irishphiladelphia.com

Bloomsday–a celebration of James Joyce’s “Ulysses”–takes place on Thursday at the Rosenbach Museum in Philadelphia, but there are lots of events all week to recall Leopold Bloom’s meander around Dublin. Including a Quizzo! There’s also a play about Bram Stoker’s Dracula, a night at the races benefit, Irish Heritage Night at the Camden Riversharks and more!

The Irish Edition’s longtime photographer is accustomed to blending into the background. Sunday, at the Penn’s Landing Irish Festival, he’ll have his moment in the spotlight as he accepts an award for his service to Philadelphia’s Irish community.

It’s one huge party for the Irish (and wannabes) this Sunday along the Delaware River waterfront at Penn’s Landing’s Great Plaza.

For County Donegal essayist Tom Finnigan, summer’s signs are all around, from the whitewash on the bridge to tattered political signs on the lamp posts.

Rugby, an Irish festival on the Delaware and another in Mont Clare, Blackthorn, Jamison, a little Dracula, and John Byrne in Ardmore–it’s shaping up to be a great week to be Irish.

All women of high achievement, all those honored paused to remember the influential people in their lives who inspired them.

Irish dancers and the Brian Boru pipe band on the field, great Irish bands in and around the stadium concourse, and maybe best of all, John and Michael Boyce of Blackthorn singing the National Anthem.

On his trip to Ireland, President Obama told the story of the great friendship between Frederick Douglass, former slave and great social reformer, and Daniel O’Connell, Ireland’s “Emancipator.” But Irish immigrants and African-Americans weren’t always so friendly, especially in Philadelphia. Historian Michael Carolan recounts that tale.