How to Be Irish in Philly

First, an apology. Due to human error, we inadvertently sent you to the Sellersville Theatre on Saturday, August 1, to hear The Young Dubliners. They weren’t there, were they? That’s because they’re not showing up until August 11. That would be two 1s, not one 1. Sorry for the error, and we hope you made the best of it.

This Sunday, head over to Cardinal Dougherty High School in Philadelphia for a full card of hurling and football, starting at 1 PM, when the Notre Dames square off against the Maired Farrells. Once the women are finished, they’re followed by the Kevin Barrys vs. Four Provinces, then the Eire Ogs take on the St. Pats. Bring water and Celtic-strength sunscreen.

Don’t forget the dance classes on Thursday night at the Irish Center. Geraldine Trainor and Laura Gittings of the Take the Lead Dance School in Philadelphia are teaching jive, foxtrot and other dances in a six-week session that will be repeated again in the fall.

Coming up on next Sunday, August 16, a special mass to honor Our Lady of Knock at the Irish Center, with dinner following. A second Our Lady of Knock Mass is scheduled for August 21 at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Philadelphia.

And to come: The 7th annual Berks Celtic Oyster Fest, the legendary Tommy Sands comes to Sellersville (look for an exclusive irishphiladelphia.com interview by Lori Lander Murphy coming soon), a music-packed Sunday Radio Shows benefit on August 23, with Barleyjuice heading our way on August 28. That brings us up to September—that’s festival month in the Philly area. There are at least four on tap. Get some rest.

There are some great parties coming up this week and guess what? We’re all invited!

On Saturday at 8 PM, head over to McFadden’s Tavern in Upper Darby for a beef-and-beer to raise money for the Donegal/4 Province Football team, 2007 New York champs and a great bunch of folks to party with. They’ve really helped put Philly on the Gaelic Athletic Association map.

On Sunday, from 1 to 6 PM, you can have your Irish stew and listen to five hours of great live Irish music too—at the Shanachie Pub and Restaurant in Ambler. Owners Ed Egan and Gerry Timlin are sponsoring a benefit to raise money for the Sunday Irish radio shows on WTMR, 800 AM. The Jameson sisters are going to kick off the musical portion of the show and it’s likely that Vince Gallagher, host of the Vince Gallagher Irish Radio Hour, will perform too.

Also on Sunday, Owen’s Pub in North Wildwood, NJ, has declared it “Tic Toc Day” to honor AOH Division #87 member James A. “Tic Toc” Casson. Proceeds from the day will benefit the Division 87 Scholarship Fund and Shriners Hospital.

The New Dubliners with local group, Na’Bodach, will be at the Sellersville Theatre on Saturday night.

On Tuesday, McGillin’s Old Ale House shows just how old it is—150 years to be exact. McGillin’s is celebrating its big one with a series of parties. This Tuesday and on several Tuesday nights throughout August and September, you can combine your taste for brews with your taste for books. The pub will be hosting free readings from authors who have mentioned McGillin’s in their books. “Joe Sixpack”—Inquirer beer columnist Don Russell—will read from his new book, “Joe Sixpacks’ Philly Beer Guide” at 6 PM at the center city tavern to launch the book-n-beer parties. McGillin’s 1860 IPQ beer will be reduced to $2 a pint during the events. Among the other sudsy writers on tap: William Lashner, author of the thriller “Blood and Bone;” Duane Scwierczynski, author of “The Punisher” comic book and crime novels; Lew Bryson, who wrote “Pennsylvania Breweries,” and Dr. Lewis Losoncy, author of “Early Poppers: Growing when the Heat is On.”

On Friday night, come over to the Irish Center and vie for a coveted spot on the new game show, “Who Wants to Be A  Hundredaire?” The brainchild of sisters Sarah Conaghan and Karen Conaghan Race—they’re also the brains and beauty behind the annual Philadelphia Rose of Tralee pageant (now Mid-Atlantic Rose of Tralee)— this fun event will raise money for the Sunday Irish radio shows—and for some lucky winners. We’re thinking of competing, so if for nothing else, come out to see a couple of folks who have more senior moments than they care to think about make total fools of themselves. Seriously, it will be a treat.

Another real treat: Irish singer Andrew Strong (you know him as Deco Cuffe from the great Irish flick, “The Commitments”) will be appearing at the Sellersville Theatre on Friday night.

Of course, all the details are on our calendar. We did some updating this week, and you need to check out September—the second best time to be Irish in Philly after March. There’s the Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival, Green Lane Scottish-Irish Festival, The Celtic Classic in Bethlehem and the Irish Weekend Festival in North Wildwood (and thank God they run more than one day, because the dates overlap).

I remember a few years ago when a reporter asked Denise and me, “So what are you going to write about when you’re all done writing about beer and shamrocks?”

I suppose he thought it was a good joke. Whatever could be happening in that sleepy little Irish Philadelphia community?

Ha ha ha, Mister Jokey Reporter Man. The joke’s on you this week, pal.

It isn’t just that there’s a lot to write about this week; it’s also the variety.

Let’s start wth two Saturday benefits.

First, starting at 3 p.m. and lasting ’til 9, the venerable MacSwiney Club in Jenkintown will host a building fund picnic and raffle. Here’s a great way to help sustain one of the Irish community’s most beloved institutions.

Next, from 7 to 10 at Bain’s Deli/Fuelhouse Coffee in Vineland, N.J., lovers of traditional Irish music will plunk down cash to support 6-year-old fiddler Haley Richardson’s trip to the world Irish music championships, the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Tullamore, County Offaly. Haley snagged first place in under-12 fiddles at the Mid-Atlantic Fleadh at Pearl River, N.Y., in the spring, qualifying her to compete at the world level. (See our story.) Haley and her brothers are slated to perform. If you’re an Irish musician, you’re invited to bring along your instrument and participate in a big session. You can count on Haley to keep up.

Switching gears, those rabid Gaelic Athletic fans will gather at Cardinal Dougherty High School field in the Olney section of Philadelphia on Sunday for game two of the Joe Lyons Championship Cup hurling match. If you’ve never seen hurling, you’ve missed one of the most exciting and crazy fun sports on the planet. Turn out to watch the local Shamrocks battle the Allentown Hibernians, starting at 1 p.m.

Later in the week, the Jameson Sisters—also known as singer Terry Kane and harper Ellen Tepper—will team up for two Delaware Valley performances: first, Tuesday night from 7 to 8:30 at Doylestown’s cool Fonthill Museum, and on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Mount Airy train station. (Read our interview with Ellen Tepper.)

Going out a bit beyond a week, get ready for some kick-butt Paddy rock as the Young Dubliners and Na’ Bodach perform at Sellersville Theatre Saturday, August 1, from 8 to 10 p.m.

All that, and we haven’t even mentioned shamrocks and beer. You’re bound to run into them somewhere this week.

Great weekend—and a great two weeks ahead—if you’re trying to be Irish. (We’re hoping many of you are now getting good at that.)

First, on Saturday night, Black 47 is coming to Sellersville. If you’ve never heard Larry Kirwan and his gang, you’re in for what they used to call a rollicking good time. They’re a hard-charging rock band with a Celtic flavor and atty-tude. We love ‘em.

Then, on Saturday, there’s the Guinness Seafood Festival at Tirnanog in Trenton, the great pub owned by the late Irish Billy Briggs. It’s a fundraiser for the Irish Billy Briggs Memorial Scholarship Fund, sponsored by the AOH Joe Cahill Division, to honor Trenton’s beloved publican. In my youth, I spent some good times at Billy Briggs’ pub. He was a great guy. Anyhow, seafood and Guinness. You can’t go wrong.

On Sunday, we understand there are GAA football games on the field at Cardinal Dougherty High School and that you might catch the winning Donegal team that usually plays in New York. Head over to 6301 N. Second Street in Philly around 3 PM.

On Sunday night, hear the incredible harp-guitarist-storyteller John Doan in a multimedia Celtic Pilgrimage at the Temperance House in Newtown, Bucks County. Read our story.

If you’re in Jersey on Sunday, it’s Hibernian Hunger Project Day at Keenan’s Pub in North Wildwood (or, as we like to think of it, Port Richmond, Southern Division). From 3 PM to 7 PM, your $30 will buy you beer, wine, soda, and music–as well as the unending gratitude of the people who are served by this AOH national program that got its start in Philadelphia.

It’s July, sure, but it’s not too early to be thinking about Christmas. On Tuesday, the Waterford Wedgwood Royal Doulton story in Rehobeth Beach, DE, (love that place!) will be hosting Master Artist Vincent Rellis who will sign your Waterford purchases. We almost lost this icon of Irishness this year, but a last-minute save by an investment company has kept this crystal maker in business (though, alas, not the store in nearby Limerick, PA).

On Wednesday, master flute maker and performer Skip Healy and noted bodhran maker and player Albert Alfonso will be offering a workshop on their respective instruments in Lansdale, followed by a session at The Mermaid Inn in Philadelphia. Then they’ll be performing a house concert on Thursday in Lansdale. They’re here thanks to Spring Hill House Concerts, the brand new venue founded by Indiana transplants Bette Conway and Bob Hendren.

Were you a fan of American bandstand? Then you might be interested in Irish Bandstand—actually, a six-week course in jive, quickstep, waltz, and ceili dancing offered by Geraldine Trainor at the Irish Center starting on Wednesday. You don’t need a partner, so if concerns about coming solo is the only thing stopping you, put on your dancing shoes.

Since I’m not going to be around next week, and the last time I went out of town our calendar went into a sulk and crashed, I’m going to tell you how to be Irish next week too. Two for the price of one! (Oh, that’s right, you don’t pay for this. . . .)

On Saturday, July 25, come out to support the MacSwiney Club in Jenkintown, where they’re holding a fund-raising picnic and raffle for their building fund.

In the fundraising mood? Also on Saturday, there’s a benefit concert by six-year-old fiddler Haley Richardson and her brothers to raise money to send Haley to the All-Ireland competitions in Tullamore. She finished first in the under-12s in the Mid-Atlantic Fleadh Cheoil in Pearl River, NY, this year. The event will be at Bain’s Deli/Fuelhouse Coffee in Vineland, NJ. Come out to hear this pint-sized major talent.

Looking ahead: The Young Dubliners are going to kick of the festivities in August at the Sellersville Theatre. There are more football games, radio show benefits (including one at Ambler’s Shanachie Pub on August 2), concerts, and dances coming up too. Then September will arrive with the Philadelphia Ceili Group Music Festival, the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem, the Scottish-Irish Festival in Green Lane, PA, the AOH Irish Weekend in N. Wildwood. There’s also going to be a bus trip from the Irish Center to Gettysburg where you’ll learn about the role the Irish played in the war between the states. That’s why I’m getting out of town. I need to rest up.

You go away for a few days and look what happens. Our calendar goes into a major funk, breaks down, and there’s no “How to be Irish in Philly” feature. I bet all of you just stayed home, didn’t you?

Well, here’s a mid-week peek at what’s up (including, finally, our calendar):

Angelina Carberry and Martin Quinn are on tap at the Irish Center for Friday night. They are a delightful duo (tenor banjo and button accordian) that will reel and jig all night if you let them. Please, let them!

And we like the fact that folks are taking our encouragement to “put everything but the family picnic up on our calendar” seriously. If you happen to be in County Cavan on the weekend, there’s a celebration of the music and art of Donovan (“Sunshine Superman”) at the County Cavan Museum in Ballyjamesduff. Honest, you can read all the details on our calendar. We don’t know who put it up.

Since we’re already here, let’s take a look at the next week or so, shall we?

The Irish Club is holding its first Irish Picnic (we don’t know what they’re going to throw on the barbie, so prepare for hot dogs or bangers) on Saturday at the De la Salle Swim Club in Springfield, Delaware County.

Also on Saturday, the Philadelphia Shamrocks take on the Hibernians in Allentown at 4 PM at Haines Mill Fields. These hurlers just keep getting better and better and this is the first of the best of three games for the Joe Lyons Cup.

Down at Penns Landing on Tuesday, July 14, the good ship Eithne pulls into port. The flagship of the Irish Navy will be in Philadelphia for three days and on Thursday, the crew will take on local Gaelic Athletic Association players in what is described as “a friendly game of football” at Cardinal Dougherty field. Apparently, the writer of the press release announcing the game has never actually seen a game of Gaelic football. Friendly? I don’t think so. Be that as it may, the ship will be open over the three days and there will be various and sundry official events, some of which are open to the public.

On Friday, July 17, the group Cheap Whiskey (two members of the better known Broken Shillelaghs) will be performing at Doc and Joe’s Tavern in Gloucester City, NJ (which, by the way, is a happenin’ place to hear Irish music, just over the bridge from Philly—who knew?).

A real treat this weekend: On Saturday night at the Springfield Country Club, the Rose of Tralee Selection Gala will see one lovely lass chosen to go to Ireland to compete in the international pageant. And this one isn’t for sissies. “When girls come to us expressing an interest in the pageant, we tell them it’s a really big deal and they have to be serious about it,” says co-organizer Karen Conaghan Race. “It’s televised and it’s a cool experience, but not for everybody.”

But, she says, she never worries about any of the candidates. “They’re really mature girls who ‘get it.’ I know it sounds corny, but every year I think, any one of these girls would be fine. I never worry about which one gets picked. We can’t go wrong.”

Also this weekend, yet another festival: The Celtic Fling and Highland Games in Manheim, home of the Renaissance Faire in Lancaster County. And in Allentown, the Hibernians hurlers face off against a team from Pittsburgh.

On Sunday, head over to Brittingham’s for some great music and food, and contribute to a great cause. Team Ratty Shoes is in the middle of its third campaign to raise money for multiple sclerosis research—and they always have a good time doing it.

Also on Sunday, Bristol Borough is holding its 13th annual Celtic Day in the lovely Bristol Lions Park along the Delaware.

There’s a brand new session on Mondays at Kildare’s in Manayunk, featuring the angel-voiced Terry Kane. Head over, grab a beer, and some of the great food that comes to you by way of our friend, Chef Brian Duffy, and if you play an instrument, bring it along.

If it’s the weekend, you can pretty much count on two things: Irish festivals and rain. I’m happy about the first. The second? Oy.

But let’s focus on the fun stuff. There should be enough breaks in the wetness for you to help out the hungry and enjoy some great Irish music on Saturday at the Second Annual Irish Hunger Fest in Yardley, Bucks County, to benefit the AOH’s Hibernian Hunger Project. The Bogside Rogues, Brimingham Six, and many other great local bands will be there. You should be there too.

Also on Saturday, the Pen-Mar Irish Festival in Glen Rock, PA, will be going on rain or shine. This one benefits Pen-Mar Human Services. If you’re up north, head over to this one. It’s always fun.

And will they notice a little more water at the annual Philadelphia Currach Club Races at the Columbus Club on the Delaware on Saturday? Oh, probably not. If you haven’t seen these Irish boats skimming across the water, here’s your chance.

Is it still Saturday? Yes. Then Luka Bloom will be appearing at World Café Live in Philly.

Please save some energy for Sunday, when a group of his friends—including the local Celtic group Blackthorn–will be raising money for Paul Sheridan, a 40-year-old Cavan man who lives in Havertown. Along with being beset by financial troubles, Paul was recently diagnosed with lung cancer which metastasized to his bones. He’s undergoing treatment at Penn. Paul has a daughter, Shauna, 12, so it’s appropriate that his friends picked Father’s Day for the fundraiser. Come out to Philadelphia’s Irish Center and support him!

While you still have your good-deed-doing hat on, tune in to WTMR 800 AM at 11 AM on Sunday and make your pledge to keep the Irish radio shows on the air for another year. This Sunday, Vince Gallagher and Marianne MacDonald are offering a special treat: Live music in the studio! You can hear some of our favorite local musicians, including Kevin Brennan, Fintan Malone, and Tim Hill, the 15-year-old boy wonder of Irish music. Call 1-866-799-9090 toll-free and make a pledge.

Check out a video of a recent performance by Vince Gallagher, Kevin Brennan, and Patsy Whelan at the Irish Center during a birthday party for Gallagher’s wife, Vera.

On Thursday, join Kathy DeAngelo of You Gotta Have Harp and 20 of her harpers at Burlington Meetinghouse and Conference Center in Burlington, NJ. It’s free.

Also on Thursday, Scythian—those Baltic-Celtic rabble-rousers from DC—will be performing at the Sellersville Theatre.

Friday kicks off the Celtic Fling and Highland Games at the Mount Hope Winery in Manheim (home of the Renaissance Fair) with a concert by Gaelic Storm, “everybody’s favorite Titanic steerage band.” The Scythian guys are planning to show up, so expect a high-octane evening. Hang in for a weekend of fun, frivolity and caber tossing.

Next Saturday, the next Rose of Tralee from Philadelphia will be crowned in Havertown. The winner of this annual pageant will head to Ireland this summer to vie for the international crown in a televised event that breaks TV records every year in Ireland. Not to make you nervous, girls, but this is a big deal.

And on Sunday, Bristol Borough will hold its annual Celtic Day on the waterfront.

What, another festival? Why yes. This Saturday marks the 39th year of the New Jersey Irish Festival, which is being held in Lakewood. Our feeling is, if you’ve been doing it for 39 years, you’re probably doing something right, so the trip is worth it.

The Brigade is playing at Molly Maguire’s Pub in Phoenixville on Saturday night It’s a great place and Phoenixville is more Irish than you may realize.

On Sunday, head down to Wilmington, DE, to hear the group Seven Rings play Irish pub songs and ballads at the Bellevue Arts Center band shell. Bring your blanket, bring your baby, but check first about the bucket of beer.

Round the House, the fabulous Irish traditional band from Tuscon, AZ, will be in the area next week, first at the Harp and Fiddle Pub in York, and then on Thursday at the Contra Dance at Glenside Memorial Hall in Glenside.

A head-up about next weekend. There are two great festivals on tap—the Irish Hunger Festival in Yardley, PA, which raises money for the Hibernian Hunger Project and the 9th Annual Pen-Mar Irish Festival in Glen Rock, PA. And there are currach races! If you haven’t seen these traditional Irish boats on the water, consider heading down to Columbus Club on State Road in Bensalem and watch this wonderful Irish sport in action.

Luka Bloom is also in town next Saturday at World Café Live—so much to do, so little time.

Check the world famous calendar for more details.

Don’t forget to tune into WTMR 800 AM on Sunday morning at 11 AM and make your pledge to keep Irish radio alive in the Delaware Valley. The Donegal Association (my peeps!) will be manning the phones. If you have roots in dear old Donegal, let’s make this the biggest pledge day ever!