Published: Aug 12, 2007
By: Jeff Meade
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| Singer Eugenia Brennan, flanked by her brother John, right, and friend Mike Burke at the 2006 Ceili Group Festival. Eugenia is on the bill again for this festival. |
We’re halfway to St. Patrick’s Day, but you don’t have to wait ‘til March to get your Irish on. September is jammed with some of the hottest Celtic activities you’re likely to celebrate all year.
Here’s what’s up:
What: The 33rd Annual Philadelphia Ceili Group Festival.
When: Sept. 5—Sept. 9
Where: Philadelphia Irish Center/Commodore Barry Club, 6815 Emlen St., Philadelphia, PA 19119
The Philadelphia Ceili Group is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The annual festival marks the kick-off. For the first time, the festival stretches to five full days, starting with a celebration of the spoken word on the first night (featuring readings by Father John McNamee. award-winning poet Mildred Collier and many others). We move on to a concert of songs the following night. The big Friday night concert features the fabulous Irish band Lunasa.
Saturday is a day full of music and dance, with some great musicians on hand, including Aoife Clancy (just how many Clancys are there, anyway?) and Robbie O'Connell, uilleann piper Jerry O'Sullivan, flutist Kevin Henry, McDermott’s Handy, Kevin and Jimmy McGillian with Judy Brennan, and many more. Marianne MacDonald will be hosting an Irish house party, as well. And if you’re running short of Irish and Celtic tchochkes, there will be vendors on hand, too. (Look for our table.)
The festival closes out on Sunday with dancing from 2 p.m. until the cows come home.
What: The Green Lane Park Scottish and Irish Festival and Highland Games
When: Sept. 7—Sept. 9
Where: Green Lane Park, 2144 Snyder Road, Green Lane (upper Montgomery County)
Oh, what to do, what to do … the Ceili Festival or this three-day Celtic gathering in Upper Montgomery County?
We can’t tell you what to do, but we can tell you that the Green Lane Festival is a kick.
This year features an opening night concert by the Tartan Terrors and the energetic Burning Bridget Cleary. Saturday and Sunday feature all the usual summertime festival foods and vendors, together with more music and appearances by several local bagpipe bands. There are sheepdog trials—those puppies are amazing to watch—and Highland games. You might even catch a glimpse of Nessie.
What: “Trad,” a play presented by the local Inis Nua Theatre Company
When: Sept. 12—Sept. 15
Where: Mum Puppettheatre, 115 Arch St., Philadelphia
The Philly Fringe Festival takes on a Celtic flavor with this play, which brings gritty contemporary plays from the Celtic world, including America. Trad, the promoters say, is “the hilarious tale of hundred-year-old Thomas and his improbably old, ancient Da.” The show features live Irish music. This one looks to be a winner.
What: Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly in concert
When: Sept. 13, from 7 to 10 p.m.
Where: Festival Pier, Columbus Boulevard and Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia
Formed in Boston in 1996, Dropkick Murphys combines all the musical influences they grew up with (punk, Irish trad, rock, and hardcore) into "one loud, raucous, chaotic, and often out-of-tune mix that we could call our own." They're joined onstage by Flogging Molly, an LA Irish-American punk band.
What: “The Lonesome West,” a play by Martin McDonagh, directed by David O’Connor
When: Sept. 14—Oct. 6
Where: Lantern Theater Company, At St. Stephen's Theater, 10th & Ludlow Streets in Philadelphia
How often does it happen that not one, but two great works of Irish theatre are playing in the city at the same time?
The opening of “The Lonesome West” overlaps the opening of “Trad,” but it’s in town longer. So, yes, you can catch both.
McDonagh wrote 2005 Tony Award-winning “The Pillowman,” presented last year by Wilma Theatre. “The Lonesome West” is described as a “savagely funny comedy,” situated in the tiny Irish town of Leenane. There are two brothers, Valene and Coleman, whose primary occupation in life is to make the other one miserable. In the end, the local parish priest intervenes … but too late?
You’ll just have to see it for yourself.
Read "See You in September - Part 2
