All posts from Denise Foley
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Irish Viral Sensation “Hallelujah” Priest Father Ray Kelly To Perform at Little Flower Charity Event
Are you one of the 91 million who got goosebumps watching the YouTube video of an Irish Catholic priest sing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” in a perfect tenor voice to a young couple whose wedding he just performed? That was Father Ray Kelly, a former missionary turned pastor of a parish in County Meath, who at 61 became an overnight viral sensation. Later, he went on to wow the usually scowling Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent […] Read More
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Love’s Labors Won: The Philadelphia Fleadh
Photo: Chrissy and CJ Mills, Fleadh organizers. Photographer: Tom Keenan The Philadelphia Fleadh—a one-day extravaganza of Celtic rock bands and trad muscians—has become so well known worldwide that organizer CJ Mills gets dozens of requests from international bands asking to perform. He always says no. Is this man crazy? Not really. He’s just a real hometown guy. “All of our bands are local,” says Mills who has played fiddle with several bands in the area. “They’re […] Read More
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How the Irish Built Philadelphia
By Aidan McElwee Photo: Dublin-born Matthew Carey, publisher, economist, and philanthropist in Philadelphia Philadelphia has been a home for Irishmen and Irishwomen for generations. William Penn himself was Irish on his father’s side. At the turn of the 19th century, 5,000 Irish-born people were living in Philadelphia. By 1860, 95,000 Irishmen and Irishwomen lived in Philadelphia marking the largest immigrant population in the city. Today, 10% of the entire city has Irish roots, roughly 160,000 […] Read More
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Kevin Burke Draws a Sellout Crowd in Philly
By Robin O’Brien Hiteshew On Thursday, November 16, the Philadelphia Ceili Group presented a solo concert by fiddle player Kevin Burke at the Irish Center. It marked the first time in twelve years Kevin has appeared in Philadelphia. Attendance was approximately 135 in the fireside room of the center and it was clear that they were there to see Kevin. Most knew his playing from the various bands Kevin played with through the past forty […] Read More
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Barry Keoghan Stars in Philly Film Festival Closer: A Review
By Nathan Lerner Film Critic For three consecutive years, the Philadelphia Film Festival has allocated some of its most coveted slots to vehicles that showcased Irish talent. In 2021, the festival’s opening night film was Belfast, the loosely autobiographical work, penned and directed by Kenneth Branagh. It recounted his childhood in Northern Ireland’s capital city. In 2022, the festival kicked off with The Banshees of Inisherin. The tale was set on a fictitious island in Galway Bay, off the […] Read More
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Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame Inductees 2023: The Conaghan Family
By Lori Lander Murphy When the Conaghans are welcomed into the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame as 2023 inductees, it will be both as a family and as individuals who have devoted their lives to their Irish community. Sarah, Karen and Mary Conaghan consider themselves exceedingly fortunate to have grown up as the daughters of Tom and Mary Conaghan. They couldn’t help but be influenced by the parents’ who met at a dance hall […] Read More
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Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame Inductees 2023: Pat and Nancy Boyle
By Liz Kerr Pat and Nancy Boyle could very well win the title of most philanthropic couple in Philadelphia. Their generosity and dedication to those in need, particularly toward children, is unmatched. In their careers, Pat and Nancy have lived a life of service to others. Pat served as a member of the Philadelphia Police Department from 1966 to 2004, when he retired at the rank of Detective. Nancy dedicated her career to caring for […] Read More
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Commodore Barry Award Winner 2023: Pari Livermore
By Lori Lander Murphy The Commodore John Barry Arts & Cultural Center is far from the first organization to benefit from Pari Livermore’s generosity of spirit and commitment to fundraising, but the institution better known as the Irish Center may be the most appreciative. She, along with co-chair Kathy McGee Burns, organized last year’s wildly successful Top 100 Irish Women in Philadelphia event that raised much needed funds for the Center. To the many in […] Read More
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Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame Inductee 2023: Pete Hand
Pete Hand’s Irish heritage, like that of many Irish Americans, was always a bit of a mystery. “My family is from County Mayo on my father’s side, but I was never told how far back,” he says. “My aunt used to say that a Hand fought in every American war since the Civil War so it must have been very far back.” Mystery aside, there’s no doubt that his Irishness has always been a fixture […] Read More
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A Beau-tea-ful Send-Off for Philly’s Rose
Marissa Berry, Philadelphia’s 2023 Rose of Tralee, will be heading off to Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland in a week to participate in the annual international festival that’s been going on since 1957. She’ll be competing with Roses from around the world for the coveted title of International Rose of Tralee. Friends, family and members of the Philadelphia Irish community gave her a send-off tea at the Irish Diaspora Center in Havertown on Sunday. The 28-year-old […] Read More