How to Be Irish in Philly

This is going to be a busy week, with a particularly busy weekend.

Let’s jump right into it.

Friday, January 24

A quick look at tonight’s schedule: The Shantys will appear at the Black Taxi, 25th and Aspen Streets in the city’s Fairmount neighborhood, starting at 7:30 p.m. Tunes and pints!

Saturday, January 25

It’s Burns Night at Plough & the Stars, 2^nd Street between Market and Chestnut in Old City. Poet Robert Burns was Scottish, not Irish, but he was a Celt, and that’s close enough—and the Plough is nothing if not Irish, of course. The festivities start 6 p.m. There’ll be pipers on hand to play tunes, Highland dancers, and an opportunity or two to sample a wee dram. And best of all (maybe not, though—it’s an acquired taste) haggis! Continue Reading

Big doings in Irish Philly land this week.

We’ll just launch right into things, first a little out of sequence.

Tuesday, January 21-Sunday, January 26

The 25^th anniversary show of Riverdance will be at the Merriam, 250 South Broad Street, this week, featuring Anna Mai Fitzpatrick in a lead dance role and once local (Pittsgrove, N.J.) phenom Haley Richardson on fiddle. Some changes are in store for the show but at heart it’s going to be that same incredible Riverdance you’ve loved all along—lots of high stepping and incredible music. If you’ve never seen Riverdance before—hard to believe you haven’t—by all means, make time in your schedule.

The best way to buy tickets is through the Commodore John Barry Arts & Cultural Center (the Irish Center). The center gets $1 for every ticket sold using the code IRISH. A very worthy cause.

Now back into sequence … Continue Reading

Do you feel lucky? This could be your week, with two opportunities to place your bets and win some money.

Here’s what’s on.

Friday, January 10

It’s Delco Gaels Night at the Races at JD McGillicuddy’s, 8919 West Chester Pike in Upper Darby. The event benefits the Gaels’ Feile team heading to Ireland this summer. They’re off and running at 7 p.m. and it costs $30 to get in. Horse and race sponsorship opportunities are available.

Contact Jim McCormick 484-433-1472 or Christin Harvey 610-547-0062.

Saturday, January 11

Check out Poker Night, sponsored by Kevin Barry Gaelic Football Club, at Con Murphy’s Irish Pub, 1700 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Center City. It all starts at 8 p.m. and costs $100 to enter. Good luck! Continue Reading

It’s a light week, but there’s always a reason to get your Irish Philly on, even if it’s just to visit your favorite Irish watering hole. Maybe especially.

Here’s what’s on:

Friday, January 3

Tonight is the First Friday Music Session at Philly’s great Irish Center, 6815 Emlen Street at Carpenter in Mount Airy.

The session starts at 8 and ends at 10.

If you’ve never gone to a session, it’s a great opportunity to listen to Irish traditional music—or if you play an Irish musical instrument, to sit in and play along with the rest of the crowd. And what better place than at the Irish Center?

Friday, January 10

It’s Delco Gaels Night at the Races! You can join in the fun at JD McGillicuddy’s, 8919 West Chester Pike in Upper Darby. The event benefits the Gaels’ Feile team heading to Ireland this summer. It starts at 7 p.m. and costs $30 to get in. Horse and race sponsorship opportunities are available.

Contact: Jim McCormick 484-433-1472 or Christin Harvey 610-547-0062.

Looking ahead, Riverdance is coming back to Philadelphia January 21-26. You can purchase tickets and help the Irish Center at the same time. Here are the details.

For more events of a regularly scheduled nature, we recommend you visit our calendar. Want to learn how to ceili dance? Looking for more traditional Irish music sessions? Want to know when to catch the latest Irish radio show? It’s all there.

That’s it for this week. See you next time.

Short week in the land of Irish Philadelphia, people. We’re all—or mostly—Christmased out.

Here’s what’s on:

Saturday, December 28

The great Philadelphia Irish band Jamison holds court at Curran’s Tacony, 6900 State Road in Northeast Philly. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. Curran’s is a great place to see and hear them. Hoist one for us.

Sunday, December 29

The holidays are not completely over, particularly for those of you who claim County Dublin heritage. Dublin Society Philadelphia hosts its Christmas party at the Plough and Stars. 2^nd Street between Market and Chestnut, starting at 12 noon. Bring the family, and up the Dubs! Continue Reading

It’s a short week for Irish stuff because … Christmas. (Merry Christmas, by the way.)

But fear not, there are still a couple events and activities to get you in the Irish holiday spirit.

Saturday, December 21

Here’s one of the hands-down best ways to celebrate that holiday. It’s an American Celtic Christmas at the Keswick Theater 291 North Keswick Avenue in Glenside.

This show goes back to 2012, and it just keeps getting better and better. Continue Reading

Still plenty of opportunities to get into the Irish Christmas spirit this week. We can help you find what’s what and what’s where. Here we go.

Friday, December 13

Take in a Christmas Ceili—that’s a night of traditional Irish dance and music—at the Irish Center, 6815 Emlen Street in Mount Airy. Sponsored by the Philadelphia Ceili Group, the fun starts at 7:30 p.m.

Live music will be provided by the McGillians, with John Shields leading the dancing. Tickets are $15 and kids under 16 are free. You’re encouraged to bring a dessert to share.

Also starting at 7:30, it’s Donegal Philadelphia Christmas Bag Bingo. The event takes place at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 1 West Ardmore Avenue in Ardmore. You could win a handbag (or handbags, if you’re lucky) by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade, Longchamp and many more. It costs $30 to play. BYOB and food. Continue Reading

We hope you’re in the holiday spirit. Last week, almost every event featured a Christmas connection. It’s even more so this week.

Here’s what’s on:

Saturday, December 7

Ready for a brisk run or walk? Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 87 is hosting the Tommy “Wengo” Wenger Memorial Jingle Bell 5K Run and 1K Walk and the Annual LAOH Children’s Christmas Party. The race steps off at 9 a.m. at St. George Elementary School, 2700 East Venango Street in Philadelphia.

Santa Claus will be riding along on Fire Engine 81, “The Pride of North Catholic.” Registration is $25, and $15 for kids 10 and under. Cost of admission includes a pancake breakfast, t-shirt and jingle bells for your sneakers so you can music wherever you go. Text your email or home address to Jim Carr at 215-620-6547, and they will send you a registration. Continue Reading