All Posts By

Denise Foley

How to Be Irish in Philly

How to Be Irish in Philly This Week

k-207/mike/” rel=”attachment wp-att-7330″>

Michael Boyce of Blackthorn, who latest project, Alanna, was born a couple of weeks ago. Congrats!

The weather’s going to be hot, but the action at the shore is even hotter, so that’s where you should go this weekend.

First, there’s rugby. The annual War at the Shore matches will be held at Dealy Field in Sea Isle City on Saturday, with the PA Bulls facing the Northern Raiders of New York, the New York Knights taking on the Northern Virginia Eagles, and the Bucks County Sharks (there are sharks in Bucks County?) vs. the Connecticut Wildcats.

The Msgr. Bonner high school rugby team from Drexel Hill will also take on the Salesianum School rugby team from Wilmington, DE.

There’s a free cookout, music and entertainment, kids’ activities, and a nearby beach. Plus, there’s no admission fee.

While you’re down the shore, pop over to Wildwood to catch Blackthorn on the beach. Really, right there in the sand. And Jamison Celtic Rock is at Casey’s in North Wildwood. Both on Saturday. Jamison will also be at Shenanigan’s in Sea Isle on Sunday.

There, your weekend—all planned.

If you’re in Pennsylvania, Timlin and Kane will performing at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem on Saturday.

On Sunday, Alex Boatright, a 2007 All Ireland harp champion and fiddler, and her husband. Duncan, a percussionist and composer, will be holding a weekend workshop in West Chester for students of Irish music, both big and small. There will be an opportunity to show off what you learn at the session at Molly Maguire’s in Phoenixville on Sunday. See our calendar for how to sign up.

On Monday, spend happy hour at Fergie’s on Sansom Street with members of the Inis Nua Theatre Company, who will be conducting their version of a British panel quiz show called “I Got it Off the Telly.” For your $10 cover, you get a complimentary drink and appetizers, plus a chance to win raffle prizes.

You can catch Blackthorn again this week at Hometown Heroes Night at Pennypack Park on Wednesday and a free summer concert in Collegeville on Friday.

On Wednesday, August 1, the Young Ireland and St. Patrick’s Gaelic football teams go head to head as the race to the finals comes to a close. Action starts at 6:30 PM at the very crispy Cardinal Dougherty fields.

And catch Jamison again this week—on Friday—at Curran’s Northeast.

July 27, 2012 by
Sports

Inching Toward the Finals

” title=”Maureen” src=”http://irishinphilly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Maureen.jpg” alt=”” width=”380″ height=”380″ />

These girls don't play nice.

In some serious GAA football action on Sunday, July 22, the Notre Dames Ladies Football Club beat the national champion Mairead Farrell team, taking two games in the best of five to compete at the senior level at the national games in Philadelphia on Labor Day weekend.

That means, when play resumes on August 5, there could be more drama on the field. (This week, the teams were forced to show ID—including passports for the Irish players here for the summer—to prove there wasn’t a ringer in the bunch.)

The Notre Dames had taken a year off, and that could be the biggest reason they’re coming back from being “number 2,” acknowledged coach, Trish Monaghan. “The year out did us good,” she said. “It allowed us to regroup and has really helped us in going against the Mairead Farrells, which are a superb team.”

Our favorite Gaelic sports writer, Peter McDermott, had his hands full for the games on Sunday. He was in charge of admissions (only $5), then officiated at the last game, though he managed to keep track of the play-by-play. Here’s Peter’s account:

There was a buzz in the Air as Paul McCarthy was flipping the coin at midfield with Saint Patrick’s Captain, Liam O’Donnell and Kevin Barrys’ Captain, Paul McCarthy.

As soon as the Size 5 left the referee’s hands, the hard-hitting, intense football was underway. Great work by the backs and midfielders of Saint Patrick’s created opportunities in that first half that were wasted time and time again. Wide, followed wide, on top of wides. I believe there was anywhere from 9 to 10 wides in that first half, all within their range. The Barrys found their chances to be minimal but their forwards capitalized on the scraps they were getting.

At the Break, the Barrys were up by a scoreline of 1-04 to 0-03. Conall Duffy fed Peter Mallon for the goal, clubmates from home looking out for one another.

It looked as if Saint Patrick’s luck could change in the second half with a slight breeze at their backs and playing downhill and away from the carpark. It didn’t happen.

The Barrys had other plans. The start of the second half saw them pump ball after ball into the full forward line. Forwards out in front, turn, create space, and fire… over the bar. Textbook football. Were these the same backs we saw hoover everything thrown at them the past month, including most of the first half? On top of this, the Barrys were winning all the breaks around the middle of the park.

Barry’s were up 1-11 or 1-12 to just 0-04 or 0-05 points for Saint Patrick’s. Then, a resurgence took place. Long, high ball into the Barrys’ Keeper, which he palmed away from slipping beneath the crossbar, but the rebound came straight into Saint Patrick’s Ciaran Moore, who sent it into the Back of the Net. They scored 1-04 to the Barrys’ 0-03, but it wasn’t enough.

Best for the Barrys was Peter Mallon, Stefan McKenna, Kevin Clark, and Conall Duffy.

Best for Saint Patrick’s in the First Half were the backs and midfield: Paul Butcher, Patrick Kennedy, John Doherty, and Liam Moore. Forwards struggled. Second half: Lee Moore, Ciaran Moore, and Liam O’Donnell. Backs struggled, with the exception of substitute, Mark Peacock.

FINAL SCORE:
Kevin Barrys • 1-15
Saint Patrick’s • 1-09

St. Patrick’s will be taking on the Young Irelands on Wednesday, August 1, for division 1 honors at Cardinal Dougherty fields in Philadelphia, starting at 6:30 PM.

 

View our photos of the action.

July 27, 2012 by
News, People

Hey Kids, Let’s Put on a Show!

ull wp-image-7318″ title=”Dancer” src=”http://irishinphilly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Dancer.jpg” alt=”” width=”380″ height=”418″ />

Talent and stage presence in one little package!

When Una McDaid and her sisters came to the US from Ireland, they were shocked that children didn’t seem to know how to sing and dance. “When we would ask about it they would say, ‘Oh, I used to,’” says Una. “We looked at each other. This is what we grew up with.”

So, nine years ago, they founded Act One, a three-week summer performing camp where kids can learn to sing, dance, and perform on stage in a friendly environment. No pressure. No hassle. Like Planet Fitness, a no-judgment zone.

“We start the first week with workshops to help them learn to come out of themselves,” says Una’s sister and Act One co-founder, Fionnuala Porter McBrearty. “We match up the younger children with the older ones who are their ‘buddies.’ And by the third week, everybody wants to do a solo!”

This is no “America’s Got Talent.” The point is not to find the most talented kid in the tri-state area, but to help children build confidence in themselves. “All of the kids are stars of the show,” says Fionnuala. “Some kids already sing and dance well because they’ve taken lessons. But every child gets a chance to shine.”

“For some kids, just the act of walking on stage is a win,” adds Una.

That was clear last Friday night, when the Act One troupe performed songs, dances, and funny skits for a sell-out crowd of parents, grandparents and siblings at the Ardmore United Methodist Church, where camp is held and Una McDaid teaches preschool. (Proceeds from ticket sales are given to various charities, including “Cradle to Crayons,” a local nonprofit that gives school supplies to needy children.)

One of the tiniest little girls, her short hair in heat-induced ringlets, barely made it through her first song, her hands in her mouth and eyes wide and glinting with terror. But she sat out the rest of the show on her mother’s lap until the finale, when her friends encouraged her to come back on stage with them. You could watch her stage fright evaporating as she joined them in song and threw in some comic and unscripted floor wiggling.

“Our first goal is always to have fun,” says Una. “But we know that these kids will go through so many things in life, tests that will crush their confidence. We want to help them build up some confidence. We always tell them, ‘Your parents will be so proud.’ They know their parents will be in the audience. Though they don’t always think that everybody’s else’s mom and dad is going to be there too, so we do have some meltdowns,” she laughs.

“We don’t want to put the children out of their comfort zone,” says Fionnuala, “but we do have a rule at camp: “You can’t say ‘I can’t.’ You have say, “I’m going to try.’”

You can see how much they all tried—and succeeded—in our photo essays.

View rehearsal.
View Show.

July 27, 2012 by
How to Be Irish in Philly

How To Be Irish in Philly This Week

att-7313″>

Floriane Blancke and Dermot Byrne in Philly on Friday, July 27

It’s a mix of Scottish and Irish events at the Graeme Park Celtic Heritage Festival in Horsham on Saturday. You can enter the haggis eating contest, watch sheep herding and women’s highland athletics, or dance to the sounds of the Barley Boys or the Celtic Marins, or pick up a few steps from some real Irish dancers.

Performer Danny Quinn is the latest offering in the Irish music series at Catherine Rooney’s Pub in Wilmington on Saturday.

Sunday brings Gaelic sports galore—four championship match-ups at Cardinal Dougherty fields. Check out calendar for times.

You can also catch Fermanagh-born Tom McGrath on the road on Sunday as he visits AOH Div. 1 in Bristol Borough and Div. 39 in Tacony on his way to Annapolis. The New York bar owner and marathoner is raising awareness of and money for the new Commodore John Barry Memorial at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Barry is a homeboy—born in County Wexford, he made his home in Philadelphia when he wasn’t on the high seas in America’s first navy.

If you’re downashore, Jamison is at Shenanigans in Sea Isle City.

Kathleen Boyle and Grainne Murphy of Cherish the Ladies are stopping by on Thursday for a house concert on Bainbridge Street in Philadelphia. Space is limited so you must make a reservation by emailing barnstarconcerts@gmail.com.

And on Friday, the Philadelphia Ceili Group is presenting Altan accordionist Dermot Byrne, Parisian harpist and vocalist Floriane Blancke, with fiddler Brid Harper from Donegal in concert at the Irish Center.

On Saturday, July 28, there’s an Irish Music Mini-Camp featuring former All-Ireland harp champion Alex Boatright, and her husband, Duncan Boatright, an award-winning composer and steel pan player, in West Chester. The weekend will culminate in a session at Molly Maguire’s in Phoenixville on Sunday. Space is limited and reservations are required. See our calendar for the details.

And Blackthorn is going to playing on the beach in Wildwood on July 28—go down and get some sand in your sandals.

July 20, 2012 by
News, People

Marathoner Tom McGrath Headed On His Way to Annapolis

elphia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/McGrath.jpg” alt=”” title=”McGrath” width=”380″ height=”263″ class=”size-full wp-image-7308″ />

Tom McGrath


New York pub owner, footballer and marathoner Tom McGrath is heading our way this Sunday. The 61-year-old Irish immigrant from Fermanagh is running 250 miles to Annapolis, MD, to raise awareness of and money for a memorial to Commodore John Barry, father of the American Navy, at the Naval Academy.

The AOH (McGrath is a member), The Commodore Barry Club (The Irish Center) in Philadelphia, and other organizations have raised nearly $200,000 to erect a memorial at the main pedestrian gate at the Annapolis facility honoring this son of Wexford and Philadelphia, who was the first to capture a British war vessel on the high seas during the Revolutionary War.

The memorial will eventually be a circular plaza with a bas-relief of Barry’s bust on an eight-foot high granite slab, and bronze plaques engraved with his commission from General George Washington and a short biography.

McGrath’s journey will take him to AOH Div. 1 in Bristol Borough at noon on Sunday. From there he will run on State Road south and will cross the bridge to Philadelphia at State Road and Grant Avenue. A piper and members of the board of the Commodore Barry Club will be there to meet him.

From there, McGrath will run down down Fitler Street to the Delaware River and the Delaware River Yacht Club, where he’ll stop to meet with the officers of the Delaware River Navy and others. He’ll run past the Glen Foerd mansion, then to Grant Avenue west to Frankford Avenue. He’ll head south on Frankford to Rhawn St., then to the hall of AOH 39 in Tacony where there will be a reception and fundraiser.

Runners are invited to jog alongside McGrath at any point in his run.

On Monday, McGrath will visit the Irish Memorial at Front and Chestnut, old St. Mary’s Church on Fourth Street where Barry is buried, and the Barry statue behind Independence Hall. He’ll run across the Ben Frankling Bridge, south to Bridgeport, then cross the river again over the Commodore Barry Bridge before heading south to Annapolis.

July 20, 2012 by
Sports

Kevin Barry Team Has A Darn Good Day

/” rel=”attachment wp-att-7300″>

Ball in play: Looks like it's a Young Irelanders capture (they're in red).

The temperature was reading somewhere around “summer on the sun,” but the Kevin Barry Gaelic Football Club played it pretty cool, playing to a draw against he Young Ireland and triumphing over Eire Og in Men’s Div. 1 Gaelic Football on Sunday, July 15, at Cardinal Dougherty High School Field in Philadelphia.

Special shout-out to the Young Irelander’s Luke Coyle, who suited up at noon to fill in for some missing Allentown Hibernian players, then came back ready for football action. It was so hot, we didn’t make it to the last game. But we have photos of all the action from the Barry-Irelanders matchup.

You can see them here.

On Sunday, July 22, catch plenty of action on the field as the run to the championship reaches its climax. Here’s the schedule:

Noon: Men’s Division II football championships, Eire Og Vs. the Young Irelands

1:30 PM: Kevin Barrys Vs. St. Patricks in Mens’ Division ii Football

3 PM — Notre Dames Vs. Mairead Farrell in the Ladies Senior Football Championship

4:30 PM Mens’ Division i Football Championship, Kevin Barrys Vs. St. Patricks.

All play is on the Cardinal Dougherty fields (see our calendar for address and map). Bring lawn chairs, lots of water, snacks, and Celtic-strength sunscreen.

 

July 20, 2012 by
Sports

Allentown Hurlers Defeat Baltimore


On Sunday, July 15, the Allentown Hibernians hurlers crushed the Baltimore Bohemians 10-10 to 4-5 in the first GAA hurling action in a long time at the Cardinal Dougherty fields in Philadelphia.

And that was with half the team missing. Not on the disabled list, fortunately, but with other commitments on a hot, steamy Philly summer day.

In fact, this year, Allentown’s hurlers have had only two losses. “Both to Hoboken, NJ,” said acting team captain Pat O’Donnell.

The five-year-old team, with mostly American-born players, has gone from learning the game on the field to dominating the field. “There was a time when some of our players didn’t even know what hurling was,” said O’Donnell laughing.

They know now.

Check out our photos from Sunday’s game.

July 20, 2012 by
How to Be Irish in Philly

How To Be Irish in Philly This Week

ent wp-att-7285″>

Bob Hurst of the Bogside Rogues, in Pennypack Park this Wednesday.

Let’s hope for some nice weather this week since we have some great outdoor concerts, hurling and football on Sunday, and a couple of festivals on the calendar.

Jamison and the Bogside Rogues will be performing in Pennypack Park in Philadelphia on Wednesday night, the same night you can find the band, RUNA, in Pastorius Park in Chestnut Hill.

On Saturday, head down to Annapolis for its second annual Irish Festival. On the bill, some of our favorites—Albannach, Barleyjuice, and Screaming Orphans, and much, much more.

On Saturday, July 21, Graeme Park is holding its annual Celtic festival featuring the Barley Boys, the Celtic Marins, Carl Peterson, women’s highland athletics, sheep-herding, Irish dancers, and, my favorite, a haggis eating contest. (I tried it at Bethlehem’s Celtic fest—it doesn’t taste like chicken. It tastes like liver.)

This Sunday, July 15, get ready for some football–Gaelic ootball. The Div. Kevin Barry’s meet up with the Young Irelands and then the Junior Division Barry’s take on Eire Og. Baltimore is pitted against the Allentown Hibernians in hurling.

Okay, let’s come inside now. Galway Guild is appearing at Paddy Whacks on the Roosevelt Boulevard on Saturday. Joe Magee says he’ll buy a Guinness for anyone who says they saw this on Irish Philadelphia’s website or Facebook page.

Downashore? You can catch Jamison on Saturday night at Keenan’s Irish Pub in North Wildwood and on Sunday night at Shenanigans in Sea Isle City.

Check our calendar for the details and more late-breaking events.

July 13, 2012 by