irishphiladelphia.com

The Scottish-Irish Festival brings dozens of great acts to Valley Forge this weekend, but the music goes on and on and on this week. Time to dig out, folks!

When that happens, you get the magical and multinational sounds of RUNA. Lori Lander Murphy interviews this up-and-coming new group that’s appearing locally over the next few weeks.

Call ahead to see if your weekend event is taking a snow day. The Irish Center’s Super Bowl Party to raise money for the St. Paddy’s Day Parade will go on, as will some fabulous music events this week, including Karan Casey, John Doyle, a couple of Bogside Rogues, and the Mid-Winter Scottish-Irish Festival in Valley Forge. Read on for the details.

After a year of challenges, Ed Slivak will don his top hat and pointy ears one last time as the Grand Marshal of the 2010 Conshohocken St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

At the urging of the city’s AOHs–and national president Seamus Boyle–city council passed a resolution supporting a united Ireland. The lawmakers formally presented the AOH with a copy of the resolution last week. It was a personal moment of triumph for Jenkintown’s Liz and Pearse Kerr.

Deirdre Maitre has travelled to Haiti many times to produce films on the nonprofit organizations that are helping to get one of the world’s poorest nations on its feet. She’ll be joining others from the Haitian community on Friday night at the Irish Center to talk about the best ways to help.

The premier Irish-American band is back with a new CD and fresh new sounds.

The price tag is coming down, says Parade Director Michael Bradley. He and other ethnic parade organizers met this week with city council and representatives of Mayor Nutter’s office. Fundraisers are still planned.