Music and Dance Organizations

Circle of Friends
Meet friends old and new while enjoying set and ceili dancing to music provided by John Shields. Hosted by John Shields. Admission is $10 during the summer months and on the 4th Friday.  $5 every Wednesday starting in the fall.

See our calendar for times and dates.

The Philadelphia Ceili Group
The Ceili Group sponsors regular music and dance events on the last Friday of every month and much more–including its annual festival every September.

The Philadelphia Emerald Society Pipe Band
The award-winning band holds practice every Wednesday evening from 7:30 p.m. in the Commodore Barry Ballroom. Information is available on their website.

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Societies

Derry Society of Philadelphia (Facebook page) A social society for those living in the Delaware Valley from County Derry, and with Derry roots. Our meetings are held every 3rd Sunday of the month at the Irish Center in Mt. Airy.  Their annual Halloween Ball centers around the Spirit of Derry City, the European Capital of Halloween, during the holiday and is held the Saturday before Halloween.

Cavan Society of Philadelphia (Facebook Page) The Cavan Society of Philadelphia was founded on March 17, 1907. We are a society rich in culture and tradition.

Donegal Association of Philadelphia Founded in 1888, described as a “Beneficial, Social, Charitable and Patriotic Association.”

Dublin Society of Philadelphia (Facebook Page) Founded in 2018, the Dublin Society is one of the newest of Irish Societies and Organizations in the Delaware Valley.

The Galway Association of Philadelphia (Facebook page) On a Sunday afternoon in March 1909, a group of eleven immigrants met in Carpenters Hall in Philadelphia to form an Irish society. The purpose according to record, “To cultivate more intimately the generous impulses of the human heart and bring into closer communion the men who have memories to refresh, purposes to declare and objects to accomplish.” This was the beginning of The Galway Society of Philadelphia.

Mayo Association of Philadelphia We are a non-profit Irish American association made up of descendants of County Mayo, Ireland. The association was founded in 1905. The association donates to a number of charities in the Philadelphia area, County Mayo, and other parts of the world. We have worked with other organizations in contributing to the construction of Knock Shrine and Knock Airport in County Mayo, the Galway Cathedral, and The Irish Memorial at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia. Over the years we have helped organizations assisting physically and mentally challenged children such as Western Care, Aras Attracta in County Mayo, and Saint John of God in Westville, New Jersey. The association’s principle fundraising event is our Annual Mayo Ball held on the first Saturday in November.

Tyrone Society of Philadelphia (Facebook Page)

Supporters

Special thanks to The Society of the Friendly Sons & Daughters of St. Patrick (Facebook Page) for their generous support of the Irish Center. Since its inception in Philadelphia in 1771, the Society  has been an active, vibrant organization within the Irish community. Members meet quarterly in the Philadelphia area to conduct Society business, share fellowship and experiences of common heritage.

Special thanks to the Connelly Foundation for their generous support of the Irish Center. Inspired by its Catholic heritage, the Connelly Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in the Philadelphia region by supporting charitable organizations in the areas of education, human services, culture, and civic life that strengthen resilience and help people to flourish.