedly multi-cultural bash.

Below, you’ll see some of my photos from the party. And next year, you’ll come.

You can help out the work of the Irish Immigration Center–working with the elderly, helping immigrants with documentation issues, and promoting citizenship–by donating to its annual campaign, going on now. Your tax deductible check can be sent to the Irish Immigration Center of Greater Philadelphia, 7 South Cedar Lane, Upper Darby, PA 19082. You can also purchase the Irish Immigration Center’s annual calendar, which features some of the Center’s seniors recreating scenes from popular Irish films. It’s $20 plus postage, $15 for seniors, and is available at the Immigration Center website.

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December 19, 2014 by Denise Foley

How to Be Irish in Philly

Ho-Ho-How to Be Irish in Philly This Week

Last year’s winning wren hat.

Christmas is on Thursday and we hope that all of you will be spending the day with loved ones or, if you can’t, at least doing something you love. Before then, many of you (and many of us) will be finishing up the shopping you foolishly put off for months. Take a few seconds in those harried hours to do something nice for somebody, including yourself. Someone did that for me this week, and I can tell you that it’s a gift without equal. And you don’t have to wrap it. (Now, where IS that tape?)

If you have the time, go see “Outside Mullingar,” the play by John Patrick Shanley at the Suzanne Roberts Theater in Philadelphia that’s getting stellar reviews.

Tyrone-born singer Raymond Coleman is returning to Philly on Saturday night to launch his new CD, Trouble with a T, at the Plough and the Stars, where he spent many hours (singing!) when he lived in our city. We miss him and love it when he pays us a visit.

This weekend, Paddy’s Well is having a reunion show on Sunday starting at 3:30 PM at Brittingham’s in Lafayette Hill, their old first Friday haunt which has gotten a spectacular reno by the new owners. Also on Sunday, the Broken Shillelaghs will be headlining the holiday party at Marty Magee’s in Prospect Park starting at 7 PM. They’ll also be doing a Christmas show on December 23 at Westbrook Lanes in Woodlawn, NJ.

Also on Sunday, several Celtic artists will be performing both chamber and contemporary Celtic music at Sellersville Theatre, including award-winning guitarist Phil Keaggy, Jeff Johnson, flutist Brian Dunning, and violinist Wendy Goodwin.

The day after Christmas (Friday, Dec 26) Comhaltas is holding it’s annual Wren Party at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Glenside. It’s a really traditional Irish event celebrating the feast of St. Stephen who, legend has it, became a martyr because he was betrayed by a wren. There will be lots of topnotch music from many performers and we hear that the fabulous accordionist John Whelan will be making an appearance. He’s coming down from his Connectcut home just to have fun, but he’ll also likely be coaxed into play a tune or two, possibly with his young sometime duet partner fiddler Haley Richardson. That’s just what we hear. There will also be a wren hat contest and if you look at the photo with this article, you’ll see what I’m talking about. As they say on ‘Portlandia,” “put a bird on it.” I was a judge last year – I may enter this year!

Speaking for myself, Jeff Meade, and Lori Lander Murphy (without their permission, of course), we wish you a very happy Christmas and a blessed New Year!

December 19, 2014 by Denise Foley

People

Happy Christmas, A Poem in Rhymed Couplets

(With sincere and profound apologies to Roger Angell and The New Yorker)

Happy Christmas, Bogside Rogues
And you, John Byrne Band, playing the Pogues.
Slainte, Santa Fergus Carey,
And Shannon who’s the brand new Mary.
At the risk of sounding silly
We serve you wassail, IN-Philly.
There’s a gift for you under the tree,
Maria Walsh, Rose of Tralee.
And woolen mufflers and matching gloves
For everyone Mike Bradley loves.
Wishing sellouts at O’Hara
For the Blackthorn guys and McDade Cara.
Happy New Year, Commodore Barry,
The Irish Center where many marry,
Where John Shields and Cass Tinney too,
Teach ceili dancing to a few.
Santa got your list, Sean Breen:
The GAA has a field of green.
The Delco Gaels will make the feile
Thanks to the Dancing Like a Star gala.

See the angel as she turns
For Parade Grand Marshal Kathy Burns.
There’s Comet, Cupid, Donner and Prancer,
Leaping like a Cummins dancer.
Of course we could always say the same
About the girls of Celtic Flame,
And Coyle, Fitzpatrick, and Rince Ri,
Broesler, Rainbow, and Timoney.
May the Haverford Irish gloat
Over their kudos for fanciest float,
And may Yelp be good to all our bars,
Like Irish Times and Plough and Stars,
Fergie’s, Slainte, McGillicuddy’s
Where everyone dances with their buddies,
St. Declan’s Well and other venues–
You should check out all their menus.

What’s in the package, Tommy Keenan?
A pack of batteries from Bobby Henon,
Wrapped with Tony Byrne’s permission
In last month’s issue of the Edition.

A merry festivus to you, Miss Haley,
To Jamison, Slainte, and Frank Daly
Who kicks off every Christmas season
With the show that gives us reason
To believe in Christmas magic
Even in a year that’s tragic.

Let us give a great big whoop
For the Philadelphia Ceili Group
And all the music that they bring:
They can make the angels sing.
Not to mention Gerry Timlin,
Gabe Donohue—let’s get him in—
Kanes, Tom and Terry, and Ellen Tepper,
A harpist who’s as hot as pepper,
McDermott’s Handy, Karen Boyce
McCollum of the lovely voice,
Vincent Gallagher and his band;
That’s Pat Kildea at his right hand;
Marian Makins, she’s Gabe’s wife,
They’re locked in a duet for life;
Rosie McGill’s the finest singer,
Though not a fan of the right-winger.
A hearty shake of Santa’s belly
To you, good pal, John “Lefty” Kelly.
Hooligans, we think you’re swell,
Merry Christmas, Luke Jardel!

With winter’s chill we think it best
To ponder the Midwinter Fest
Where we hear the best of rock
With Celtic flair (and Albannach).
We know Bill Reid will never nag us,
Though he wants us to try haggis.

At the Immigration Center
Siobhan and Leslie are there to mentor
Immigrants both young and old,
Undocumented and uncontrolled,
But the seniors are the draw,
Like Declan Forde and Kathleen Murtagh.

What’s that we hear: a ho ho ho?
For Julia Walsh, our Miss Mayo,
For Donegal and Cavan too,
And Derry known for derring-do,
For Galway and our other home,
The Ulster county of Tyrone.
And another “ho” we hear again
For all the suits at IABCN,
For Inis Nua that brings our rage
And Irish humor to the stage,
And to Marianne on the radio,
We also give a three-time ho!

AOHers, you’re so jolly,
Please accept this sprig of holly.
Likewise, Emerald Pipes and Drums,
A great big box of sugarplums,
To thank you all for bringing joy
To our own little drummer boy.

Even though the experts told us
We’d never find a rhyme for Comhaltas
We couldn’t let this poem pass
Without a nod to lad and lass
Who keep the Irish culture lit
With music, dancing, and great wit.

And so we’ll use the Christmas season
To tell you all that you’re the reason
Why we do this site for free:
You’re the angel on our tree,
You’re our favorite Irish story,
Nollaig shona from me, Jeff, and Lori.

December 18, 2014 by Denise Foley

How to Be Irish in Philly

How to Be Irish in Philly This Week

Cahal Dunne, who returns to the Irish Center with his Christmas Show this Sunday.

This Sunday, head over to the Irish Center for a dose of Christmas cheer, as the very funny and talented Cahal Dunne brings his cabaret act to Philly again. You can park yourself at your table if you like, but if you’re a dancer, there will be room for kicking up your heels.

Also on Sunday, Joannie Madden and Cherish the Ladies will present their Christmas show at Tellus 360 in Lancaster, the closest this popular group will get to us this season.

This week, the John Patrick Shanley play, “Outside Mullingar,” continues at the Suzanne Roberts Theater on Broad Street in Philadelphia.

On Saturday night, the Broken Shillelaghs are performing at Tavern on the Edge in the great Irish town of Gloucester City, NJ, just over the bridge from Philadelphia.

Irish Network Philly and the Brehon Law Society are joining forces this year to celebrate Christmas and raise some money for “Friends of Kevin Neary,” to help out Neary, a Penn student who was paralyzed when he was shot in a robbery attempt in 2012. The event takes place at “The Philo,” at Stotesbury Mansion just off Rittenhouse Square on Tuesday. The John Byrne Band will perform.

On Thursday, the Irish Immigration Center at 7 S. Cedar Road in Upper Darby is holding its annual Christmas party, with festivities starting at 7 PM.

Don’t forget – McKenna’s Irish Shop in Havertown is having a major going-out-of-business sale, with huge discounts on many Irish products. McKenna’s has been one of our faithful advertisers, but besides that we love Nancy and Pat Durnin so let’s give them a big sendoff with our warmest wishes for big success on their next venture (and there will be one!). McKenna’s is at 1901 Darby Road in Havertown.

If you’d like to shop local and help irishphiladelphia.com at the same time, click on our Celtic Clothing ad and use the word “PHILLY” to get a discount. Charlie Lord, a Belfast-born Chester resident, is giving our readers a break–and giving us a percentage of the sales so we can keep the electricity on. Read about Charlie and his company here.

And if you’re looking for a calendar to take you through the year, think about buying one from the Irish Immigration Center. This year the Center’s seniors recreated scenes from famous Irish movies from “The Quiet Man” to “Darby O’Gill and the Little People” to produce the calendar, proceeds from which benefit programs for seniors. Order yours here. And check out a video of some of the behind the scenes shenanigans that went into the making of the calendar. Irishphiladelphia.com was proud to partner with the Immigration Center to help produce it.

Check out our calendar for more details on these events and others that get added during the week.

December 12, 2014 by Denise Foley

News, People, Photo Essays

It’s Irish Christmas in Philadelphia

Eileen Lavin playing one of Santa’s elves at the Irish Center Senior Christmas lunch.

This was the week to get your Christmas spirit on, and we did. There were nine
Irish Christmas events on our calendar and we managed to get to four of them. Lori Lander Murphy spent Sunday with Maria Walsh, the Rose of Tralee, and Seamus Claus at the Saturday Club in Wayne. You can read her story here. And you can see my photos from the other three events below.

For the second year in a row, I took the family to “An American Celtic Christmas,” the magical show—with dancers and singers and Santa and snow (yes, I know I’m rhyming)—at Bensalem High School on Saturday. The annual production comes from those wonderful folks who also bring us the Philadelphia Fleadh in the spring, Frank Daly and CJ Mills of Jamison Celtic Rock and Slainte. Singers Raymond Coleman, John Byrne, Kim Killen and Bob Hurst of the Bogside Rogues joined a stellar band on stage with dancers from Ridgewood Irish Dance Academy from Ridgewood, NJ, Celtic Flame, as well as the Bucks County Dance Center. The Bucks dancers are currently without a home—their studio burned down a couple of months ago—so the show’s producers donated proceeds from a 50-50 drawing to help them out, as did the winner. It was beautiful to see the Christmas spirit in action.

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It was out in full force on Sunday too at the holiday recital of the Divine Providence Village Rainbow Irish Dancers, a group of developmentally disabled women who have been part of the Irish dance scene for about three years. Since they were founded by Irish dancer Kathleen Madigan, former dietitian at the Catholic institution in Springfield, Delaware County, the “ladies” as she calls them have marched in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade (where they won an award their first year out) and appeared on the field at Irish Heritage Night at the Phillies. They’ll be dancing at Irish Heritage Night in Camden this spring.

They were joined on stage by the Irish Stars, Parker School of Irish Dance, from Hellertown, where Madigan is a student, and the Villanova University Irish Dance Team, which invited the women to participate at the intercollegiate Irish dance event for the last two years.

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On Monday, the ballroom at the Irish Center was filled to capacity—and a sea of red sweaters–for the annual Seniors Christmas luncheon co-sponsored by the Irish Center and the Irish Immigration Center of Greater Philadelphia. The Vincent Gallagher Band performed and the lunch was donated and prepared by The Plough and the Stars Restaurant, 123 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia. Co-owners Jerome Donovan and Marian Ryder were on hand to both prep and serve, along with a bevy of volunteers.

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December 12, 2014 by Denise Foley

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