Storyteller and musician, Mairtin de Cogain
Even if you’re not all that crazy about Irish traditional music, you’re going to like Mairtin de Cogain who is appearing on Friday, July 19, at The Irish Center in Mt. Airy.
That’s because in addition to singing, dancing, and playing the bodhran, de Cogain, a Cork native who lives in Minnesota, is a storyteller. In fact, he’s a two-time All Ireland Storytelling Champion. It’s a genetic gift from his father, who, he told us in 2011, “is a great storyteller himself. I really love telling stories when you hit the mark. I do try to have a story or two wherever we go that’s suitable. I was never amazing at school, but my short term memory is amazing. If I hear a story, and retell it the next day, I’ll remember it. I’m kind of like a mockingbird that way.”
Who doesn’t love a good story? Especially if it makes you laugh. And we’ve seen Mairtin de Cogain before. Trust us, you’ll laugh. (Check out our 2011 interview with Mairtin and the videos of his performance at The Irish Center, with fellow Corkman Jimmy Crowley, in 2009.)
What’s history but stories, passed down from generation to generation? You have two more opportunities this week to hear some. First, on Sunday, July 14, local author Marita Krivda Poxon will be talking about the Irish in Philadelphia, the subject of her latest book, “Irish Philadelphia,” at St. Joseph Villa in Flourtown.
Then, on Wednesday, July 17, Irish Network Philadelphia is sponsoring Kenneth Gavin, a Philadelphia-based Civil War expert, at The Union League of Philadelphia. Gavin will be talking about the role of the Irish in the Battle of Gettysburg, which occurred 150 years ago this year. If you’ve been to Gettysburg, you know that there are several statues honoring the Irish who served in the Union Army, most notably a Celtic cross with an Irish wolfhound at its feet, commemorating the sacrifice of the famous Irish Brigade of New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. Many of them immigrants, the men of the Irish Brigade, though outnumbered by the Confederate platoons on the fields of Gettysburg, nevertheless charged into battle and just kept coming, sustaining horrific losses. By the end of the Civil War, there was only one unit left of what’s been called “the greatest brigade.”
And there’s plenty more on tap this week:
On Sunday, catch the Broken Shillelaghs for an afternoon of music at the Gloucester County AOH hall in National Park, NJ.
On Tuesday, July 16, learn to clog—an Appalachian dance style—at the Irish Center.
And on Friday, in addition to Mairtin de Cogain, there’s an Irish jive workshop and dance in the ballroom at The Irish Center.
At Chestnut Hill College, Father Helmut Schuller, founder of the Austrian Priests Initiiative, will be speaking about serious issues facing today’s church. Schuller is one of the leading rebels in the Austrian church and, with 400 others, issued an “appeal to disobedience” in 2011, which called for greater participation of the laity in liturgy and decision-making. It should be a very provocative evening to say the least. Published reports say Archbishop Charles Chaput has told leadership at the Catholic college, which is not affiliated with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, that he’s not happy they’re allowing Fr. Schuller to speak, but the show will go on.
On the lighter side, the Paul McKenna Band will be performing at the Sands Casino in Bethlehem on Friday night.
And don’t forget Graeme Park’s Celtic Weekend on July 20 and 21, featuring the Glenngarry Bhoys, Seamus Kennedy, Blackwater, the Celtic Martins, highland athletics. There will be border collie demonstrations and Irish dancing too. The event takes place at the historic Keith House on County Line Road in Horsham.
Look for all the details of these events–and more–on our calendar.