How to Be Irish in Philly

Saturday, November 2

Strap on your dancing shoes and be prepared to show off your best bib and tucker—whatever that means—for the 114^th annual Mayo Association of Philadelphia Charity Gala Ball. The ball starts at 7 p.m. at the Irish Center, 6815 Emlen Street in Mount Airy. Price of admission is $30.  Tickets can be purchased online. (An optional dinner is available from 6 to 8 p.m. at additional charge.)

The night will be jam-packed with music, starting with DJ John Shields, and moving on to one of New York’s hottest groups, the McLean Avenue Band, with an additional appearance by Emerald pipers. The evening culminates in the crowning of Miss Mayo. Tickets are still available. This one typically fills the ballroom.

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Wow, do we have a week for you … and looking a bit beyond, even more.

Here’s what’s what.

Saturday, October 26

Celebrate Halloween with the Shantys at The Fainting Goat, 105 South MacDade Boulevard in Glenolden. Happy hour starts at 5 p.m. Wear a costume!

Sunday, October 27

It’s got pancakes! It’s got Irish music! Sweet! Take in the pancake session with Maggie’s Boots at Philly Wolf Den, Wolf and South Chadwick Street in Philly, starting at 12:30 p.m. Musicians are welcome to join in the tunes. Pancakes and other goodies will be served until about 3. Suggested donation: $10.

On a more serious note, the film, “Dan Berrigan Pray for Us” will be shown at the Irish Center, 6815 Emlen Street in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia. The film documents Father Daniel Berrigan’s life around the time of the Vietnam war. It’s free, with refreshments following, with the screening starting at 2 p.m.

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A bit of a lull in the proceedings this week, but you definitely need to check out the following:

Saturday, October 19

Here’s how to have fun and support a couple of good causes. It’s the first ever Casino Night sponsored by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, to be held in a beautiful refurbished barn in Malvern.

The event starts at 6:30 p.m., featuring live music by Raymond McGroary, open bar with beer, wine and soft drinks, hors d’oeuvres and desserts, an outdoor cigar bar—and of course, a stack of chips to get you started off in a beginner-friendly game of blackjack, poker or craps.

Proceeds benefit the Duffy’s Cut Project and the Friendly Sons Immaculata Scholarship Endowment.

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We’ve had festivals of one kind or another for a month—and it’s not ever. There’s a great one in New Jersey this weekend.

Here’s what’s up.

Saturday, October 12

The Smithville Irish Festival kicks off at the Village Greene of Historic Smithville in Galloway, N.J. They’ve got a full schedule of music on two stages, dancing, food, pipers, vendors, and more.

Sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians of Cape May County Division II and all Irish Martyrs, the festival starts at 10 a.m.

You’ll recognize some of the bands—they’re among the best in the area.

Birmingham Six will be on the main stage, along with Jamie & The Quietmen. In the Gazebo, it’s John O’Callahan and Bill Felix and Tom Brett.

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It’s a short week in Irish Philly land, but what’s on is pretty spectacular.

Let’s jump right into it:

Saturday, October 5, and Sunday, October 6

We’ve been lousy with festivals lately, and here comes another one: Kilt Fest in Bordentown, N.J.

If it sounds like it must be Scottish, it is—but it’s also Irish. Let’s just call it pan-Celtic and have done with it. Whatever, you’ll fit in, and have fun.

Fun is what they’re all about. Here’s a sampling of the bands that will be on hand: The Kennedys, The Shantys, Rancocas Creek Pipe Band, Na’Bodach, Nothing Sacred, and Chaste Treasure. There’s also highland games—or as the folks at Kilt Fest say, “men and women throwing heavy things.” Celtic Flame Irish Dance will be on hand. You won’t go hungry or thirsty, either. Plenty of grub and brew available. There’s also kilted fun run on Sunday morning at 10.

You’ll find Kilt Fest at Liberty Lake in Bordentown. The fun starts at 9 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday.

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Take a little road trip this weekend, and you’re bound to find yourself up to your hackle in things Celtic and Irish.

We’re talking, of course, about the Celtic Classic, a three-day festival in beautiful Bethlehem.

The Classic is already under way today (September 27), but here’s what’s on tap for the next two days.

If you’re into Highland games—hammer throws, caber tosses and such—you’ll find them on the Highland Field. You’ll also get a chance to check out bagpipe bands, and border collies corralling sheep. That’s both days, from 10 a.m. ‘til about 6 p.m.

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Break out your flip flops for the last weekend of summer and a great road trip down the shore. This is the weekend of the 28^thAnnual Irish Fall Festival in North Wildwood, sponsored by James Reilly Division 1 Ancient Order of Hibernians.

The festival is already underway, but this Saturday and Sunday cap off one of the biggest and best Irish festivals on the East Coast.

On Saturday, vendors set up shop along Olde New Jersey Avenue and sell their wares from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Plenty of great food and drink on hand, too.

Also starting at 8 a.m., a 5K Run, with sign-in between 1^stand 2^ndon Olde New Jersey Avenue. Entry fee is $20. For more info, visit theirishjog.com.

Starting at 10 a.m. at Bill Henfey Park, at 8^thand Central, check out the Brian Riley Pipe Exhibition, with bagpipe bands from up and down the East Coast. This event always draws a big crowd.

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You have one busy week ahead of you—and actually most of the area’s Irish activities are crammed into just this one weekend.

Here’s what’s happening:

Saturday, September 14

It’s the final day of the Philadelphia Ceili Group Traditional Irish Music & Dance Festival, one of the premier events in Philly’s Irish social calendar. If you like Irish music and dance, you’ll find it all day and into the night, capped off by a big concert headlined by Tony DeMarco and Atlantic Wave. There will also be workshops all day, focusing on everything from genealogy to tin whistle to the Irish language. There are kid-friendly activities, Celtic vendors and lots more.

If you want to know more, we have the complete rundown here.

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