The Irish Center
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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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Irish Story Hour Debuts at The Irish Center This Weekend
When Marianne MacDonald first went into teaching, she loved reading books to her students. Today, she does early intervention for kids with disabilities so the only reading to kids she does is to her two youngest grandsons. “As soon as I see them they say, ‘Read to us, Grandma!’ says MacDonald, who hosts the “Come West Along the Road” radio show on WTMR 800AM on Sunday at noon and runs Trad Tours, a travel company that […] Read More
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Looking for Some Craic? Face “The Consequences”
They call themselves “The Consequences,” but this exciting young Irish trad group could have called themselves “The Champions.” Because they all are. Lexie Boatright is a multiple All-Ireland award winning harpist and concertina player. Jake James is a two-time All-Ireland fiddle champion. Cara Wildman is an All-Ireland champion bodhran player. And pianist and accordion player Ryan Ward is the current reigning Senior All-Ireland Accompaniment Champion. They come from all over: Lexi from the Washington, DC, area, […] Read More
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RUNA and the Choctaw Nation: A Friendship Rekindled
Photo of RUNA with members of the Choctaw Nation by Brad Joe In 1847, members of the Choctaw Nation, who had lost one-sixth of their population in the forced resettlement known as the Trail of Tears only a decade before, did a remarkable thing. It was an act of kindness that would reverberate throughout 175 years of history and create a permanent friendship between two cultures an ocean apart. Members of the indigenous tribe met […] Read More