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Denise Foley

How to Be Irish In Philly This Week

Pat O'Connor and Eoghan O'Sullivan will be at the Irish Center and Coatesville over the weekend.

Bring on the dancing girls. . .and boys. About 6,000 of them are in Philly this coming week for the 39th annual World Irish Dance Championships being held at the Kimmel and the Downtown Marriott. It’s the first time this international competition has been held on US soil and it’s quite a feather in the city’s cap, especially in the current economic climate. Mayor Michael Nutter will be part of the opening ceremonies on Sunday at 5 PM at the Kimmel, on Broad Street. If you love Irish dancing, this is the place to be this week. And “Riverdance” is playing through Sunday just next door at the Academy, so step lively.

Speaking of economics, this is also the time to remember those less fortunate. The Hibernian Hunger Project is holding a “cook-in” on Saturday at Aid For Friends in Northeast Philadelphia, preparing meals for shut-ins to carry the agency through the summer. Although it’s an AOH charity, you don’t have to be a member to help out. Note to high schoolers: This is one way to satisfy a community service requirement, and many teens do volunteer.

Also on Saturday, our friends at AOH Notre Dame Div. 1 in Swedeburg are sponsoring Police Appreciation Day to benefit the Philadelphia Police Survivors Fund, which aids families of slain officers. Entertainment is being donated by Paddy’s Well, Tom McHugh and Company, Dan Rooney and Olive McElhone and there will be music all day.

On Saturday evening, Pat O’Connor and Eoghan O’Sullivan will marry the music from County Clare to the tunes of County Cork at the Commodore Barry Club (that’s the Irish Center when it’s at home). O’Connor—he’s the Clare man—is a fiddle player from that lonesome Clare tradition and O’Sullivan performs on flute and accordian, though not at the same time. This is a concert for trad purists and those who’d like to be. This kind of concert never disappoints. If you miss it on Saturday night, the duo will be appearing at the Coatesville Cultural Society on Sunday night.

Start your Sunday morning with a traditional Irish breakfast at Smoke Eaters Pub in Philadelphia, cooked for you by AOH 22, which is raising money for its charities.

Sunday at 2 PM you can attend the annual family ceili and set dance benefit for the Sister Peg Hynes Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Stardust Ballroom in Bellmawr, NJ. Sister Peg was a longtime teacher and community activist in Camden. She was killed in a car accident in 2002 when the vehicle in which she was riding was struck by another being driven by a man who admitted he was high on cocaine.

At 5 PM Sunday, join Blackthorn for the First Annual Liberty USO “Rock the Troops” Benefit at PJ Whelihan’s Pub in Cherry Hill, NJ, a fundraiser supporting the work of the USO.

Next Friday, a very unusual Irish group comes to town. Guggenheim Grotto (you can tell they’re Irish from the name—wha?) blends classical instruments such as the viola, glockenspiel, the Wurlitzer and Hammond organs with modern guitars, basses and pianos to create a unique sound one critic called “spine tingling.” Sounds intriguing. And where else are you going to be able to hear some good glockenspiel tunes? This concert is at the World Café Live.

April 2, 2009 by Denise Foley

Dance

A Not-So-Typical Little Dancer

In many ways, Aine McGill is a typical 10-year-old. She has a favorite subject in school (geography), sings in the church choir, and is a recent devotee of singer Taylor Swift.

But the fourth grader from Ardara, County Donegal, is also a musical multiple threat: She plays piano, accordian, banjo, and tin whistle, and is one of only nine dancers from Ulster Province who qualified to compete in the World Irish Dance Championships which start on Sunday, April 5, in Philadelphia.

And, like most accomplished typical 10-year-olds, Aine has a proud mom, Bernie, who is quick to point out that her achievement is all the more remarkable because “Ulster has the best dancers,” regularly placing in the top three in the All-Irelands.

Aine and her family—Bernie, dad Padraig, and sister, Maired, 19, a Trinity College student—flew to the United States last week and are staying in Chestnut Hill with Padraig’s brother, Jim McGill, and his family. She’s been practicing for an hour and a half every day at the Irish Center (where the New Zealand competitors also went through their routines this week).

Even at 10, Aine is the consummate professional. When we asked her if we could film her doing some steps, she was happy to do it, but reluctant to simply demonstrate the generic jigs and reels, rather than the flashier choreography created by her teachers, three former dancers from the show, “Riverdance.”

“No world class dancer would just do those steps,” she whispered to her sister, Mairead, a former dancer who jokes that she’s Aine’s “personal trainer.”

But her routine, like that of her fellow competitors, is a closely guarded secret. Videoing a dancer’s proprietary steps carries stiff penalties, as anyone who has been set upon by angry feis judges or parents threatening to snatch the camera out of their hands knows well. “I had someone threaten to take mine even though I was just focusing on Aine,” says Mairead.

Aine, who started dancing at age 5, has had a swift rise to the top, propelling through four levels in two years of competition to achieve championship status. But, going into the World’s, she’s anything but overconfident. Wish her luck, but don’t tell her she’s sure to win. If you do, her eyes widen and she shakes her head. “Oh, noooo,” she says.

She’s definitely a typical 10-year-old. What does she like most about dancing? It’s all about the friendships. “I like the competitions,” she answers. “Because I like to make friends with the other competitors.”

UPDATE: 04/06.09

Aine placed ninth in the world in her age group during competition on Sunday, April 5.

Aine demonstrated a few steps for us. Check out the video.

April 2, 2009 by Denise Foley

Dance

McDade School Sends Seven to the World Irish Dance Championships

One dancer-a-leaping: Bridget Egan.

For a few of them it was “Riverdance.” For others, an older sibling who was taking lessons. But for all seven dancers from the McDade School of Dance in Broomall competing as soloists next week at the World Irish Dance Championships in Philadelphia, Irish dance was love at first leap. In fact, the leaps—which make Michael Jordan look earthbound—is one of the things about Irish dance they love the most.

“It feels like you’re flying,” says Fiona Egan, 16, of Malvern. “It feels like you’re in the right place.”

Fiona’s sisters, Sinead, 13, and Bridget, 11, are also world qualifiers. They’ll be joined on the competition stages at the Kimmel Center and the Downtown Marriott by fellow McDade dancers Alex Reichl, 16; Fiona Fey, 10; Siobhan Doughtery, 14, and Ali Doughty, 15. I met with them a couple of weeks ago just before one of their practice sessions.

For some, it’s not their first Worlds, as the international competition is usually called. It’s Alex’s third, in fact. And while it’s a great honor to have the dance championships in Philadelphia—the first time they’re in the US—for the local dancers, it’s the only disappointment: No trip to Ireland this year. “I liked it when it was further away,” says Sinead. “Last time I got to go to Belfast.”

Fiona Fey, who’ll be attending her first Worlds, the experience is “a little nerve-wracking.” But she says it’s always that way before any competition “until you get up on the stage.”

“It is when you’re waiting in line,” offers Ali, “and the night before.”

But the dancers don’t have much time to think about let alone have nerves. They practice several hours a day, after school and on the weekends. For many, it’s all part of a very full schedule that includes school and community sports (and for 10-year-old Fiona, the paper route she inherited from her brother).

And the truth is, they don’t really see the competition as particularly competitive. “It’s not cut-throat,” says Fiona Egan.

“I’ve met such nice people and made some really good friends,” adds Ali. “It’s one of the things I like best about it.”

You can see these and about 6,000 other Irish dancers at the World Irish Dance Championships at The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for Sunday, April 5, at 5 p.m. for what is the largest ever Worlds, now in its 39th year. Mayor Michael Nutter and a Mummers group are scheduled to appear. See the details at the official website.

One of the highlights of the event will be an appearance by famed Irish dancer and choreographer Michael Flatley of Riverdance fame, who may have launched many of these kids on their dance careers.

Check out some practice steps from the McDade Dancers:

April 2, 2009 by Denise Foley

People

Giving It Up for GiveWay

Fiona in a pensive moment. (Photo by Gwyneth MacArthur)

One local fan of the Scottish band GiveWay, hearing advance word about our Irish Center concert last Saturday night, predicted the audience would be in for a treat.

You were so right, George.

The four talented sisters who make up the band—Fiona, Kirsty, Amy and Mairi—didn’t disappoint. In fact, their energetic performance and their audience rapport all but guaranteed them a standing ovation from the packed house.

From sweet slow airs to blazing reels, the girls kept the customers satisfied and crying out for more.

We have a ton of photos of the whole exciting night from Denise Foley and Gwyneth MacArthur.
Check out the videos from Lori Lander Murphy too:

April 2, 2009 by Denise Foley

Columns, How to Be Irish in Philly

How to Be Irish in Philly This Week

What, are you kidding, do I have to be Irish again this week? When will this blasted month be over?

Okay, we hear some of you out there, so we have a special treat. Instead of being Irish this weekend, you can be Scottish (Celts are Celts is our motto). The Scottish folk band, GiveWay, which won a coveted “Danny Award” at the international Celtic Connection Festival pretty much their first time on a big stage, will be performing Saturday night at the Irish Center, Carpenter and Emlen Streets in the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia.

We’ve been listening to their last CD for weeks (that will be us mouthing the words and playing air accordian) and this unconventionally traditional band is sensational. There is not a chance in the world that your feet won’t be tapping. In fact, we’re going to encourage seat jigging, or, if you can find a vacant spot, hop on up and get your Irish—or Scottish—on.

The concert is being hosted by us, www.irishphiladelphia.com, and we hope you come out and join us. In preparation, you can read our interview with one of the lovely Johnson sisters (lead vocalist, Kirsty, who is 21) and listen to their latest single, “The Water is Wide,” produced by Phil Cunningham.

There are plenty of other things going on. On Saturday afternoon, the movie, “Hunger,” a stark, realistic portrayal of the lives and deaths of the Long Kesh hunger strikers (the lead actor, playing the ill-fated Bobby Sands, transforms into a near skeleton by the end, a tribute to his dedication to the role), will be screened at the Prince Theater as part of the Philadelphia Film Festival.

Also on Saturday afternoon, AOH and LAOH 87 will be holding a benefit for the family of Philadelphia Police Officer John Pawlowski, who was killed when responding to a 911 call. He left a wife who is carrying their child.

On Satuday night, the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann will be holding its third annual Irish Buffet and House Party at the McSwiney Club in Jenkintown. We’re pretty sure that means great food, fabulous music, and a night of Irish dancing.

You probably read this week that Immaculata researchers found what they believe are the bones of 57 Irish immigrant railroad workers who were reported to have died in a cholera epidemic and buried in a mass grave near Malvern, in a place called locally, “Duffy’s Cut.” One of the those researchers, Professor William E. Watson, is scheduled to give a presentation on Duffy’s Cut on Sunday at the Celtic Heritage Foundation at 321 Cedar Street, Bristol. The event was scheduled before the discovery, so this is a great opportunity to find out what’s behind the headlines.

More exciting stuff: Riverdance begins its farewell performances at The Kimmel Center on Tuesday, March 31. Three of the original performers are still dancing with the show, which is credited with igniting an interest in all things Irish when it first debuted with Michael Flately on Broadway. If you check the ads we’re running, you’ll see they’re offering a 15% discount right now, so here’s your opportunity.

Speaking of igniting interest in the Irish, Gaelic Storm is scheduled to appear at The Colonial Theater in Phoenixville on Friday night. If you saw the movie, Titantic, and apparently everyone did, you saw and heard this former pub band turned international Celtic sensations in the famous scene where Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet joined in the below-decks merriment (where our people were making their voyage).

Lots more coming: Next week, two great musicians from Ireland are heading our way, the Hibernian Hunger Project is holding its giant “cook-in” at Aid for Friends in Northeast Philly (volunteers welcome), and the World Irish Dance Championships are kicking off (and kicking really high) their weeklong competition in Philadelphia, the first time the annual event is being held in the US. (And they picked us!)

Go visit our calendar for all the details. And don’t forget to support your local Irish business!

March 27, 2009 by Denise Foley

Music

Four Scottish Sisters Performing This Weekend

Their mother played the violin for about a week in primary school, and they say their dad is tone deaf. So where the Johnson sisters—Fiona, 23, Kirsty, 21, and the twins, Amy and Mairi, 19—got their musical talent is a mystery.

“Well, our aunt, my mother’s sister plays violin and she does concerts as a hobby,” offers Kirsty, who plays accordian and does lead vocals for the Scottish sister act, GiveWay, which will be appearing at the Irish Center, Carpenter and Emlen streets, in West Mt. Airy, on Saturday, March 28.

Don’t let their ages fool you into thinking that they’re new to the music scene. Fiona and Kirsty started the group as a duo more than a decade ago, when Fi was only 13 and Kirsty, 11. But they were already accomplished musicians by then, playing everything from classical tunes to Scottish traditional music, a little rock to a little jazz, all of which you can still hear in their music, although you’re likely to find it filed under “folk.”

“I was four when I got an accordian as a gift from my grandparents,” explains Kirsty. “They thought it was a toy, but my mom and dad got me lessons. Fiona started at five with the violin.”

In 2001 (keep doing the math), the girls played their first professional gig at the Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow where they won the prestigious “Danny Award,” named for the late Danny Kyle who for years produced the “open stage” competition. Since there may be a hundred or more competitors, winning one of the seven “Dannys” given each year has launched many young musicians onto successful careers. Later the same year, the band placed first in the BBC Radio “Young Folk” awards competition.

Sister Amy, having traded in her accordian for a drum kit, “filtered” into the band along with Mairi, as keyboardist and background singer. GiveWay made more appearances at Celtic Connections, the Cambridge Folk Festival, the Tonder Festival in Denmark, and Celtic Colours in Cape Breton. They were also invited to take part in the BBC 1 “Hogmanay Live” television show, sharing the stage with a host of major artists, including Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain. In 2003 the band signed to Greentrax Recordings and their debut album, “Full Steam Ahead,” was released to great reviews. The Daily Telegraph wrote that the CD was “bursting with evidence of virtuosity, flair and disarming maturity.”

The same could be said of their second CD, “Inspired,” which followed in 2005. A third, “Lost in This Song,” (which Kirsty says has more vocals than the previous two) is being released this spring, though too late for Saturday’s performance. Phil Cunningham, now a solo artist but formerly with the bands Silly Wizard and Relativity, is GiveWay’s producer. Last year, the band also recorded a single, “The Water is Wide,” which was produced by Brian Hurren of Runrig, the popular Scottish folk-rock band.

The Irish Center appearance is the girls’ third stop on an ambitious US tour which will take them to 13 states through the end of April. The only other area appearances will be in Delaware, at St. Andrew’s School in Middleton and the Cooldog Concert series (a house concert) in Dover, in the first week of April. It’s not their first visit to the region. They’ve performed at Bethlehem’s Celtic Classic Festival and at Godfrey Daniels, an intimate music venue on Bethlehem’s south side.

In fact, just this week we received an unsolicited review from someone who caught their performances in Lehigh County. “You’re in
for a treat on Saturday night–Giveway,” a man named George emailed us. “I saw them two summers ago at The Celtic Classic. They’re great musicians and all should have a great time Saturday night.”

Couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

March 27, 2009 by Denise Foley

News

The Irish Came Out in Force in Springfield

Dog shown actual size. (Just kidding!)

Saturday was a beautiful day for a parade, and the people of Springfield proved it by coming out in huge numbers to line the parade route through this small town in Delaware County.

There were dancing girls and boys, decked out dogs, high school bands, men in kilts, music, leprechauns, and more green hair than we’ve seen. . . ever.

Come join the fun through our photo essay.We took lots of pix!

March 16, 2009 by Denise Foley

Columns, How to Be Irish in Philly

How To Be Irish in Philly This Week

See the McDade Dancers on Sunday, March 22.

We know what you’re thinking. After St. Patrick’s Day “do I have to be Irish this week?” No, you don’t, but if you want to, there’s plenty of ways. Let us count them:

Up in Lehigh County, they’re celebrating St. Paddy’s Day for the first time. On Saturday you can attend the “Best Legs in a Kilt” contest at Jack Callahan’s Pub in Allentown, take a pub crawl , then on Sunday attend the Allentown St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

They’re also having their parade in Gilbertsville, Schuykill County, this weekend.

The hot Irish group The Saw Doctors will be performing at the TLA on South Street on Saturday night. See our story on their New York gig.

On Sunday, there’s music and dancing on tap. The McDade Irish dancers will be performing two shows at Archbishop Prendergast which will be your opportunity to see the kids who will be competing at the World Irish Dance Championships in Philadelphia in April. There’s a St. Patrick’s Ceili-Set Dance in New Castle, DE, and Coyote Run will be on stage at the Sellersville Theatre.

If you missed Tony Kenny’s Celtic Nights, which appeared at various venues this season, you can catch the show at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center in Drexel Hill on Tuesday night.

We’re gearing up for the Scottish girl group, GiveWay, which is coming to the Irish Center next weekend. We’re hoping to see a lot of you there. Come up and introduce yourself.

Don’t forget the Frank McCourt play which is heading into the home stretch at The Kimmel, and the farewell performance of “Riverdance,” with several of the original dancers, coming in a week. (They’re offering a 15% discount so you have to go!)

March 16, 2009 by Denise Foley

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