Investigating the Irish Diaspora in Photos

The Irish Diaspora in Philadelphia, Part I

Irish music and dance was big in Philadelphia long before Sinead O'Connor shaved her head and became a priest or Michael Flatley stepdanced his way to numerous lawsuits. Keep your eyes open for the historical proof of my assertions.

The photos in this slide show are in three categories -- first, a trip to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to dig into the collection from the now defunct Balch Institute for Ethic Studies. After walking around the lovely building designed by Quaker architect Addison Hutton, which was built in 1902, I settled into the Robin Hiteshaw collection, and found old flyers from Irish-American dances, benefits and applications to benevolent societies. Great fun could be had for 15 cents at one time in Philadelphia's Irish-American community!

Next, I walked down Juniper to Drury, where my brother Steve joined me at McGillin's Olde Ale House, which was founded by two Irish immigrants in 1860, and is now in a countdown to its 150th anniversary. Though Steve spent many a happy hour at McGillin's in the past, he didn't know that it is an ancestral watering hole of the Allen clan, having been frequented by our late grandfather. Sláinte, Steve!

Finally, a friend joined me to vist The Irish Memorial, located at Front and Chesnut Streets on Penn's Landing, in view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. This memorial by Glenna Goodacre commemorates the Irish Potato Famine, which began in 1840, and lasted through 1846. It caused the deaths of one million Irish citizens, and created a massive migration to America. The memorial features 35 individual bronze statues that depict the hopelessness and desperation of life in Ireland during the Famine; the ordeal of the ocean voyage to Philadelphia and other American ports; and the hopeful arrival on the shores of the Delaware River.

Someone I met at McGillin's told me Sinead and the Lord of the Dance himself modeled for the Memorial.

Mere blarney I did not investigate.

Philadelphia Ale House Celebrates 150 Years

Congratulations to McGillin's Olde Ale House, which began a 150-day countdown to its 150th anniversary with the launch of its own beer, McGillin's IPA 1860 (Indian Pale Ale.) The brew is unfiltered, as it would have been in 1860, the year the pub was opened by two Irish immigrants, "Ma" and "Pa" McGillin. It was then known as The Bell in Hand, according to the Website.

After 150 years of doing business, it's safe to say that from humble beginnings in a row home on Drury Street, the oldest Irish pub in Philadelphia has arrived. An AP article about McGillin's was carried today in the New York Times .

If my Irish grandfather -- a Germantown resident who frequented the Center City establishment -- was alive to help celebrate, I'm guessing he would say McGillin's "... is a stalwart friend to any Irishman in need of 'the nip of the creature.'"

In my family, on special occasions, the adults would be called into the kitchen to celebrate being together, and "the nip" was Jameson Irish Whiskey -- the older, the better.

Someday, I hope someone explains the derivation of " the nip of the creature." Maybe I should head to McGillin's to see if a friendly patron can offer an explanation. Until then, I can only imagine that this colorful phrase describes a taste of a primeval elixir, good for what ails you. As long as it is just a nip.

N.B. - "creature" was pronounced "cray-chur." Accent on the first syllable.