People
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My Life with Uncle Jake
The late, legendary Villanova University Athletic Director John “Jake” Nevin wasn’t my uncle by blood, but he was closer to me and my family than any blood relative could be. As the Irish like to say, we’ll begin at the beginning. Jake lived near my maternal grandparents’ humble Bryn Mawr apartment near Lancaster Avenue, in which my mother, Doris, and my aunt, Joanie, grew up. Sadly, their father (my grandfather), Buck, had a stroke in […] Read More
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Friendly Sons & Daughters of Saint Patrick Celebrate at 252nd Gala
Members of the Friendly Sons & Daughters of Saint Patrick celebrated in black-tie—and often kilted—style Saturday night, packing the banquet room of the Philadelphia Country Club in Gladwyne. The organization, founded in 1771, promotes Irish culture and education, and has a philanthropic mission. Among the invitees were special guest speaker John Crowley, executive chairman of Amicus Therapeutics. Crowley is the subject of a book by Geeta Anand, “The Cure: How a Father Raised $100 Million […] Read More
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Derry Bishop Honors Philly Parade Grand Marshal
Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal Dan Harrell has received many honors and plaudits on this side of the Atlantic. Now, the Most Reverend Donal McKeown, Bishop of Derry, has added his praise from the Emerald Isle.
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Meet Dan Harrell, Philly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal
Dan Harrell is one of my favorite people in the Irish community and this year I and thousands of others will get to watch him lead one of the oldest parades in the United States, the Philadelphia’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Dan is a big, burly man, possessing many amazing talents yet always quick to laugh at himself. Born in Philadelphia’s Presbyterian Hospital on December 4, 1943, to Agnes Bridget McDaid (Drimarone, County Donegal) and James Oliver […] Read More
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Singer Karan Casey Set to Perform in Wilmington
Karan Casey, one of Ireland’s preeminent female singer-songwriters, may hail from County Cork, but she’s still a Philly home girl at heart. Casey, who just returned to the US for a concert tour in support of her acclaimed new record, Nine Apples of Gold (Crow Valley Records), that will bring her to the Grand Opera House in Wilmington, DE, on March 7 and to the Susquehanna Folk Society in Harrisburg on March 8, lived in […] Read More
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Villanova Senior Named 2023 Philadelphia Mary from Dungloe
AnneMarie Caffrey Mentei, a 21-year-old Villanova University senior was crowned the 2023 Mary from Dungloe at the Donegal Ball in early December at The Irish Center in Philadelphia. She accepted her crown from Olivia Lisowski, who wore it for several years because she was unable to travel to Ireland for the international event because of the Covid pandemic. AnneMarie is an Irish Studies major, and is minoring in Peace and Justice and Spanish. At Villanova […] Read More
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Larry Kirwan’s IABCN Acceptance Speech
On Friday February 24, musician, writer, and playwright Larry Kirwan received the Irish American Business Chamber & Network (IABCN) 2023 Uachtarán (President) Award in Philadelphia from Irish Ambassador to the USA, Geraldine Byrne Nason at a Union League luncheon. (Photo Tom Keenan) Kirwan, a Wexford native who emigrated to New York at the age of 21, may be best known for being the front man of the rock band Black 47 and a political activist. […] Read More
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Irish Poet Takes New Post at Villanova
Each spring since 2000, Villanova University chooses a distinguished Irish writer to hold its Charles A. Heimbold Jr. Chair of Irish Studies. Named for a Villanova graduate who was former CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb and US ambassador to Sweden, the Heimbold chair has since become one of the most prestigious Irish studies positions in the United States. The 2023 Heimbold Chair holder is Mary O’Donoghue, who has published books of award-winning poetry which include Tulle (Salmon Poetry, […] Read More