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Celtic Poets: Dylan Thomas

Nora Summers, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Dylan Thomas was a poet and writer who was born in Wales. He was known for his profound work, which he wrote from a young age. By the age of 21, he was considered to be the leading Anglo-Welsh poet in his time.  One of his most famous works is “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night.”

Celtic Nature: Oak Trees

Oak tree
Oak tree. Photo by Alexander Kovalev: https://www.pexels.com/photo/green-tree-2871478/

Oak trees are found throughout the world, mostly in the northern hemisphere. Nations revere the tree, which is known as the “king of the forest.” The Celtic world, which is known for its connection to nature, has a particular relationship and fondness for the tree.

Celtic Events: April 2026

April 2026 Celtic Events
April 2026 Celtic Events

From Highland Gatherings to jazz festivals and everything in between, there is something for everyone to do this month, whether you want to embrace your own Celtic roots or learn more about Celtic culture. If you know of any upcoming events, either in April or otherwise, please reach out!

Play Review: "The Weir"

"The Weir" at Irish Heritage Theatre
"The Weir" at Irish Heritage Theatre

On March 28, 2026, the Irish Heritage Theatre performed “The Weir.” The show starred Brian Rock, Oliver Donahue, Rob Hargraves, Aiden McDonald, and Kristen Quinn. It was put on at Plays and Players Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Book Review: "Peppa Pig: Peppa Loves St. Patrick's Day" by Scholastic

“Peppa Pig: Peppa Loves St. Patrick’s Day” tells the tale of Peppa Pig’s adventure in Ireland with her family to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. When the St. Patrick’s Day festival is canceled due to the musicians not having their instruments, Peppa and her family save the day with souvenir instruments they bought.

While this book has a bird’s-eye view of how the holiday is celebrated, it fails to have any substance on why the holiday is celebrated. This may be good for younger readers, but it is still important to teach kids about holidays from a young age. Kids can learn new things, even at a really young age, and learning about different cultures and why they celebrate certain holidays is crucial.

Concert Review: Celtic Woman's "A New Era"

Celtic Woman, "A New Era"
Celtic Woman, "A New Era"

On March 17, 2026, Celtic Woman performed at the Keswick Theater in Glenside, Pennsylvania, as a part of their New Era tour. The lineup for the show included Mairéad Carlin, Kate Heneghan, Muirgen O'Mahony, Caitríona Sherlock, as well as other backing musicians.

The concert featured iconic songs from Celtic Woman’s past, such as “Danny Boy” and “Orinoco Flow”, as well as new surprises. Whether you have been a fan since the start or have just recently discovered the group, there is something for everyone to connect with and enjoy.

Celtic Women: Mary Robinson

Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson. Image Credit: MONUSCO/John Bompengo, 
CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Mary Robinson was the first woman president of Ireland. She served in this role from 1990 to 1997. She helped pave the way for future women presidents of Ireland and fought for human rights, even after her presidency was over.

Celtic Events: Upper Bucks Celtic Festival 2026

Upper Bucks Celtic Festival 2026
Upper Bucks Celtic Festival 2026. Photo credit: Ashley Paskill
 

On March 14, 2026, Perkasie held its annual Upper Bucks Celtic Festival. The event featured a variety of vendors, entertainment, and activities for people of all ages to enjoy within downtown Perkasie. It was a great day that was enjoyed by participants and attendees alike.

Seamus Meenagh Legacy Fund To Host Fundraiser

Seamus Meenagh Legacy Fund
Seamus Meenagh Legacy Fund

On April 18, 2026, the Seamus Meenagh Legacy Fund is hosting a fundraiser at the Irish Center in Philadelphia. The tickets for the event are $30, and the proceeds raised will benefit mental health, wellness, and addiction recovery in the community.

Concert Review: Altan

Altan
Altan at Sellersville Theater. Photo credit: Ashley Paskill

On March 14, 2026, Irish band Altan performed at Sellersville Theater in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. The lineup for the tour features Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh on fiddle and vocals, Ciarán Curran on bouzouki, Mark Kelly on guitar, Máirtín Tourish on accordion, and Clare Friel on violin.

Throughout the show, it felt like the audience was in one of the band members’ living rooms, watching them play music and talk. They included the audience in conversations as well. They are HILARIOUS. We were all laughing at so many points, and at one point, audience members could hear band members laughing off stage.

Book Review: "Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase" by James Dean

"Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase" by James Dean

 “Pete the Cat: The Great Leprechaun Chase” is a book written by James Dean. The audiobook narrator was James Fouhey. The book was published on July 14, 2020. Pete the Cat tries to help his friends achieve their goals by bringing them luck. To achieve this, he opens a Catch A Leprechaun stand, where he tries to catch a leprechaun.

The leprechaun spoke in limerick poems, which feels fitting. The rhymes in the poems are natural and well done. The audiobook narrator read the limericks in their proper rhythm and flow, which made the book sound even more festive.

Celtic Women: Lady Gregory

Lady Gregory was a playwright and patron of the arts during the Renaissance. She was born Isabella Augusta Persse on March15, 1852 in Roxborough, Ireland. She was a famous playwright and author. She also cofounded the Abbey Theatre. Her parents were Dudley Persse and his second wife, Frances Barry.

In her personal life, she had married her husband, Sir William Gregory, in 1881, who died in 1892. They had a son together named Robert, who was shot and killed in battle while he was serving in Italy in World War I. WB Yeats memorialized Robert in of his poems several poems.

Book Review: "The Littlest Leprechaun" by Brandi Dougherty


 “The Littlest Leprechaun” was written by Brandi Dougherty and illustrated by Michelle Lisa Todd. It tells the tale of a leprechaun named Liam who is trying to find the perfect job for himself. He struggles to find something that he is good at.

This book is a great motivator for children who are looking to find their place in the world. It can also be a motivating book for adults who are struggling to find their perfect job to do to make a living for themselves and their family.

Beyond the Song: “Will Ye No Come Back Again?” by Carolina Oliphant

Bonnie Prince Charlie
Bonnie Prince Charlie by Richard Croft, CC BY-SA 2.0 

Carolina Oliphant’s “Will ye no come back again?” is a sad Jacobite song that was written in the early 19th century. It was written by Perthshire-born Carolina Oliphant, who is also known as Lady Nairne.  The song is also known as “Bonnie Charlie” and “Bonnie Prince Charlie.” Like many other songs, it discusses the aftermath of the Jacobite Rising and the Battle of Culloden.

Lady Nairne came from a Jacobite family. She was a songwriter, but also collected Scottish songs. Bonnie Prince Charlie stopped at the Nairne house on September 4, 1745, on his way to Edinburgh. Lady Nairne’s father was exiled the next year, but the family held onto objects that were given to them by Prince Charles.

Celtic Throughlines: Enya

Orlando Sentinel/ Associated Press, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
 

For me, music has a way of highlighting certain memories in my mind. I can hear a song and instantly tie it to some moment in my life. So many artists are like that for me, so I want to do a series where I look at how Celtic music and musicians have influenced my life, and how they show up in even the smallest ways.

Irish musician Enya is one of those artists who is there, but she has a bit of a quiet yet strong presence to her. She is there in subtle ways, but she is not trying to outdo anyone or take away from what everyone else is doing. She is doing her own thing and rocking it.

Album Review: "Michelangelo Dying" by Cate Le Bon

"Michelangelo Dying" by Cate Le Bon

On September 26, 2025, Welsh singer Cate Le Bon released her latest album, “Michelangelo Dying,” via Mexican Summer LLC. It was produced by Cate Le Bon and Samur Khouja and was engineered and mixed by Samur Khouja. Heba Kadry mastered the album. The album is Le Bon’s seventh album.

The mixing of the album is a bit messy and muddy at a few points. There are moments throughout the album where the lyrics are hard to understand because the background music is too loud and the messiness of the instruments detracts from the vocals.

Shane MacGowan Tribute Album Announced, First Single Released

20th Century Paddy

A tribute album celebrating the songs of Shane MacGowan has been announced. “20th Century Paddy: The Songs of Shane MacGowan” is set to be released on November 13, 2026. The album was announced on March 12, 2026. Bruce Springsteen’s cover of “A Rainy Day in Soho” was released the same day.

Celtic Women: Emily Anderson

Book cover of "Queen of Codes," 
which tells Emily Anderson's story.

Emily Anderson is one the least known figures in history. She is most known for breaking Nazi code during World War II. Her work flew under the radar for decades, but it helped change the world and impacted history in a massive way.

Anderson was born in Galway, Ireland, on March 17, 1891. She was the daughter of Alexander Anderson, who served as the president of a university.

Book Review: "You Shamrock My World" by Rose Rossner

"You Shamrock My World" by Rose Rossner
"You Shamrock My World" by Rose Rossner
“You Shamrock My World” is a children’s book written by Rose Rossner. It is a pun-filled book about telling someone you care about just how much you love them and how much they mean to you. Whether it is a child or someone else, it is important to remind people how much we care, and this book emphasizes this.

The puns in this book are glorious. I am someone who is obsessed with making silly puns and jokes, so I really appreciated this book for that reason alone. They were natural and creative without feeling too forced.

Dolores Keane Has Died At 72

On Monday, March 16, 2026, it was announced that Irish folk singer Dolores Keane died at the age of 72 at her home in Galway. She will be remembered as a leader in the Irish music world, receiving accolades for her contributions to the genre. She will be remembered for her musical legacy and her enduring spirit.