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A Look Back at the 2009 Penn’s Landing Irish Festival

Celtic Flame dancers, up in the air.

Celtic Flame dancers, up in the air.

No matter where you turned at Penn’s Landing on Sunday, there was no escaping Irishness. You had Fintan Malone, Mary Malone, Den Vykopal, Bud Burroughs and Kevin Brennan playing traditional Irish music up in the music tent, assorted paddy rockers like the Bogside Rogues or Blackthron down on the main stage, hordes of Irish dancers—from the Coyles to the Cummins to the Reel Colleens—entertaining crowds in two locations. Timmy Kelly, the Irish community’s good luck charm, was there to sing a few Irish tunes. There were vendors selling everything from Claddagh rings to Irish water ice. Perhaps the only un-Irish element was the one everyone seemed to like the best—plenty of bright sunshine.

Organizer Michael Bradley presented awards for Man and Woman of the year to four individuals who have done outstanding volunteer work in the Irish Community:  Emmett Ruane of  Emmett’s Place, Kathy Orr & Bob Kelly of CBS3, and Mike Driscoll, owner of Finnigan’s Wake.

We were there most of the day and took in the sights and sounds. And now we’re sharing them with you.

View  videos:

Timoney Dancers
http://irishinphilly.com/video/timoneypennslanding09

Coyle Dancers
http://irishinphilly.com/video/coylepennslanding09

Rince Ri Dancers
http://irishinphilly.com/video/rinceripennslanding09

Celtic Flame Dancers
http://irishinphilly.com/video/celticflamepennslanding09

Irish Traditional Musicians
http://irishinphilly.com/video/irishmusicpennslanding09

June 11, 2009 by
News

Save The Irish Radio Shows

Going over pledge drive strategy are, from left, radio hosts Vince Gallagher and Marianne MacDonald, and St. Patrick's Day parade director Michael Bradley.

Going over pledge drive strategy are, from left, radio hosts Vince Gallagher and Marianne MacDonald, and St. Patrick's Day parade director Michael Bradley.

“It’s Pentecost Sunday,” Michael Bradley told the listeners to Vince Gallagher’s Irish Radio Hour on Sunday, May 31, as he kicked off the five-week fundraiser for the WTMR 800AM Irish radio shows. “”I hope the Holy Spirit moves you.”

Apparently it did, because the city’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade director and a group of volunteers including dance teachers Rosemarie Timoney and Olivia Hilpl (Rince Ri) pulled in more than $5,000 in two hours, including a $1,000 donation from the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association, headed by local restaurateur Michael Callahan, who called in.

In the last three weeks, says Marianne MacDonald, host of the show, “Come West Along the Road,” more than $8,000 in donations have come in, including proceeds from a benefit by the Camden County Emerald Society Pipes and Drums and a brunch at the Auld Dubliner, a restaurant in Gloucester City, NJ.

Tune in on Sunday morning, from 11 AM to 1 PM, and call in your pledge. Or give it director to Gallagher and MacDonald at the Penn’s Landing Irish American Festival on Sunday, June 7, where they’ll be sponsoring the Traditional Tent.

Check out our photos and videos from last Sunday’s fundraisers.

See the photos.

Check out videos:

June 5, 2009 by
News, People

Brooklyn’s Commodore Barry Club Pays a Visit to Philly’s Club

Members of Brooklyn’s Commodore Barry Club traveled by bus last Sunday to Philadelphia to honor one of the major figures of the American Revolution—Commodore John Barry, father of the US Navy, who is buried at Old St. Mary’s Church in Philadelphia. It’s an annual trek over the Memorial Day weekend and they’re joined by members of the Commodore Barry Club (The Irish Center) in Philadelphia at a Mass, a wreath-laying, and for a meal and some dancing. We caught that last part in photos.

May 28, 2009 by
News, Sports

Phillies Irish Heritage Night 2009

Phillies fan? Sure ... it's all over her face.

Phillies fan? Sure ... it's all over her face.

Start with Blackthorn in concert just outside the third base gate. Add seemingly countless Irish dancers prancing away along the warning track. Toss in a performance out on the diamond by the Second Street pipers.

Oh, and wear your green Phillies hat, the one with the shamrock on it. No doubt you’ve gathered already: This is how they celebrate Irish heritage at the Phillies’ showcase Citizens Bank Park.

If you couldn’t be there, no worries … we were.

And check out the video clips:

May 28, 2009 by
Music, News

Get Set for the Penn’s Landing Irish Festival

The Penn's Landing Festival always draws a big crowd.

The Penn's Landing Festival always draws a big crowd.

Yes, we know you’re Irish, and your idea of picture-perfect weather is, oh, say, 50 degrees, overcast and drizzly.

Well, we’re afraid you’re just going to have to suffer through the (we always hope) lovely, warm late-spring weather of the Penn’s Landing Irish Festival. Somehow, we guess you’ll muddle through—perhaps with the aid of a few cooling beverages and a fresh breeze off the Delaware.

Anyway, we hope we’ll see you on Sunday, June 7, from noon ’til 8 p.m. down at Columbus Boulevard and Chestnut. For sure, you don’t want to miss it. Why not? Well, if for no other reason, let us tempt you with just one word: Blackthorn. And this great Philly Irish band will be joined on the Penn’s Landing stage by several other outstanding musical acts, including the Bogside Rogues, the Birmingham 6 and Local Traffic. Round Tower, always a popular act, will be back this year. Expect a few sing-along tunes from entertainer Timmy Kelly, as well.

Of course, there will be plenty of great food and drink on hand to keep you refreshed while you rock out to the music. And this year, says organizer Michael Bradley, there will be more vendors than ever. “We probably have about 30 vendors,” he said. “we had eight when I took it over. It’s really taking off now.”

There will also be traditional music in the festival tent, and entertainment by many of the Delaware Valley’s popular and hugely energetic Irish dance schools, including a new entry this year, the Reel Colleens.

The annual event is nothing if not kid-friendly, featuring all kinds of entertainment for the younger set, including face-painting.

Best of all, admission is free.

The annual waterfront celebration of all things Irish is actually a couple of weeks early this year. “We moved it up two weeks because otherwise the festival would have fallen on Fathers’ Day,” explained Bradley.

Lest we forget, the festival falls on a Sunday, but you can still make Mass. An open-air service starts at 10:30 at the nearby Irish Memorial. “Then you can walk right over and start hanging around and having a good time,” Bradley said.

Of course, the festival takes a few moments to honor some of our favorite people. Singled out this year: Emmett Ruane, former owner of the popular Emmett’s Place on Levick Street; Bob Kelly and Kathy Orr of CBS3, which televizes the annual Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade; and Mike Driscoll, the very generous owner of Finnigan’s Wake.

For a complete schedule visit: www.philadelphiastpatsparade.com and look up Penn’s Landing Irish Festival on Home page.

May 22, 2009 by
Music, News

Celtic Fair in Phoenixville

The Bogside Rogues at center stage.

The Bogside Rogues at center stage.

There’s practically an Irish pub, restaurant, or gift shop in every other storefront in Phoenixville, the former steel town along the Schuykill in Montgomery County. That makes it the perfect place for a street fair featuring Irish music, food and vendors.

Check out the photos from the third annual event held Saturday, May 8.

May 14, 2009 by
News

Help Keep the Irish Radio Shows On the Air

Taking a page from public radio–and from last year’s successful fundraiser–the hosts of the Irish radio shows at WTMR 800AM will be launching their on-air pledge drive on Sunday, May 31. Vince Gallagher of the Vince Gallagher Irish Radio Hour and Marianne MacDonald, host of “Come West Along the Road” need to raise $36,000 this year to keep the two shows on the air. (You can hear them between 11 and 1 every Sunday morning.)

The “radiothon” will run for five weeks, ending June 30. St. Patrick’s Day Parade Director Michael Bradley will kick off the give-fest on May 31, taking pledges and requests from callers. Other local Irish organizations are also donating their time, including the Mayo Association (June 7), the Donegal Association (June 14), the Tyrone Society (June 21), and the Irish of Havertown (June 28). Other volunteers are welcome and needed to answer phones and help with mailings.

This year, there are even pledge incentives – gift certificates, and CDs and DVDs of your favorite Irish performers, all donated. If you’d like to help or donate, contact Vince (610-220-4142 ) or Marianne (856-236-2717).

As they say on TV infomercials: But wait, there’s more. On Tuesday, May 19, the Camden County Emerald Society is sponsoring a night of Irish music and dance at the Coastline Restaurant, 1240 Brace Road, Cherry Hill, N.J. from 7-9 P.M. For a $10 donation at the door, the evening will feature music and dancing with Kevin Brennan, Vince Gallagher, Muriel Prickitt, Mary Malone, Den Vykopal and other local musicians and the Emerald Society Pipe Band. There will be a free dinner buffet, all drinks will be $1 and raffle prizes.

On Sunday, May 31, the Auld Dubliner Pub at 157 S. Burlington Street, Gloucester City, N.J., will hold a special fundraising brunch immediately following the radio shows. Everyone is welcome, there will be live music and dancing along with a special brunch menu and raffle prizes. Reservations can be made by calling (856)432-6578.

The Rose of Tralee Committee has pledged a special quiz night with proceeds going to the radio shows. They are also donated two tickes to the Rose of Tralee Gala on June 27 along with $30 in raffle tickets.

On June 17, all Pizzaria Uno Restaurants in the area will be donating a percentage of their proceeds to the radio shows when customers either show a special voucher or ask for the voucher for the radio shows.

May 14, 2009 by
News, People

Monday Night at the Irish Center

Kerri Lenox,right, knits a baby blanket at the bar while chatting with fellow dance mom, Lori Scanlon.

Kerri Lenox,right, knits a baby blanket at the bar while chatting with fellow dance mom, Lori Scanlon.

Most pubs are pretty quiet on a Monday night, but not the bar at the Philadelphia Irish Center. The Cummins School of Irish Dance gives lessons in the ballroom, so the Irish dance moms and dads have a beer or soft drink at the bar while they wait. Some bring their laptops so they can work, others read, study, or, in one case, knit.

Like an Irish pub, it’s not really just a bar. It’s a place where people can congregate, bring their families, chat, or sit quietly and read or watch TV. “This place is so special,” said dance mom Shiela Ruen. “It’s like something out of another time. It’s a real gem. People don’t even know what a treasure they have here. I love it.”

So do we.

May 14, 2009 by