Food & Drink

These Scones are the Berry Best

Strawberry season has just arrived where I live in the northeast.

The season is over almost as quickly as it arrives, so I grab as many as possible and eat, bake, or freeze them as fast as I can.

As the Fourth of July approaches, they’re especially colorful in red, white and blue scones, treats you can actually eat from morning to night—lathered with a little butter or clotted cream for breakfast or brunch or with a dollop of whipped cream for dessert.

You’ll find similar scone recipes in Favorite Flavors of Ireland; order signed copies at www.irishcook.com Continue Reading

June 20, 2019 by
How to Be Irish in Philly

How to Be Irish in Philly This Week

A busy weekend ahead for Irish goings-on. Let’s get right down to it.

On Saturday, it’s time for the Charlie Dunlop Memorial Fund Golf Outing at Cobbs Creek Golf Course, 7400 Lansdowne Avenue in Philadelphia, with a shotgun start of 1 p.m.

The Charlie Dunlop Memorial Fund helps people who have run into financial difficulty due to illness, death, or loss of income through no fault of their own. The fund has helped 65 families or individuals over the past six years, to the tune of more than $150,000.

There will be prizes for closest to the pin on all par threes and longest drive on 7 and 11. Entry fee is $100 per player, and includes light snacks, dinner, golf and prizes.

For information contact John Cullen 610-213-5370 or Paddy Rooney 610-789-6969. Continue Reading

June 14, 2019 by
Arts, Music, Videos

Dave Curley in Concert

There’s not much that can top the pleasure of spending a Sunday evening in early June listening to Dave Curley performing live for the Philadelphia Ceili Group. And the crowd gathered at the Commodore John Barry Arts & Cultural Center last week got to bask in the experience firsthand. It won’t be the same as being there yourself, but Irish Philadelphia captured a few of Dave’s songs on video which we bring to you here.

Hailing from Corofin in County Galway, Dave is a triple threat in the world of Irish music: a multi-instrumentalist, a singer and a dancer. For the past several years, he’s been touring with the groups SLIDE and RUNA, and more recently he’s been performing with fellow SLIDE bandmate, Mick Broderick (the duo released an acclaimed CD that can be found on his website).

But Dave Curley performing solo is a treat for the ears that shouldn’t be missed. If you’re able to be in the York County vicinity tomorrow, Saturday, June 15th, be sure to catch him at the Penn-Mar Irish Festival. At the very least, watch the videos and be sure not to miss him the next time he’s in the area!

June 14, 2019 by
Arts, Photo Essays, Photos

Irish Writers Photo Exhibit Makes Its Debut at Neumann

Beyond the Words: Portraits of Irish Writers, photographer Robin Hiteshew’s exhibition at Neumann University, drew an audience of many admirers for its opening reception Tuesday night.

It was an eye-opener for the visitors who dropped by to spend time with Hiteshew’s photos of writers and poets such as Seamus Heaney, Moya Cannon, Michael Longlay, Ann Enright, and Mike McCormack, author of Ireland’s Novel of the Year, “Solar Bones,” who was in attendance.

The work represents 39 years’ worth of work for Hiteshew, who most times found complete and generous cooperation from his subjects—and other times needed to nudge a little. It was all worthwhile, as his exhibition will attest. Continue Reading

June 13, 2019 by
Photo Essays, Photos

Phillies Irish Heritage Night 2019

It’s a cinch that more than a few lined the outfield railings of Citizen Bank Park Wednesday night to get a close-up view of the Phillies-Diamondbacks game. Probably just as well—the home team lost.

They were mostly proud parents with their cell phone cameras at the ready, as Irish dancers from several Philadelphia-area schools took to the warning track of CBP to put on a high-stepping pre-game exhibition.

The reason? It was the Phillies’ annual Irish Heritage Celebration.

The Irish traditional band Fig for a Kiss also put on a well-received exhibition of their own at Pass and Stow restaurant. (More cell-phone cameras.)

Not to be outdone, we had a camera of our own.

These photos are the result.

June 13, 2019 by
Music, People

Joe Reavy: Reflections on “a Great Run”

Irish musicians throughout the world are familiar with the music of Philadelphia’s Ed Reavy. That so many know his work is largely a tribute to his son, Joseph M. Reavy, 91, recipient of Mid-Atlantic Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann’s Gradam Comaoine/Outstanding Contribution Award, conferred June 8 at the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Region’s Hall of Fame Banquet. It was Joe Reavy—a talented multi-instrumental musician in his own right—who collected and transcribed his father’s many tunes into a thick book of sheet music.

He is characteristically self-effacing when he talks about the project.

“I don’t want to put myself in the forefront,” he says. “This is my father’s music. I published it so people would know it. He had an unbelievable musical memory, but my father did not write out the music. Of course, I read music and so I did most of the work, unless it was very, very technical stuff, and then I would call on someone else to help with it. Musicians—especially among advocates and people who loved his music—welcomed this (compilation) because they could put it in front of other musicians who maybe didn’t know too much about Irish music. I spent two years’ time with my father; almost every week we worked on it.

“It was just wonderful working with him. I learned so much. Even though he didn’t know how to write out the music, he knew how to talk about music. He had the greatest memory for tunes.” Continue Reading

June 9, 2019 by
How to Be Irish in Philly

How to Be Irish in Philly This Week

Summer’s here and the time is right for Irish and Celtic events of all kinds.

We’ll start with what is shaping up to be a very busy Saturday.

Kilt Fest, a celebration of all things Celtic, debuts at the Trifecta Sporting Club, 4666 East Bristol Road in Feasterville, Bucks County. It’s the first time on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware for this event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Strap your kilt on for the Kilted Fun Run, which starts the day (10 a.m. to 11 a.m.). Kilts are mandatory for this one, though for nothing else during the day.

Gaelic sports continue the festival at noon, running through 5 p.m., with kids’ Highland games from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Irish dance goes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. And there’s music, including na Bodach and the Kilted Rogues, both of which combine Scottish and Irish elements, together with entertainers like C.J. Mills and Seamus McGroary. Also: food and vendors throughout the grounds.

Sounds like a great time. Continue Reading

June 7, 2019 by
Arts, News

Orbis Books and Villanova University’s Center for Peace and Justice Education Host Event Honoring Daniel Berrigan

NEWS RELEASE: Orbis Books, the publishing arm of the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, and Villanova University’s Center for Peace and Justice Education will host an event honoring the late Jesuit priest, poet, prophet and peace activist Daniel Berrigan on Sunday, June 9th, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Driscoll Auditorium of Villanova University. The event is free and the public is invited.

James Carroll, former Catholic priest and award-winning author, will be the featured speaker at the event. Carroll, a fellow activist and former priest on the Catholic Left, was a close friend and spiritual brother of Father Berrigan.

The event will include the unveiling of a commissioned 4- by 5-foot oil portrait of  Father Berrigan by renowned artist Ruane Manning and a book signing and talk by Jim Forest, author of At Play in the Lion’s Den, a memoir and biography of Father Berrigan, followed by a reception and entertainment by Hollis Payer on fiddle and Rob Curto  on accordion. Continue Reading

June 5, 2019 by