-
Easy For Easter: Sweet Lemon Loaf
It’s a safe bet that you’ll find slices of this cake offered in tea rooms, coffee shops, home kitchens, and take-aways throughout the Emerald Isle. It’s a “standard” to which bakers often add a personal touch — think extra lemon (or orange) zest in the cake or fresh herbs in the drizzle — and it would be a delightful addition to your Easter menu. Nicholas Mosse (Bennettsbridge, County Kilkenny), one of Ireland’s most well-known pottery […] Read More
-
Raise a Toast to the Inspired Creator of Pops McCann Irish Whiskey
Jason Fogg grew up in the bar business. So, it’s probably not a big surprise that he is the driving force behind Pops McCann Whiskey, his brainchild and a means of perpetuating family history. Now, Fogg has opened a storefront in Wayne, where patrons can imbibe his whiskeys, and hand-crafted cocktails. Fogg’s mother, Mary Frances (Frassee), has been a bartender for 45 years, and his father owned a neighborhood bar in Juniata Park, Pat’s Pub. […] Read More
-
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
-
A Tin Pan Alley Tribute To Dad
By Frank Keel March is the Month of the Irish and, of course, St. Patrick’s Day is the pinnacle of the celebration of our shared Irish heritage. It’s an especially joyous time here in Philadelphia, which for a long, long time boasted the largest Irish population per capita in the United States (Boo, Boston!) I have treasured St. Patrick’s Day my entire adult life but since my Dad, Frank Sr., passed in 2021, the day […] Read More
-
Hearty Fare for St. Patrick’s Day
Nothing warms the heart on St. Patrick’s Day more than the mashed potato-topped casserole known as Shepherd’s Pie. In a land where sheep were traditionally a primary food supply, it’s not surprising that lamb is the foundation for many Irish farmhouse dishes, especially this long-time favorite originally created as an economical way to use leftover lamb. If you’re headed out to a parade, this make-ahead meat and vegetable pie, topped with a crust of mashed […] Read More
-
Local Building Trades Union Helps Parents Find “Angel Eyes” to Keep Watch Over Their Preemies
By Frank KeelThe birth of a child is one of life’s most joyous experiences. But for the parents of prematurely born infants, the first few months of their frail child’s life can be an incredibly stressful time. In 2022, preterm births affected about one of every 10 infants born in America. The “preemie” phenomenon knows no geographic boundaries. Each year, in Ireland, for example, 4,500 babies are born too small, too soon and too sick. The […] Read More
-
In Honor of Tea
Serious tea drinkers and wellness enthusiasts celebrate “National Hot Tea Month” in January. During the month, many extol the virtues of tea drinking for health reasons, while others simply celebrate the culture and history of tea, its diverse blends and soothing qualities. Most agree that drinking tea is the perfect way to start the New Year. But none of this comes as a surprise to Irish tea lovers, whom some say have a relationship with tea that “transcends the ordinary” […] Read More
-
Fruitcake Time!
Love it or hate it, fruitcake is one of Christmastime’s most iconic foods. I make no apologies for being one who loves it, and over the years I’ve amassed quite a collection of recipes from sources near and far. While we might credit our Irish mother or grandmother with carrying on the holiday fruitcake-making tradition, we can look even further into history to uncover its possible origin. Ancient Egyptians left fruit-and-nut cakes in graves, the […] Read More
-
Review: “Telling Stories,” by Sabina Clarke
“Telling Stories” is a compilation of interviews by journalist Sabina Clarke, based upon conversations convened with the 44 individuals highlighted in this eclectic book. Spanning Ms. Clarke’s career from 1988 to 2019, the personalities on display offer a spectacular array of human crisis, candor, and interest. Figures defining in the history of Northern Ireland discuss with Clarke the details and process of that region’s peace negotiations, including Gerry Adams and Sen. George Mitchell, respectively interviewed in […] Read More
-
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
