Browsing Tag

Christmas

Arts, Music

In a Dark Period, RUNA’s “Tide of Winter” Album Offers Hope, Love, Joy and Celebration

The bandmates of RUNA, one of the area’s best-known Irish musical ensembles, have toyed with the idea of a winter album for a very long time. It never happened because—fortuitously for the award-winning supergroup—they were always busy, frequently on the road as a band or pursuing their own independent projects.

Last year, the project finally got off the ground in a small way, with an EP (a mini-album) of about five songs, with every intention of finishing it off as a full-fledged album in 2020.

Along came the pandemic, putting an end to band members’ otherwise ambitious plans. Complicating things a bit more, all the members of RUNA live some distance from each other. So on the one hand, they had some time on their hands. But on the other hand, they couldn’t be together.

December 8, 2020 by Jeff Meade

Food & Drink

‘Bring Us Some Figgy Pudding’

Often called “plum pudding”—despite the fact that it contains no plums whatsoever—steamed pudding was first recorded as “Christmas Pudding” in 1858 and later popularized in the carol “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

The name is probably derived from the substitution of raisins for dried plums as an ingredient in pies during medieval times. In the 16^thand 17^thcenturies, dishes made with raisins retained the term “plum,” and in the Victorian era, Christmas plum puddings became a well-loved dessert.

Curiously, plum pudding was a latecomer to Ireland, but it caught on quickly and replaced its plainer boiled pudding cousins; to this day it’s one of the most traditional of all Christmas dishes. Not to be confused with fruitcake, it’s actually more like a dense spice cake, and this recipe uses butter rather than the traditional suet.

Serve it warm with Brandy Hard Sauce. You’ll find more holiday recipes in my cookbook Christmas Flavors of Ireland; signed copies available on www.irishcook.com

December 12, 2018 by Margaret M. Johnson

Music, Photos

Photos: “A Celtic Christmas” at the Irish Center

If you couldn’t catch Cherish the Ladies and singer Don Stiffe in their Celtic Christmas show at the Philadelphia Irish Center, we have the next best thing: a boatload of photos!

The longtime and well-loved Irish supergroup performed to a packed house. They had a great time, too—so much that they’ve promised to come back again and wow the audience with their Christmas show next year.

Take a look at our photos. Consider them an early Christmas present.

We have a couple of videos, too.

December 4, 2018 by Denise Foley

Music, Photos

More Photos! Cherish the Ladies “Celtic Christmas”

Local traditional Irish musician and photographer Bob Glennan took in the Celtic Christmas show featuring Cherish the Ladies and singer Don Stiffe at the Philadelphia Irish Center Saturday night. Fortunately for us, he brought his camera.

He provided this great set of pics. Take a look.

December 4, 2018 by Bob Glennan

Music

Sneak Preview: Christmas With the Celts

Made famous by its PBS appearances, Christmas with the Celts is rolling into Sellersville Theater 1894 Wednesday, December 5, at 8 p.m. (Doors open at 7:30.)

If you’ve never seen the show, we thought we’d give you a quick, tantalizing peek.

Tickets available here.

November 29, 2018 by Jeff Meade

Music, Videos

Sneak Preview: Irish Music in America

Irish Music in America returns to the Philly area Tuesday, November 27, at Sellersville Theater 1894. The show starts at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30.

We thought we’d give you a sneak preview of this exciting show.

You can buy tickets here.

November 20, 2018 by Jeff Meade

Audio, Music

Podcast: Irish Christmas in America Comes to Sellersville

A bright, balanced blend of Irish music and dance drawing on seasonal inspirations, Irish Christmas in America arrives on stage at Sellersville Theater 1894 Tuesday, November 27. Fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada, of the Irish traditional supergroup Téada, has been producing the show for 14 years, which never ceases to delight audiences from one end of the country to the other—regardless of whether their roots are Irish.

“We started in 2005, a few years into touring with Téada, he says. “We really enjoyed it, so we kept on doing it.”

March, of course, is perhaps the best time of year to acquaint people with Irish culture, but, he adds, Christmas is a great time, too.

Irish Christmas in America features some of the finest musicians and dancers you’re likely to find, including well-known singer, accordionist and story-teller Séamus Begley and harper Gráinne Hambly, who has performed frequently in the Philadelphia area over the years.

November 14, 2018 by Jeff Meade

How to Be Irish in Philly

How to Be Irish in Philly This Week

Cathy Maguire will be performing a Christmas Show in Jersey.

Snow may scotch your plans for the weekend. We’ve already had one cancellation—no Rose of Tralee Christmas party on Saturday. Call ahead to see if your event is going on like the US Postal Service—in spite of rain, snow, sleet, and freezing rain.

For instance, Timlin and Kane will be performing, God willing, at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, one of the best cities in the world in which to be snowed-in at Christmas time.

On Thursday, local singer-songwriter and former Blackthorn guitarist Seamus Kelleher will be opening for fellow Irish singer-songwriter Pierce Turner at The Tin Angel in Philadelphia.

On Friday, Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul will be appearing at Sellersville Theatre while Cathy Maguire will be performing music from her CD, Ireland in Song, along with Gabriel Donohue and Vonnie Quinn, at a special Christmas concert at Our Lady Mother of the Church in Woodcliff Lake, NJ.

December 13, 2013 by Jeff Meade

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