Philly Comhaltas Brings St. Patrick’s Celebration to Ronald McDonald House
The children of families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia’s University City often face difficult health issues, with both physical and emotional impacts. The goal of the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is to provide lodging, meals and supportive programs to help families “feel at home—even when they can’t be,” while their children are receiving care in local hospitals.
The Philadelphia-Delaware Valley branch of CCÉ has had a special relationship with the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House for nearly ten years; their staff and volunteers have assisted CCÉ with events, and in turn, Comhaltas has promoted RMHC programs.
On the evening of March 13, CCÉ brightened up the Chestnut Street Ronald McDonald House for a couple of hours, bringing the spirited music and dance of a St. Patrick’s Day celebration to them.
Young patients and their family members arriving in the dining hall for a shepherd’s pie dinner were greeted by the sound of sprightly reels and jigs, provided by a talented trio of Philadelphia Irish musicians: guitarist Darin Kelly, fiddler Brendan Callahan, and Paddy O’Neill on flute. While parents patiently sat at surrounding tables, taking in the tunes, a few of the youngest guests of the Ronald McDonald House swayed and twirled in front of the musicians, eyes wide, thoroughly entranced.
Members of the Celtic Flame Irish Dance School—Colette Kehoe, Allie Rocchi and Michaela Gehan-Hoffman, chaperoned by teacher Chrissy Zeo-Mills—also joined in the fun, and took to the floor to add their beautiful soft and hard shoe dancing to the live music.
All told, a gratifying and successful evening for CCÉ, and an unexpected delight for the families who were staying at the House.
“We were excited to bring Irish music and dance to the Ronald McDonald House this year” said CCÉ-Philadelphia/DV chair Katherine Ball-Weir. “In the spirit of the season, we delivered some Irish joy, and received much joy in return. I hope we can do it again!”
