IrishCentral New Jersey - b5cc3275d518416eacb61d676e8d84d1

New Jersey Fleadh weekend a huge success (IrishCentral)

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:18:51 PDT

Pearl River 2013 under-12 ceili band at the Parsippany Fleadh (Photos by Sean Conway)Parsippany, New Jersey -- In last week’s column we extolled the virtues of the visionary people who were concerned with the disappearance of traditional Irish music and dance after World War II and took action to reverse the tide before it was too late Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann had created a fleadh system in rudimentary fashion as a vehicle to encourage young people to learn music and provide incentives for taking on their native music As we noted, the concept has mushroomed to the point where there are probably more people playing and enjoying Irish traditional music than at any time in its history on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean READ MORE

The Jersey Shore is back after Hurricane Sandy - The Irish Festival kicks off (IrishCentral)

Sat, 11 May 2013 04:33:37 PDT

Seamus KelleherMy business travel and book tours take me all over America, and prior to Hurricane Sandy somebody would always make a joke about big hair and MTV’s “gym/tan/laundry” ethos of our shore when I revealed I am from New Jersey Sandy natural disaster changed all that “How are you guys making out?” people now ask sympathetically, their furrowed brow showing concern and a begrudging respect for the Garden State’s toughness Well, I am happy to report that while we are still coping with raw damage in many towns, there has been tremendous progress made and the people in Spring Lake are eager to show it off READ MORE

‘Pain & Gain’ star Mark Wahlberg loves 'Jersey Shore' (IrishCentral)

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 05:33:33 PDT

Wahlberg stars in the upcoming film "Pain and Gain"The 'Pain & Gain' actor used to secretly watch the now cancelled MTV show - but only when his children Ella, nine, Michael, seven, Brendan, four and three-year-old Grace, didn't knowHe said: "I enjoyed watching 'Jersey Shore' when my kids weren't around, it's one of those things you can't turn off"While the 'Jersey Shore' men are renowned for their buff bodies and love of the gym, Mark recently got in shape for 'Pain & Gain' and while his wife, Rhea Durham, was initially impressed, she wasn't happy when the training led to him getting injuredMark, 41, told Us Weekly magazine: "At first she was excited to see me get fit READ MORE

The flowers continue after marching season - hope, romance and remembering the past in New Jersey (IrishCentral)

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 04:18:10 PDT

St Patrick's Day roses fade away as spring emerges in JerseyThe white roses with the deep green tint I gave Honey Badger for Saint Patrick’s Day faded just a bit slower than our month-long Irish marching season here in New JerseyThey stand dead now in the vase still looking romanticThe parades are history, kept only in photos and stories as memoriesBut the flowers go on READ MORE

Star of ‘Tallafornia’ - Ireland’s ‘Jersey Shore’ - threatens to sue over Facebook photobomb (IrishCentral)

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 05:17:47 PDT

Phil Penny gets prankedPhil Penny, one of the stars of Irish reality program ‘Tallafornia,’ is threatening to sue after becoming victim of a harmless albeit embarrassing photobomb that made its way to FacebookPenny, who is the Irish equivalent of The Situation from 'Jersey Shore,’ was at an airport recently when he obliged to taking a photo with a fanHowever, as a prank, the fan had scrawled the word ‘prick’ with an arrow on his arm pointing to PennyThe photo, of course, wound up on the fan’s Facebook page and quickly began racking up likes and comments READ MORE

Arizona-bound New Jersey dog mistakenly put on flight to Ireland (IrishCentral)

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 05:15:28 PDT

By: IrishCentral Staff Writers

Hendrix, a six-year-old English springer spaniel, was set to fly on a United Airlines flight from Newark to Phoenix last week but was sent to Shannon, Ireland instead.

Niall Horan wears an Irish soccer jersey on stage with One Direction in Dublin - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 06:26:38 PST

By: KERRY O’SHEA

Resident Irish lad of One Direction, Niall Horan, was so excited about the group’s show in Dublin that he wore an Irish jersey during the performance.

Fun and wakes before Irish marching season of St Patrick's Day kicks off in New Jersey (IrishCentral)

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:17:00 PST

Green Spell playing at the Irish wake in Seaside Heights to benefit the Ocean County St Patrick's Day Parade (Photo: Jim Lowney)Some good Irish wakes are always scheduled this time of year around the Garden State They go off like clockworkThe service planned six months in advance is almost always better than one on two days’ notice READ MORE

New Jersey college startup business delivering emergency condoms and keeping students safe - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 10:39:48 PST

By: IrishCentral Staff Writers

When love is in the air but protection is paramount, College of New Jersey (TCNJ) Sophomore Kyle McCabe has the answer. The enterprising student has started CondAm, his all-hours condom delivery service.

Is New Jersey’s Governor Chris Christie too fat to be President of the United States? (IrishCentral)

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:03:07 PST

By: Irish Voice Editorial

Controversy swirled last week over remarks made about New Jersey Governor Chris Christie that he is too fat to be president.

Hoboken St. Patrick’s Day parade cancelled for the second year running in New Jersey - VIDEO (IrishCentral)

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 04:30:16 PST

By: IrishCentral Staff Writers

The news that Hoboken’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade has been cancelled for the second year running will come as unwelcome news for local business owners, still recovering from Superstorm Sandy. However, Lepre-Con pub crawl, will still go ahead.

Irish musician Alan Morrisroe starts New Jersey’s year right (IrishCentral)

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 06:01:22 PST

Alan MorrisroeNow that the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference is over (APAP) and its focus on how to make Irish music commercially viable, it is nice to return to paying attention to the everyday stalwarts who play a large part in keeping traditional music alive in so many quarters Over in New Jersey, the doyenne of traditional Irish music concerts and sessions at the Irish American Association of North Jersey (wwwiaanjorg), Iris Nevins, has another fascinating guest this Saturday, January 26, at 8 p READ MORE

The Christmas lights are in the bin but the Irish shine on in Jersey - Music and events of St. Patrick's Day celebrations begin to raise their heads (IrishCentral)

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 05:31:00 PST

Union County St Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal Jim Tansey (left) plays the pipesThe Christmas season is truly done with all the decorations stored away and with Honey Badger removing my strings of colored lights outside the house with wire cuttersThankfully there are many happenings before I have to debate buying new lights next December and hiding the tools away from herWe didn’t quite make it to the Ancient Order of Hibernians Polar Bear Plunge in Sea Bright two Sundays past READ MORE

An old Irish pound note makes a bit of money in Jersey - reminising and fun with the exchange rate (IrishCentral)

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 05:16:02 PST

An Irish Punt / Pound in old money (Photo: Jim Lowney)Going through the old dresser that is an extension of my desk of sorts, I discovered an old one punt note the other morning No idea how long it’s been there, nor do I recall from where it came They haven’t been made for more than twenty years, at least a decade before the euroSo, I did what everyone today would do READ MORE

Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Union County plan 50th anniversary celebrations (IrishCentral)

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 09:15:48 PST

The Friendly Sons Honor Msgr Hugh A O’Donnell (center) as the 2012 Irishman of the YearThe Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Union County will celebrate their 50th anniversary with a dinner on Friday, January 25 at 7 p READ MORE

With 2012 behind us, Irish Jersey looks forward to the St. Patrick’s Day season (IrishCentral)

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:30:57 PST

Union County St Patrick’s Day ParadeHappy New Year from Irish New Jersey!After making it through a tough twelve months we set our sights on a fresh, hopeful new year and a bright and busy St Patrick’s Season which starts in no timeHoney Badger and I rang in the Irish New Year (7 p READ MORE

Dublin tweep gets epic tweet from Cory Booker - he's got "99 problems" and Irish potholes ain't one (IrishCentral)

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 05:31:02 PST

Cory BookerCory Booker is on something Twitter A lot The Newark, New Jersey mayor uses the social media platform relentlessly to voice opinions, dispense inspiration, update citizens and engage with them one-on-one over all the issues effecting them, right down to the potholes on their street READ MORE

Clannad enchants New Jersey on their comeback tour (IrishCentral)

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 05:00:28 PDT

ClannadClannad are concluding their first tour in 18 years, and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have caught their show at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood A band insider confessed that the tour has had some highs and lows, with the band selling out many gigs along with half-empty halls along the way“When you’ve been away this long, I think you have to build the brand back and remind people why they loved you in the first place,” he reasoned If that was the mission for the night they accomplished it in Englewood with an enchanting, mystical set stepped in the band’s deep catalog READ MORE

“The local summer” in full swing with the Jersey Shore Irish Festival in Sea Girt (IrishCentral)

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 02:47:14 PDT

AmaudaunPsst! Wanna know a secret? Once the big crowds pack up their beach chairs and umbrellas on Labor Day, the Jersey Shore begins what is known as “the local summer” That’s when the year-round residents squeeze a few weekends of uncluttered beach time as September weekends yield the last few chances of fun and sun! There is also a sham-rocking tradition in this part of the sand known as the Irish Riviera Celts of all shapes and sizes go to the Jersey Shore Irish Festival on the Sea Girt National Guard Armory (Camp Drive and Sea Girt Avenue) in Sea Girt One of my favorite bands (with the wickedest of names) is Amadaun, a rollicking outfit from New Jersey that blends traditional Celtic roots with contemporary rock, bluegrass, Cajun, world music and folk rock influences READ MORE

Stood up by 'Jersey Shore' star The Situation (IrishCentral)

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:45:14 PST

Last Thursday, our own Niall O'Dowd gave me a very serious journalistic assignment He'd heard that the Jersey Shore's reigning king, "The Situation," was making his first New York appearance at McFadden's, and Niall wanted me to go and cover the story "No, seriously," he said, "You write very well about lowbrow culture" Gee, thanks, Niall READ MORE