How to Be Irish in Philly

Several ways to celebrate your heritage this week, from live Irish tunes to an event honoring the literature of Irish author James Joyce. 

But we begin with a bittersweet remembrance.

Friday, June 18

Philadelphia-area Gaelic athletes will be honoring the memory of one of their own tonight as the Young Irelands play the Kevin Barrys at the Philly Gaelic Athletic Association field, 485 Longview Road in Limerick.

Sean Hughes, 27, who recently passed away after being hospitalized several months ago for injuries sustained in a job site accident, was a native of County Armagh, a beloved member of the Young Irelands Gaelic Football Club and a former member of the Kevin Barrys. He leaves behind wife Emily O’Neill and young son Sean-Paul. 

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It’s a relatively short week, but expect more opportunities to get out there and be Irish in weeks to come—a lot of it down at the beaches.

For now:

Friday, June 11

Down the shore? While you’re there catching rays (OK, yeah, we know it’s rainy, but still), take the opportunity to catch Jamison Celtic Rock at North Shore, 301-303 New York Ave., Wildwood, starting at 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 12

Enjoy a good cocktail? Interested in James Joyce’s “Ulysses?” (Bear with us, there’s a connection.) Head to The Rosenbach, 2008-2010 Delancey Place in Philadelphia, for “The Spirit of Bloom Cocktail Mixing Workshop.” It takes place in The Rosenbach Garden. 

A mixologist from “Art in the Age” will be on hand to help you learn the fundamentals of creating a special Bloomsday cocktail, using a bottle of Tamworth Garden Gin. (You can take it home with you!)

The event includes an opportunity to check out Joyce’s manuscript of “Ulysses,” which is in The Rosenbach’s collection. Space is limited in each one-hour workshop time slot. It all takes place at 4, 5:30 and 7 p.m. $85 per couple. Learn more and register here.

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Get ready for the weekend. We have all the upcoming fun listed out for you. 

As before, there are more opportunities to hear live Irish tunes. But more than that … we’re starting a monthlong celebration of James Joyce’s “Ulysses.” 

Here’s what’s happening.

Friday, June 4

Celebrate an extended happy hour with Round Tower at Hanrahan’s Irish Pub, 690 Burmont Road in Upper Darby, starting at 6 p.m.

Down the shore, Wee Neil Mac Thiarnáin and Moira will be playing tunes at the Anglesea Pub, 116 West 1^stAvenue in North Wildwood, from 6 to 10 p.m. Drop by if you’re lucky enough to be at the beach.

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Memorial Day Weekend is upon us, and it looks like one of the best places to be is at the Jersey shore. You’ll find music in a few other places, but the beach is the hot spot.

Friday, May 28

Starting at 7:30 p.m., Neil Mac Thiarnáin and Moira will perform at the Anglesea Pub, 116 West 1^st Avenue in North Wildwood, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Jamison Celtic Rock appears at The Wharf, 708 West Burk Avenue in Wildwood, from 8 to 11 p.m. 

Saturday, May 29

It’s worth getting up a little early to hear one of the best in the business—County Kerry singer Mary Courtney, appearing on Facebook Live for the East Durham Irish Festival, presented by Irish Music Magazine. Her set begins at 9:39 a.m. All details here. 

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More live Irish tunes this week, and looking out into the not too distant future, one of the Jersey Shore’s great Irish events is back. 

Here’s what’s up:

Friday, May 21

Singer-guitarist Seamus Kelleher is performing at Bucks County Brewery and Hewn Spirits starting at 5:30 p.m. Bucks County Brewery is at 31 Appletree Lane in Pipersville. 

Jamison Celtic Rock takes the stage at Sweeney’s, 13639 Philmont Avenue in Philadelphia. It’ll be the last full band gig in Philly until the fall. The show starts at 7 p.m. Reservations recommended: (215) 677-3177.

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Plenty of Irish tunes this week, but there’s also an opportunity to catch some fast-moving Gaelic athletics. Nice to see the games again.

Friday, May 14

Jamison Celtic Rock, one of the bands we’re so happy to see picking up post-lockdown jobs, is playing at Tom N Jerry’s Sports Pub, 1006 MacDade Boulevard in Folsom, for Happy Hour tonight, starting at 6 p.m. The SideArm Band takes over after that, at 9:45 p.m.

Raymond Coleman appears tonight at Gaul & Co. Malthouse, 704 Huntingdon Pike in Rockledge, Montco, starting at 8 p.m.

Saturday, May 15

The Third Annual Liam Hegarty Memorial Cup takes place at the Line Road Fields in Malvern, starting at 6 p.m., featuring the Delco Gaels vs. Donegal. The cup is named after one of the Delaware Valley’s most beloved boosters of Gaelic athletics. He was a member of both clubs. You’ll need a covid waiver to attend.

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Music … you want it? We got it. Many of the area’s top Irish musicians are in action this week throughout the Delaware Valley.

Here’s what’s up.

Friday, April 30

Jamison Celtic Rock’s Frank Daly and fiddler Alice Marie are playing the Kensington Pub, starting at 8 p.m. The Kensington Pub is at 2116 East Tioga Street.

Saturday, May 1

Check out Paddy Whack’s Irish Sports Pub, 9241-43 Roosevelt Boulevard in the Northeast, for a show by the Bogside Rogues. They’ll be there from 3 to 7 p.m.

And John Byrne is back, this time at 118 North—that’s 118 North Wayne Avenue in Wayne. Take in dinner and a show—doesn’t that sound nice?—starting at 8:30 p.m. You need to reserve a table for indoor dining. 

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