How to Be Irish in Philly

Singer Briege Murphy will be performing at the Ceili Group Festival.

The Philadelphia Ceili Group’s 40th Annual Irish Traditional Music Festival continues on Saturday with loads of workshops—you can even pick up a few choice words in Irish or learn to play the bodhran. Plus there’s music all day, culminating in a concert with the hot new group, FullSet, along with Sean Keane and his band.

Best news of all—lunch and dinner is available from the Irish Coffee Shop in Upper Darby. If you’ve ever had their food you know you’re in for a treat.

Speaking of festivals, Irish Weekend in N. Wildwood starts on Thursday this week with a concert at Wildwood Catholic High School with All-Ireland fiddler Haley Richardson and Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfetones and music, music, music all weekend long both on the street and in the local pubs. There’s a Mass, a pipe band competition, a street run, and loads of vendors.

On Saturday, Gloucester City, NJ, is throwing its 8th annual Shamrock Festival at Kind Street Marina and Proprietor’s Park on the Delaware with music by The Broken Shillelagh, The Misty Dew’rs and Clancy’s Pistol. The Broken Shillelaghs will be will be playing at Tavern on the Edge in Gloucester City later that evening.

Also on Saturday, the second annual Shane Kelly Memorial Soccer Showcase takes place at Northeast High School. The proceeds benefit the Shane Kelly Memorial Fun which last year provided four $1,000 scholarships to local soccer players. Kelly was an AOH member who was killed during a mugging in 2011.

On Sunday, the John Byrne Band will be headlining at the Burlington County Arts in the Park event at Historic Smithville Park in Smithville, NJ.

On Friday, don’t miss Quizzo Night, a fundraiser for The Irish Center. Dozens of teams will be competing for prizes with their knowledge of trivia. The event takes place at The Irish Center, 6815 Emlen Street, Philadelphia.

Also on Friday, Blackthorn starts its stint at LaCosta Lounge in Sea Isle City.

Bob Hurst will bring his Bogside Rogues to Canstatters this weekend.

Canstatters in the Northeast is hosting a three-day Irish fest featuring a terrific lineup of performers, including Jamison, the Bogside Rogues, the Screaming Orphans, Celtic Connection, the Kilmaine Saints, the Highland Rovers and the Sean Fleming Band. The event starts with boxing tonight, with the Harrowgate fighters of Philadelphia facing the Holy Family boxers of Belfast.

Holy Family Boxers—doesn’t exactly inspire terror, does it? But I hear they’re fierce.

You Trentonians and other Jersey folk, the Mercer County Irish Fest takes place this weekend at Mercer County Park, with the Bantry Boys, the Broken Shillelaghs, Gaelic Mishap, Ballycastle, the Celtic Martins, Birmingham 6 and Jamison Celtic Rock.

Speaking of the Broken Shillelaghs, they’re also at the Dubh Linn Square Pub in Bordentown on Saturday.

Also this Saturday, the film, “A Terrible Beauty,” will be screened at International House in Philadelphia. The film takes a sharp focus on events leading up to the 1916 Easter Rising and is produced and directed by the brothers who did the film on Duffy’s Cut. The showing is a fundraiser for the Irish Immigration Center. For more information, read our story.

Next week, mark your calendars starting on Thursday night for the 40th Annual Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival of Irish Music and Dance at the Irish Center, featuring a singer’s night, a rambling house (a variety show), and a concert featuring the hot new Irish group, Full Set, and Sean Keane. Gabriel Donohue is running the Rambling House event and he’s been making noises on Facebook about bringing in some surprise guests to delight and amaze—though we can’t imagine anyone more delightful and amazing than last year’s guest, Joanie Madden of Cherish the Ladies. That was one for the books.

Coming up: Quizzo Night on September 19, a special benefit for the Irish Center Fundraising Campaign (which is only about $10,000 away from its $50,000 goal, thank you very much!). Teams will be competing for prizes, like restaurant gift certificates and t-shirts, and expect some tough competition and laughter at the losers’ expense.

Later this month: Bethlehem’s Celtic Classic and the Irish Fall Festival in North Wildwood. One features big burly men who toss their cabers, the other, big burly men who toss their cookies. Just checking to see who reads to the end. Have an Irish week!

Count on seeing lots of this.

We are quickly moving into the “all festivals, all the time” season and we’re starting with Brittingham’s annual festival on Sunday, featuring the Bogside Rogues, Jamison, Oliver McElhone, and the Bare Knuckle Boxers who will be playing under the tent—byo lawn chairs.

Next Friday you can see real boxers—from Ireland and Philly—duking it out at Cannstatter’s in Northeast Philly to kick off the three-day Irish Fest featuring
Jamison, Bogside Rogues, Belfast Connection, the Kilmaine Saints, the Sean Fleming Band, the Screaming Orphans, Celtic Connection, the Highland Rovers and the Fitzpatrick Irish Dancers. There will also be kids activities and Irish vendors.

Speaking of Jamison, they’re at Casey’s in North Wildwood on this Saturday night, with Slainte—Frank Daly and CJ Mills of Jamison—playing at Keenans’s in North Wildwood earlier in the evening. Speaking of Daly and Mills, they’re also known as American Paddy Productions and tickets to their American Celtic Christmas, in its third year, go on sale on September 1. Visit their website for information. Date: December 6, two shows, at Bensalem High School.

Also this Sunday, catch Blackthorn on the Beach at The Club at Diamond Beach in Wildwood.

On Thursday, one of my favorite groups comes to the Sellersville—Brother, the band featuring Digeridrew who plays the digeridoo, an Australian instrument that you won’t be seeing in any local school bands. He’s actually Drew Reid, son of local music promoter Bill Reid (East of the Hebrides, which is bringing you both the Brittingham’s and Northeast Philly Irish Fests). Not sure where he took lessons, but he’s mighty good at coaxing some tribal music out of that thing.

On Friday, catch rising star comic Mick Thomas at The Irish Center. Read our interview with him. Opening for him is Dennis Rooney. It’s sure to be an Irish—and funny—evening. Proceeds from the event go to the Save the Irish Center fund.

Also on Friday, the Young Dubliners headline the Delaware Irish Fest, along with Barleyjuice and Brother, at World Café Live at the Queen in Wilmington.

In addition to the Northeast Philly Irish Fest, there’s one in Mercer County, NJ, on Saturday, featuring the Bantry Boys, the Broken Shillelaghs, Caelic Mishap, and the Shanty’s on Saturday, with Ballycastle, Celtic Martins, Birmingham Six, and Jamison on Sunday.

There are more festivals the following week too, including the three-day Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival at the Irish Center, now in its 40th year.

Take a break from festival going on Saturday, September 6, to see a first US screening of “A Terrible Beauty,”  an Irish film about the Easter Rising of 1916, co-sponsored by the Irish Immigration Center,  the AOH Dennis Kelly Division 1, and the Irish Easter Rising Centennial Committee. The event is at International House, 3701 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. The proceeds from ticket  go to the Irish Immigration Center.  Go to their website for more information.

Wa-hoo!

If you’re hankering for an Irish festival this weekend, you’re in luck. There are two! And even more to come!

On Saturday, go to St. Patrick’s Church in Norristown and join them for their 21^st annual Irish Festival, featuring ceili music and dancing (thanks to Tom McHugh, Kevin and Jimmy McGillian), homemade food, and fun, all for $3 (which you get back in food tickets). We have a map to St. Patrick’s on our calendar.

On Sunday you can head out to Tabora Farm and Orchard in Chalfont. Patricia Torrice, a first-generation American, has imported the McLean Avenue Band direct from Ireland and matched them up with the Fitzpatrick School of Irish Dance and the Loch Rannock Pipe Band for a day of Irish music, food, and frivolity. Kids under 2 are free—and there are lots of kids activities—and admission for everyone else is only $5. You can find a map on our calendar.

And if you want to feel especially holy, there are two special Masses on Sunday: St. Patrick’s Church Mass of the Golden Rose in Norristown at noon, and at 2:30 PM at the Irish Center, the annual Lady of Knock Mass, followed by a dinner, sponsored by the Mayo Association of Philadelphia. (Word to the wise: The Mayos will behave during Mass, but at the dinner, watch out—these are party animals. You may want to lie and say your family comes from Mayo just so you can join up. )

Also this weekend: Jamison is at Keenan’s in North Wildwood on Saturday, while The Broken Shillelaghs are at Tucker’s Pub in Wildwood and the Shantys are at the Anglesea Pub in North Wildwood. It will be possible to see all three groups if you hustle.

Also on Sunday, join all the dancers at McGillicuddy’s in Upper Darby where they’ll be moving and grooving to the Theresa Flanagan Band.

On Sunday, Jamison heads to Shenanigan’s in Sea Isle City.

You know we’re quickly approaching the only time outside of March when the Irish events come fast and furious—September, the halfway to St. Patrick’s Day month.

There’s a night of comedy with Mick Thomas on September 5, and on September 6, a screening of an important new film about the 1916 Rising, called “A Terrible Beauty,” which will be held at International House Philadelphia, and is jointly sponsored by the Irish Immigration Center, AOH Dennis Kelly Div. 1, and the Irish Easter Rising Centennial Commemoration Committee. Also that weekend, an Irish Festival at Canstatters featuring Irish boxing along with music. Following that: The Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival, Quizzo fundraiser on September 19 at the Irish Center (September 11-13), Brittingham’s Irish Festival, Irish Weekend in N. Wildwood, and Bethlehem’s Celtic Classic. I’m going away for a week in September. I must be nuts. Or smart.

Maria Walsh, the Philadelphia Rose of Tralee

The second of a series of fundraisers for the Philadelphia Irish Center is this Sunday and it promises to be lots of fun. Performer Cahal Dunne (Jeff Meade interviewed him this week and emailed me, “He’s a charmer”) will take the stage at the Center for some music, storytelling, and laughs, with room for dancing. The native of County Cork, who has a sizeable local fan base, volunteered to help raise money for the center. Kudos to you, Cahal!

Another volunteer is New York (via Wexford) Irish comic Mick Thomas (who is also a former European kick-boxing champ—hecklers, take note) trained with the Upright Citizens Brigade (one of their comedy alums is Amy Poehler) and you may hae seen his hour special on the comedy series, “Live at Gotham.”

Mick will be appearing at The Irish Center on September 5. For a taste of his comedy (I’m still laughing), check out this clip from youtube.

A third fundraiser, Quizzo Night at The Irish Center, is slated for September 19, the week after the Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival, featuring the super group, Full Set, Sean Keane, and a host of local performers (September 11-13)

This Saturday, catch Slainte (that’s Frank Daly and the airborne fiddler CJ Mills of Jamison) at Keenan’s in North Wildwood; they’ll be with the whole crew later that night at Casey’s, just down the street. On Sunday, they’ll perform at Shenanigans’ in Sea Isle.

Barleyjuice is on stage at the Sellersville Theatre on Saturday. They’re a kick-ass Celtic rock group that will have you jigging in your seats.

On Monday, rte.ie starts its broadcast of the Rose of Tralee pageant in Ireland. Maria Walsh will be representing Philadelphia. Born here, she was raised in Mayo so is our first Philly Rose with an Irish accent! On Tuesday, Maggie O’Neill’s Irish Restaurant in Drexel Hill will have the final night of the Rose pageant on screen from 3-7 PM. It’s $12 for food and kids get in free.

Next weekend., St. Patrick’s Church in Norristown holds its 21^st annual Irish Festival, with music, ceili dancing, and homemade food.

Check our calendar for the full details.

Two great trad performers are joining their prodigious forces in an intimate concert on Sunday at the Irish Center in Philadelphia.

David Munnelly has been described as being “born with a button box in his hands,” his playing effortless and bold with “the energy of a box of dynamite.” He’s played with the greats—The Cheftains, De Danann, and Sharon Shannon, among others. He’s joined by fiddler Mick Conneely, also a De Danann alum.

Irish comic Tommy Tiernan (find him on YouTube for some great laughs) described the duo’s CD, “Tis What It Is,” as “a raucous encounter between chaos and melody.”
There are workshops with the two before the concert, but you must reserve a spot. Go to the Philadelphia Ceili Group website to claim a spot and buy tickets.

On Saturday, Musikfest features two Celtic acts, including Blackwater and Bastard Bearded Irishment. Check our calendar for locations and times.

Jamison is taking the stage for the Wildwood Crest Summer Music Series on Saturday night. They’ve been down the shore most of the summer. Where do I get a gig like that? Irish Philadelphia at the Shore? Anyway, they’ll be at Curran’s in Tacony in Philadelphia on Friday.

And Timlin and Kane are at the St. James Gate Pub at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem. That’s a guarantee of phenomenal playing, singing, and comedy—throw them a few chips.

Mark your calendars for next Sunday when the great Cahal Dunne will be doing his cabaret show at The Irish Center as a fundraisier. There will be opportunity for dancing and raffle ticket buying. You will probably see me there. Not dancing, but taking your money.

Look for other fun-raisers at the Irish Center, including an evening of comedy with Mick Thomas, who often opens for The Chieftains, on September 5; and Quizzo Night on September 19. An Irish Center open house is planned for September 28 with music, dancing, sports, kids’s activities, raffles, food, and relentless craic.

Mark your calendars also for the Philadelphia Ceili Group’s 40th Annual Festival of Irish Music September 11-13, featuring a singers’ night, ceili and set dancing, a rambling house (a traditional night of music, dancing, joke-telling, and poetry reading during which you’re encouraged to bring your “party piece” to share) and a concert with one of the hottest groups in Ireland today, Full Set, along with the Sean Keane band from Galway. This is the real deal—authentic Ireland, no plastic Paddys.

And a word about the Philly Folk Festival, which starts August 15—next Friday. It also has some Celtic offerings, including Tempest from California, fiddler Natalie MacMaster from Canada, and John Byrne of the John Byrne Band. In fact, on Sunday, August 17, you can have an entire Celtic afternoon with Byrne, MacMaster, the Steep Canyon Rangers, and Scottish singer-songwriter Archie Fisher. And you will certainly run into lots of local Irish singers and musicians just jamming in their respective camps.

Solas is coming to Bethlehem for Musikfest.

Here is my dream: I have the entire next week off, I’m staying in Bethlehem, and rolling out of bed every day to music, music, music. And goodies from the Moravian Book Shop.

It’s Musikfest time in the Christmas City and they have the big names—Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, Steely Dan (I love Steely Dan), the Moody Blues (I love the Moody Blues), not to mention our peeps: the John Byrne Band, Solas, Seamus Kennedy, Scythian, Blackwater, and Barleyjuice. There’s even a group called Bastard Bearded Irishmen appearing next Saturday at one of the platzes (Pennsylvania Lottery Volkplatz) which is what they call stages in Bethlehem.

I just put the Celtic acts up on the calendar so check it out so see when you want to make the trek northward.

This Saturday, you down-the-shore types will find Jamison at The Wharf in Wildwood and on Sunday, they move over to Shenanigan’s is Sea Isle City. Next Saturday you’ll catch them at the Wildwood Crest Summer Music Series. This is a busy band that always puts its gigs up on our calendar and takes advantage of the free publicity. Smart band too! They know that Facebook events don’t reach as many people as you think. Facebook wants you to pay to get to more people. No one wants to do that. Zuckerberg is rich enough.

But I digress. On Sunday, August 10, look for two terrific Irish trad musicians, Mick Conneely and David Munnelly playing at The Irish Center in the nice, cozy dining room. It’s a house concert in a public place–very up close and personal. If you’d like to sign up for workshops with these two remarkable musicians, please go to the Philadelphia Ceili Group’s website. They’re sponsoring this event.

A scene from “The Minnits of Anabeg,” a film showing this week at the Irish Center.

Expose yourself to culture this week.

There’s an amazing dance performance at The Irish Memorial on Saturday at 4 PM and at 7 PM. “Ragas and Airs” combines the music of Ireland with the classical dance of India to tell some universal stories. See our story. And Alan Brown, the screenwriter and director of the film, “The Minnitts of Anabeg,” the true story of an English justice of the peace who tries to save his community in the Irish Potato Famine, will be at the Irish Center to discuss the film after its 7:30 PM showing on Tuesday, July 29.

But that’s not the half of it. Irish group Altan will be performing on Saturday evening at the Sellersville Theatre. The Donegal-based group has worked with a wide variety of well known musicians from Bonnie Raitt to Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss.

On Sunday, the Broken Shillelaghs will be on stage at Tucker’s Pub in Wildwood. If you’re participating in the 27th annual Irish Pub Tour de Shore (kudos to you—this even raises millions for children’s charities) you could head to Wildwood from your final destination (Atlantic City) to hear them. Or go to Sea Isle to hear Jamison pla at Shenanigans.

Also on Sunday, the Theresa Flanagan Band is playing at JD McGillicuddy’s in Upper Darby and there will be dancing.

On Sunday evening, a pro-Palestinian rally is planned at The Irish Memorial.

On Friday, Irish-American photographer Brian Mengini is hosting an exhibit and fundraiser featuring his remarkable dance photos at his studio space at 52 3rd Street in Lansdowne.

Also on Friday, The Mayo Association will be holding a rally at the McSwiney Club in Jenkintown to support Maria Walsh who will be going to Ireland to compete in the International Rose of Tralee event as Philly’s Rose. Walsh’s family comes from Mayo. Though she was born in the US, she was raised in Mayo.

And, for you shore-goers, Jamison will be at Keenan’s in North Wildwood on Friday night.