Irish in Philly – Page 38 – Where every day is St. Patrick's Day

Cavan Society Prepares for its Big Entrance

On a recent Saturday morning, a brightly lighted, cavernous truck bay in the back of Cavan Construction in Aston is a hive of activity. About a half dozen men are clustered around an 18-wheel tractor-trailer, sawing, drilling and hammering, carefully crafting the Cavan Society float for the 2019 Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade. In this, they are able assisted by a curious boxer named Diesel. That is, if “help” means leaving paw prints all over freshly green-painted wooden planks.

We can tell you the theme. It’s the same as this year’s parade theme: “St. Patrick, Unite Us.” Beyond that, until Sunday, the day of the parade, it’s a big secret. Some of the wooden shapes hinted at the beginnings of a bridge, and there was a small house-shaped structure at the tail end. But that’s all you’re getting from us.

And it’s all you’re likely to get from Sean Smith, company project manager and superintendent, as well as the chief overseer of the float construction project.

March 7, 2019 by Jeff Meade

Audio

Podcast: Michael Londra and His “Ridiculously Lucky” Career

County Wexford singer Michael Londra burst on the scene as the lead singer in the United States tour of Riverdance, the cultural phenomenon that itself inspired all of the Celtic and Irish groups and shows that have also swept the country over the years. He was, by many standards, something of a late bloomer. He was 31 when his career began in earnest.

Since Riverdance, he’s performed in many venues and shows, from Broadway to an acclaimed PBS special in 2011. He’s also a producer of musicals, which has kept him off the road recently. But Londra’s back, and he’s performing—including a show, Michael Londra and the Celtic Fire, at Annenberg Center Live March 16.

We recently interviewed Michael Londra about his life and career. Here’s what he had to say.

March 5, 2019 by Jeff Meade

Food & Drink

Time to Make the Soda Bread

If it’s March, then it’s time to start thinking of soda bread, one of Ireland’s most iconic foods.

It’s safe to say that every Irish cook has a recipe for it that’s been personalized by families either by name, ingredients, or method of baking. A few decades ago, I judged an Irish cooking contest and nearly one quarter of all the recipes submitted were for soda bread—Aunt Eileen’s, Grandma O’Hara’s, Auntie Maura’s, Cousin Terry’s—and not one was the same!

Two or three recipes were for the sweet white version that calls for raisins and caraway seeds and even these varied: one recipe suggested soaking the raisins in water or whiskey to plump up the fruit. Another one or two insisted kneading was essential. One added sour cream; another buttermilk.

I enjoyed them all, but this one—a brown bread flavored with Guinness—has become my favorite. It might become yours, too! If you can, use an Irish brand of coarse whole meal flour; if not, mix Irish oatmeal and oat or wheat bran. You’ll fine recipes like this in my cookbook Favorite Flavors of Ireland; signed copies available at www.irishcook.com.

March 5, 2019 by Margaret M. Johnson

Dance

Downingtown Dancer Catches Celtic Fire

When Michael Londra and the Celtic Fire light up the stage at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia on March 16, the singing sensation will have with him some world-class talent, including Downingtown native, World Champion Irish dancer, and recently crowned 2019 All-Ireland Irish Dancing Champion Owen Luebbers.

“Owen is a brilliant dancer, and he’s absolutely the sweetest kid. I’m thrilled to have him in the show. It’ll be so nice to see him perform for a hometown audience and to show the locals how great he is,” Londra said.

The 20-year-old Luebbers, a third-year Media Studies and Production major at Temple University, is thrilled to be performing at home, too. He expects his family to be in the audience, as well as some of his friends from Temple. “I’m so excited to be performing in Philadelphia because my friends seldom get the opportunity to see me dance on stage,” he said.

He began touring with Londra in 2017. “That wasn’t my first time dancing on stage, but it was the first time it felt real,” he explained. “I knew I wanted to do something with Irish dance for the rest of my life by the time I was 12 or 13. After that tour I remember thinking, ‘Wow! I can do this forever.’ There’s just something so incredibly special about working with Michael and the incredible band and the other amazing dancers,” he added.

March 3, 2019 by Barbara Hartnett

Audio

Celtic Thunder’s Colm Keegan Brings Irish History to the Philadelphia Irish Center

Colm Keegan made his mark as a principal singer in the well-known Celtic Thunder, but before he embarked upon a performance career, he was a high school music teacher, with a master’s degree in music.

For years, he’s thought about a way to merge Irish history with music, and there never seemed like a good way to do it—until now.

On Saturday, March 9, Keegan brings the first chapter of a new series called Irish History through Music to the Commodore John Barry Arts & Cultural Center (The Irish Center), 6815 Emlen Street, at the corner of Carpenter and Emlen (SEPTA’s Carpenter station on the Chestnut Hill West Line), in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia.

March 3, 2019 by Jeff Meade

News

Grand Marshal and Ring of Honor Recognized at Philly Parade Party

Sean McMenamin, who came to the United States from a small town just outside of Westport, County Mayo, in January 1966, describes Irish immigrants of the time as “survivors.” They came here when immigration laws were far more lax than they are now, and they did what they needed to do to make a life for themselves.

He recalled those days Wednesday night at a VIP Party at the Constitution Center—one in which he was honored as this year’s grand marshal of the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day parade.

And he remembered a steady flow of Irish immigrants in those days. “Every week, there’d be somebody new coming,” he said, addressing a large, enthusiastic crowd that included members of the parade’s Ring of Honor.

March 1, 2019 by Jeff Meade

Arts, Music

Outbid By a Princess, Mick Moloney to be Reunited With a Royal Collection of Irish Music

Irish musician and folklorist Mick Moloney recalls a time when he was still living in Philadelphia, and L.A.H. O’Donnell, who had retired from EMI Records and lived in Chestnut Hill, contacted him with an intriguing offer: a vast trove of Irish-American sheet music.

“He was offering the collection for $3,000,” Moloney says. “Well, at the time, I didn’t have $300.”

Scholar that he was and is, Moloney looked about for another suitable home for the music, which hearkened back to the Tin Pan Alley days and a little before. No one, including the Smithsonian, had the budget. That was the last he heard of the music, although he never forgot about the offer.

Ten years later, when his circumstances had improved, he called O’Donnell again.

“I asked, ‘Is that collection still for sale?’ He said, ‘Mick, you’re one week too late. Someone just bought it.’”

February 28, 2019 by Jeff Meade

How to Be Irish in Philly

How to Be Irish in Philly This Week

It’s March, and we’re off and running.

First up, Saturday, and lots to do, more than we often have in a whole week:

From 7 to 9:30 p.m., we have the very first ever Middle School Social at the Irish Center, 6815 Emlen Street in the Mount Airy neighborhood. The event is for 6^th, 7^thand 8^th (We’ve written about it before. Read the story.) It costs $10 to get in. Kids will be treated to D.J. music, pizza, snacks and soft drinks. Pre-registration is required. For details, contact Lisa Maloney at lisamaloney29@yahoo.com or call 215-514-1654. The social is well-chaperoned. Looks like a good time.
Silver Lake Nature Center, 1306 Bath Road in Bristol, hosts the inimitable Irish singer Mary Courtney in concert in the Visitors Center. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 a person in advance (by March 1 at 5 p.m.) and $15 at the door. All the details here.
Starting at 6:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Catholic School hosts Irish Night. The school is at 835 North Hills Avenue in Ardsley. This beef and beer is 40 bucks a ticket. Galway Guild provides the music, you provide the dancing. The tunes start at 8.
Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 6 Montgomery County is kicking off the month with a St. Patrick’s Party, from 7 to 10 p.m., at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta School, 256 Swamp Pike in Schwenksville. Music by Reilly’s Daughter, featuring Tommy Conwell.
The GAA hurling and camogie club Na Tóraídhe holds its biggest fund-raiser of the year at Tir Na Nog, 1600 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19103. It’s a formal, so you can play dress-ups. Contact Katkatrinaterrysterling@gmail.com or any club member. The fun starts at 7:30.
Later that night (starting at 10 p.m., lasting ‘til the wee hours) the John Byrne Band plays music of the Pogues, also at Tir Na Nog.
The Burlington County St. Patrick’s Day parade steps off at 1 p.m., marching down High Street from Fairgrounds Plaza in Mount Holly. In the neighborhood of 60 groups take part in the parade, including bagpipe bands and some of the area’s best Paddy Rock bands.
It’s Irish Night with Round Tower, at Upper Darby American Legion Post 214, 6914 Chestnut Street in Upper Darby. The party starts at 8 p.m. Admission is $25 per person in advance, $30 at the door; or $40 per couple in advance, $50 at the door. Call 610-352-0702 for more information. Includes food and bottled beer. 50/50, raffles, and much more fun.

February 28, 2019 by Jeff Meade

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