How to Be Irish in Philly

Timlin & Kane

Play time: Inis Nua Theatre Company’s latest production, “The Walworth Farce,” is getting some great reviews and you have until Sunday May 27 to see it at the “Off Broad Street Theatre” at the First Baptist Church in Philadelphia. You can also catch Brian Friel’s classic immigration story, “Philadelphia Here I Come,” at the Walnut Street Theatre

The Newtown Celtic Fest is this weekend. Catch some of our faves, including RUNA, Timlin & Kane, the Birmingham Six, and the Fitzpatrick Irish Dancers on Saturday. There’s food and drink and vendors too, otherwise they couldn’t officially call it a “fest.” No, we just made that up.

Timlin & Kane are all over the globe this weekend. They’re at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem on Friday night (performing, not gambling) and they’re off to the Scranton Irish Festival on Saturday night (that’s a lot of festing for one day, guys).

Speaking of dueling festivals—how about two more? We knew you’d love that. In Bensalem on Saturday , they’re hold the 22nd annual Summer Irish Festival at Park Polanka, featuring Tom McHugh and Company and Irish dancers. And Jamison Celtic Rock is performing at the Molly Maguire Street Festival in Lansdale, next to Molly Maguire’s Pub and Restaurant at Main and Wood Streets, also on Saturday. Top prizes to anyone who gets to all four festivals (unless you’re Timlin & Kane).

Make sure you tune into WTMR-800 AM on Sunday at noon. Marianne MacDonald, host of “Come West Along the Road,” is having an on-air pledge drive with lots of great prizes, including tickets to some upcoming musical events.

On Sunday, Celtic Thunder performers Ryan Kelly and Neil Byrne make a return engagement to The Plough and the Stars in Philadelphia for an evening of trad, folk, and original songs billed as “Acoustic by Candlelight.” Show up at The Plough on Thursday to hear BibleCode Sundays, a London Irish rock band making its first ever appearance in Philadelphia.

On Sunday: a serious turn. The Irish American Anti-Defamation Federation will join a variety of groups marching on Martin Luther King Drive in Philadelphia in the “March Against Hate.” The march is scheduled to start at 2 PM. You can walk with them (go to the website, walkagainsthate.org to register) or stand on the sidelines cheer them on. The IADF monitors and takes action on anything anti-Irish, but particularly products that promote negative stereotypes.

On Tuesday: There will be a vigil from 4:30-6 PM at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in support of Catholic nuns and sisters, who were recently criticized by the Vatican for not speaking up against abortion and homosexuality because they were too focused on taking care of the poor. We could say something really snarky here, but we’ll just leave it at an enthusiastic, “You go, Sisters! We love you!” The event is sponsored by the Nun Justice Project.

Set your calendars for next weekend for the annual commemoration of Commodore John Barry, who is so much more than a bridge and an Irish Center. The Wexford-born Barry lived in Philadelphia when he wasn’t busy starting the new American Navy during the Revolutionary War. (John Paul Jones often gets the credit, but he was just along for the ride.)

After a Mass at Old St. Mary’s Church on South 4th Street in Philadelphia, where Barry is buried in the churchyard, there will be a graveside ceremony followed by a fundraiser and meal at The Commodore Barry Club in Mt. Airy—AKA The Irish Center—to help raise capital for the erection of a memorial to Barry at the US Naval Academy at Annapolis.

We're taking over Phoenixville!

Fun Mother’s Day weekend alert!

They’ll be dancing in the streets in Phoenixville. The annual Phoenixville Celtic Street Festival is on Saturday and features a great lineup of music, including Barleyjuice, Oliver McElhone, Charlie Zahm and Tad Marks, and the Brigade, as well as the Pride of Erin and New York Celtic dancers.

The street will be lined with vendors and there are plenty of Irish (and otherwise) restaurants in this fully revived town that steel built. Attendance is free.

In another part of the world—Drexel Hill—Blackthorn is on stage for four hours to raise money for Upper Darby Police Foundation. They’ll be playing under the big top—a tent at Casey’s Restaurant and Saloon on Lansdowne Avenue.

There are also three—count them—three Irish plays running in Philly: “A Behanding in Spokane” by Martin McDonagh at the Christ Church Neighborhood House; Enda Walsh’s “The Walworth Farce” at the First Baptist Church; and “Philadelphia Here I Come” at the Walnut Street Theatre. They’re all running for the next few weeks.

Broadway stars Kimilee Bryant and Ciaran Sheehan will be at William Tennent High School Auditorium on Saturday night singing songs from their Broadway roles in “Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserables.”

And the beautiful and talented Jamison Celtic Rock will be rocking it at Curran’s in the Northeast.

Surely there’s something there your Mammy would enjoy.

On Sunday, get her up on the dance floor at JD McGillicuddy’s in Upper Darby. The Theresa Flanagan Band will provide the music.

On Tuesday, Paul Byrom of Celtic Thunder is doing a solo at the Sellersville Theatre.

It’s as quiet as you want it to be till next weekend (though on Thursday there are meetings of the Irish American Genealogy group at the Immigration Center and the Irish American Anti-Defamation League at the Irish Center and there’s always a session somewhere).

Next weekend, Newtown joins the festival crowd with the Newtown Celtic Fest at the Newtown Theatre, featuring Timlin and Kane, RUNA, and the Birmingham Six, as well as the Fitzpatrick Dancers and men in kilts. The Beer Garden opens at 2 PM. Mmmmmmm.

The Philadelphia Police and Fire Pipes and Drums. Photo by Lisa Marie Hunt.

A late addition to our calendar last week didn’t make it to Friday’s “How to be Irish” feature, so here it is:

On Friday, April 27, The Center for Emerging Visual Arts is hosting an exhibit called “Interchange: Contemporary Photography and Video from Ireland” at The Barclay in Philadelphia. The varied works provide a glimpse into contemporary Ireland. The exhibition is free and runs Monday through Friday, April 27 through May 18. At least one of the artists and the curator will be on hand on Friday night to answer questions.

Saturday, put up your dukes. Or rather, put up the cash to help the Young Irelands Gaelic Football Club raise some money with their fists (and, at least in one case, their feet). The YI’s are sponsoring “Fight Night” at The Irish Center in Mt. Airy, featuring local fighters. When we read the card, we recognized a couple of names, including Chuck Cawley. Last time we saw him, he was dancing. Cawley was one of the 16 volunteers who helped raise money for the Delco Gaels in the “Dance Like a Star” dance competition. Dancing, boxing. . .we like a Renaissance man. You go, Chuck!

Also on Saturday night, The Priests, the singing group from Northern Ireland (and yes, they’re priests) will be performing at the Scottish Rite Theatre in Collingswood, NJ.

Fiddler Randal Bays with guitarist Davey Mathias is at the Coatesville Cultural Center on Saturday night as well. Read our interview with this amazing fiddler.

What isn’t happening on Saturday night is the appearance of The John Byrne Band at Milkboy in Ardmore. Bryne broke a leg while competing in a soccer game with the Irish Network-Philly 7-a-side soccer team. He expects to be up and around in a few weeks, and probably the worse for wear. The gig will be rescheduled and you can find out about it on our calendar.

Sunday is a major “what shall I do?” kind of day.

In the afternoon, Jamison, Ballina, and the Philadelphia Police Pipes and Drums will be Irish-ing it up on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It’s a Block Party on the Parkway to raise money for the Philadelphia Police and Firefighters Fallen Heroes Memorial. A great cause, a incomparable venue, and food and drink available at Con Murphy’s and Tir na Nog, right there in the ‘hood.

If you’re a fiddler or fiddler wannabe, Randal Bays will be offering a free fiddle workshop at West Chester University before he and partner Davey Mathias head over to Kildare’s West Chester for the session.

Cahal Dunne, the singer-songwriter and pianist, known as Ireland’s “happy man” will be performing at a fundraiser at the Lulu Temple in Plymouth Meeting on Sunday afternoon. All proceeds go to Shriners’ charities. Price includes lunch, beer, and setups.

There’s another benefit going on in Port Richmond. Raymond Coleman will be performing at the fundraiser to support the families of Irish Republican political prisoners. It’s being held at Bobby T’s Cigar Bar at Almond and Venango. There will be a bodhran raffle (the bodhran is an Irish drum) and buffet—and tickets are only $10 at the door.

All this week you also can catch “A Behanding in Spokane,” at Martin McDonagh play, at the Christ Church Neighborhood House in Philadelphia.

Check our calendar during the week–late additions are as common as dandelions on the lawn.

Laying a wreath at Joseph McGarrity's grave.

If harp music always makes you think of angels, you’ll be in heaven listening to Celtic harp masters Grainne Hambley and William Jackson, who will be doing “The Music of Mayo” at the Commodore Barry Club (The Irish Center) on Saturday night.

It’s the latest in the series celebrating the music of the west of Ireland sponsored by the Philadelphia Ceili Group.

Grainne Hambley, who is from Mayo, won the senior All-Ireland titles on both harp and concertina in 1994 and the prestigious Keadue and Granard harp competitions. Multi-instrumentalist William Jackson is a Glaswegian—we love the sound of that, but all it means is that he hails from Glasgow, Scotland—where he has been at the forefront of Scottish traditional music for more than 35 years. He’s also a noted composer.

They are also offering workshops at 3 PM on Saturday in harp and tin whistle.

Also on Saturday, the group Clancy’s Pistol will be providing the music at the 9th annual Project Children benefit at the Richard T. Rossiter Memorial Hall in National Park, NJ, which also features a beef-and-beer, auctions, raffles, and fun. The group needs to raise $1,000 for each child they bring over from Northern Ireland this summer.

Unless there’s a rain-out, it’s also St. Patrick’s Day (again?) at the Reading Phillies at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading. The first 2,000 grownups get a 32 ounce Baseballtown Collectors’ Mug and there will live Irish music. Before the Reading Phils play the Akron Aeros, the Cleveland Indians’ farm team.

On Sunday there’s the annual commemoration of Joseph McGarrity, the County Tryone immigrant to Philadelphia who was a leading member of Clan na Gael and financially and politically supported the Irish war for independence/ The event is held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, where McGarrity is buried. Members of his family still live in the area. A dinner will follow at the Oaks Ball Room in Glenolden.

Also on Sunday: the Nuala Kennedy Band will be appearing at the Blue Ball Barn in Wilmington, DE. Kennedy is an Irish singer and flute player from Dunkalk, County Lough, on the east coast of Ireland.

“A Behanding in Spokane,” a play by Irish writer Martin McDonagh, continues at the Christ Church Neighborhood House in Philadelphia.

On Monday, Jennifer Redmond, PhD, will speak at Villanova University about “Irish Women’s Migration,” an Irish studies event co-sponsored by the History and Gender Women’s Studies program.

Midweek, catch Portland, Oregon-based Colleen Raney with Colm MacCarthaigh and the region’s own John McGillian at Milkboy Café in Ardmore.

On Thursday, those wild Balkan gypsy lads, Scythian, bring their energy and fusion Celtic music to the Sellersville Theatre.

Also on Thursday, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist William Kennedy (“Ironweed”) will be reading from his newest novel, “Changó’s Beads and Two-Tone Shoes,” at the Connelly Center Cinema at Villanova University as part of its 14th Annual Literary Festival.

Next Friday, catch Randal Bays and Davey Mathias at a house concert in Lansdale (they’ll be at Coatesville on Saturday night and the Kildare’s West Chester session on Sunday night, plus doing workshops at West Chester University earlier in the day).

Jamison is also on stage on Friday night, this time to help raise money for Father Judge High School football at Sprinkler Fitters Hall in Philadelphia.

Next weekend is huge: Saturday is “Fight Night,” a fundraiser for the Young Ireland’s Gaelic Football Club, at the Irish Center, with a roster of local fisticuffs experts; the John Byrne Band will be performing at Milkboy in Ardmore; and The Priests—three singing ones—will be performing at the Scottish Rite Theatre in Collingswood, NJ. Sunday. . .well, we’ll save that one for next week, unless you want to take a peek at our calendar, always a good idea.

Matt Mancuso on fiddle.

We have the perfect Saturday for you. Head over to Kelly Drive in the morning to take in the annual Irish Memorial Run, which raises money for the Irish Memorial at Penns Landing.

You can rest up in the afternoon, then head over to Ambler to hear some fabulous Irish traditional music in someone’s livingroom! Not just anyone, but a member of the Philadelphia Ceili Group which is sponsoring an evening with fiddler-guitarist-mandolin-player Matt Mancuso (despite the name, he has Irish roots), an All-Ireland competitor and a member of the Irish supergroup Grada and the Cathie Ryan Band, and Patsy O’Brien, one of Irish music’s most respected guitar accompaniest and, an award-winning songwriter with three critically acclaimed CDs.

It’s a house concert, of course, so you need to RSVP and get directions (check the calendar for contact info). If you’ve never been to a house concert, believe me, it’s a real treat. You won’t want to hear music any other way.

Sunday is also a great day to be Irish. The Sons and Daughters of Derry are holding their very fun family social at the Irish Center, with music provided by Shantys and Irish dancing by the Cummins School. There’s a buffet dinner and lots of great activities for the kids. A real family-friendly day.

Martin Hayes, his musical partner Dennis Cahill and some of their most talented friends—the ones who can be called “masters”’—will be performing at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia on Sunday night. They’re bringing the sound and some of the flavor of the Bantry, County Cork,, Masters of Tradition annual music festival to Philly. A must-see.

Mid-week, all the floats, dancers, and marchers who won award in the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be getting their trophies and plaques at Finnigan’s Wake. Of course, there will be beer, food and entertainment.

The Irish American Genealogy Group is meeting on Thursday at the Irish Immigration Center in Upper Darby. Join genealogist John McDevitt and some of the regulars who can help you locate your Irish ancestors.

On Friday, Theatre Exile debuts “A Behanding in Spokane,” a play by Martin McDonagh that explores the violent American culture, post 9/11—in a powerful and funny way, of course. It is an Irish play, after all. Theatre Exile last year produced the very successful McDonagh play, “The Lieutenant of Inishmore.”

Next weekend is jam-packed. The 9th annual Project Children Benefit is being held at the Rochard T. Rossiter Memorial Hall in National Park, NJ, just over the bridge from Philadelphia. Tickets are disappearing for this fundraiser to support the program that brings children from Northern Ireland to the US for the summer.

Master harpers Grainne Hambly and William Jackson will be performing “The Music of Mayo” at the Irish Center (and doing workshops beforehand). This is another in a series of programs that explore the music of the West of Ireland, sponsored by the Philadelphia Ceili Group.

And it’s St. Patrick’s Day (again?) at the Reading Phillies at FirstEnergy Stadium in Reading.

Comic Corey Alexander will be one of the laughmeisters at AOH Dennis Kelly Div. 1 Comedy Night.

You have almost one more week to rest up after the St. Patrick’s Day marathon, then the Irish events start to pick up by next weekend.

One reminder: The Shanachie in Ambler is gone, but its weekly session lives on down the street at Finn McCool’s at 34 E. Butler Pike every Tuesday. The musicians start to assemble at 7 PM. Bring your bouzouki and join in.

We like a good laugh, and the Dennis Kelly AOH Div. 1 is delivering them on Friday night, April 13. It’s comedy night at The Palombaro Club featuring local comics Corey Alexander and David James and it benefits Hero’s Homecoming Fund, an organization started by an AOH member that helps wounded soldiers.

Alexander, a Steve Carrell look-a-like, hails from the Philly area and has played at Caroline’s, Gotham, Catch a Rising Star, Comedy Zone, and Comedy Works, among others. He was recently drafted to perform as part of NYC Comix “Best of New Talent.”

David James, also a local lad, won the Helium Comedy Club’s first annual “Philly’s Phunniest” Competition in 2006. Check out the videos on his website  to find out why you should never heckle a professional comic.

A little glimpse into the following week:

On Saturday, April 14, lace up your running shoes for the 2012 Irish Memorial Run. Proceeds from this event, which takes place on Kelly Drive, helps defray costs for the upkeep of the Memorial at Front and Chesnut Streets.

On Sunday, the Annenberg Center on Walnut Street will host some of the world’s top Irish traditional musicians, including Clare fiddler Martin Hayes, fiddler Cathal Hayden; singer Iarla O Lionnaird, guitarists Dennis Cahill and Seamie O’Dowd, accordionist Mairtin O’Connor, and uilleann piper David Power. Read our interview this week with Martin Hayes.

Also next week: The award winners from the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade will actually get their awards at a program at Finnigan’s Wake in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Theatre Exile presents the Martin McDonagh play, “A Behanding in Spokane,” in which the playwright explores—in a funny way, of course—the culture of violence in post 9/11 America.

Also on the calendar for April: St. Patrick’s Day in April at the Reading Phillies (April 21), a benefit for Project Children, which brings children from Northern Ireland to the US in the summer (April 21), and Celtic harpers Grainne Hambly and William Jackson (April 21).

Events are added to the calendar every week, so check back frequently.

The DeNogla dancers in last year's Mount Holly parade.

Hope you didn’t put away your shamrock deely bobbers and your green Mardi Gras beads. St. Patrick’s month isn’t over, and in Mount Holly, NJ, it’s going out with a bang. That would be the sound from a pipe and drum band marching in the annual Burlington County St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Bad weather washed out this popular event that’s usually the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in the region. This year it’s the last, and it could be the best.

The grand marshal is Marie Brady Hempsey, Mid-Atlantic coordinator for Project Children, which every summer brings 20 kids from Northern Ireland to the Delaware Valley for a much-needed break from tensions at home. Despite the peace, each year the Protestant unionist Orange Order holds parades, often through Catholic areas, to celebrate the victory of the Protestant King William of Orange over Catholic King James II in the Battle of the Boyne. Those marches often lead to bloodshed.

Hempsey herself is the daughter of a divided family—a Catholic father and Protestant mother from Ireland, as she told us in an interview earlier this month. You can read it here.

A slow week again, but we’re heading up to Easter so the focus is on church services, family, and chocolate bunnies, though not always in that order.

One thing to note: The Shanachie Pub and Restaurant in Ambler is closing as of Saturday night. Its popular Tuesday night session, headed by Irish musicians Fintan Malone and Kevin McGillian, will be moving down the street to Finn McCool’s Irish Pub on Butler Pike as of Tuesday, April 3, from 7-10 PM. Same great assemblage of talented musicians, same town, same street.

And you can catch Seamus Kelleher, former lead guitarist from Blackthorn, on Sunday, April 1, at Puck in Doylestown singing in a benefit for the Doylestown Co-Op. The event starts at 3 PM and Seamus will be on stage about 4:15 PM. If you miss him there, on Friday, April 6, he’ll be at the Doylestown School of Rock, 135 S. Main Street in Doylestown at 7 PM, where he’s visiting professor. He’ll be joining the talented School of Rock students on stage for an evening of Celtic rock.

Side note: Seamus and his wife, Mary Pat, recently ran their first 5K. As Seamus says, “If you know me, you will find that very odd as Seamus K and Five K should never be in the same sentence.” Seamus has dropped about 20 pounds or so and looks great. After his show, you can ask him how he did it.

Check back frequently during the week to see if any latecomers have added their events to our calendar. They usually do.