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Learn more about Celtic and Irish American culture and heritage

Read articles about the thriving cultural legacy of Celtic nations and the unique contributions of the Irish and Irish-Americans to music, literature, theatre, history, sports and the arts. Learn about the language and folk traditions, cooking, humor and more. Search or filter subjects at right.

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Irish Movies to Watch

5 Irish Movies to Watch

Stream and watch Irish movies that were made by Irish film directors and Irish production companies, such as Kenneth Branagh, Lance Daley, and Cartoon Saloon!

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Year
  • 2020
Visa Issues for Foreign Artists Coming to U.S.

Disincentives for Foreign Artists

With the current laws and tax/visa rules, it's causing artists to reconsider or even forego coming to the States to perform and tour. This article breaks down costs and barriers artists encounter.

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Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • Irish Fest News
  • Music
Castle

5 Scotland Castles to Check Out

Five castles to put on your bucket list of castles to visit in Scotland! From the oldest Scottish castle to the biggest, these castles are rich with history, beauty and stunning views!

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Year
  • 2020
Wellington Dish

St. Stephen's Day Wellington Dish

Use your Christmas dinner leftovers to make this traditional St. Stephen's Day dish -- Ham/Turkey Wellington

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Year
  • 2020
Irish and Celtic Themed Gifts

Shop Irish and Celtic Gifts for the Holidays

This guide features small businesses from the Midwest that produce Irish themed products. Support small businesses this holiday season by shopping on their online stores!

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Year
  • 2020
CelticMKE Aoibhneas Sessions Icon Image

Irish Music Performances

Watch exclusive YouTube videos of Irish music performances from artists such as Scythian, Runa, Rory Makem, and more!

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Year
  • 2020

My Frontline Hero

Our frontline workers are our real life superheroes! Check out the new website called My Frontline Hero. It's a place to honor and recognize our brave frontline workers, and a place to see inspiring stories of people helping their communities. Visit the site to see more.

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CelticMKE Blog, My Trip to Glendalough, Dingle, Dublin and Belfast

Irish Destinations: My Trip to Glendalough, Dingle, Dublin and Belfast

Guest Blogger Jessi L. writes about her Winter trip to Ireland, which included sightseeing, concerts, Christmas markets, and more.

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Blog Topic
  • Irish Destinations
Year
  • 2020

Golf Outing Raises Funds for Ward Irish Music Archives

Golf Outing Raises Funds for Ward Irish Music Archives, The Great Irish Open, CelticMKE, Ward Irish Music Archives, Irish Fest, Milwaukee Irish Fest, Milwaukee Archives, Irish Archives, Irish Sheet Music, Celtic MKE Wauwatosa, Celtic Milwaukee,

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Featured Columns
  • CelticMKE News
Year
  • 2019
Milwaukee Irish Fest Contract Signing 1981

Milwaukee Irish Fest Contract Signing 1981

Photos and a quick note from Ed Ward on the 1981 contract signing event for Milwaukee Irish Fest.

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Featured Columns
  • Founder's Corner
Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • History
Year
  • 2016
CCE Ireland and Fleadh Cheoil

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann Milwaukee Chapter 1979

Founded in 1951 by a group of Westmeath pipers, CCE is the primary Irish organization dedicated to the promotion of the music, dance and language of Ireland. Ed Ward talks about the origin of the Milwaukee chapter.

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Featured Columns
  • Founder's Corner
Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • History
Year
  • 2016
De Dannan

De Dannan and the Golden Age of Irish Traditional Music

Based on the groundbreaking blending of traditional and modern music techniques introduced by composer Sean O'Riada at the University College Cork in the 1960s, a number of new Irish bands emerged a decade later that revolutionized Irish traditional music, including De Dannan.

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Featured Columns
  • Founder's Corner
Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • History
Year
  • 2016
Milwaukee Bucks Player Shares Stories of his Irish Heritage

Milwaukee Bucks Player Pat Connaughton Shares Stories of his Irish Heritage

Pat Connaughton from the Milwaukee Bucks shared a video with us, where he shares stories about his Irish roots!

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Blog Topic
  • Culture
Year
  • 2019
Renowned Irish Peace Activist & Musician to Appear in Milwaukee

Renowned Irish Peace Activist & Musician to Appear in Milwaukee

Tommy Sands is one of the most powerful songwriters and enchanting solo performers in Ireland today and will appear at both Milwaukee Irish Fest and Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School in August 2019.

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Featured Columns
  • CelticMKE News
Year
  • 2019
Rory Makem - A Childhood Christmas Memory

Rory Makem - A Childhood Christmas Memory

Rory Makem reminisces on a childhood memory - 1975, when he went to the television station with his father, Tommy Makem to record a Christmas special.

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Blog Topic
  • History
Year
  • 2018
Tlachtga - The Hill of Ward & The Samhain Fire

Tlachtga - The Hill of Ward & The Samhain Fire

November 1st was traditionally known as Samhain, literally translated, the "end of summer." Tradition has it that druids lit a huge bonfire on the Hill of Tlachtga...

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Blog Topic
  • History
Year
  • 2018
Shergar

The Taking of Shergar

Read about Shergar, an Irish-bred, British-trained legendary racehorse, taken too soon - stolen in 1983 & never to be seen again.

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Blog Topic
  • History
Year
  • 2018
Racing in Historic Irish Fishing Boats

Racing in Historic Irish Fishing Boats

An insight on the Irish sport, currach racing, with the Milwaukee Currach Club

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Blog Topic
  • History
Year
  • 2018
5 Irish Tin Whistle Players You Need To Hear (photo by Daniel Fernandez)

5 Irish Tin Whistle Players You Need To Hear

The tin whistle is a humble instrument but can sound amazing in the hands of an expert musician. Listen and learn about 5 influential Irish whistle players.

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Blog Topic
  • Listening List
  • Music
  • School of Music
Year
  • 2016
Milwaukee Irish Dance Company

The Milwaukee Irish Dance Company

Keeping the Irish Dance tradition alive with modern Irish choregraphy. This is the Milwaukee Irish Dance Company.

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Blog Topic
  • Culture
  • Milwaukee
Year
  • 2017
Jimmy Keane

Accordionist Jimmy Keane: Irish Fest and the Ward Irish Music Archives

One of the greatest achievements of the entire Milwaukee Irish Fest experience is the Ward Irish Music Archives. It is a tribute to the music and culture we share and in which we have built our community on.

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Blog Topic
  • Chicago
  • Cylinder
  • Festival
  • History
  • Music
  • Musician Stories
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
Year
  • 2017
Songcraft and Storytelling: RUNA's Guide for Song Arranging

Songcraft and Storytelling: RUNA's Guide for Song Arranging

Every song that we perform has a story. But how do you find that story? How do you choose a song and then make it your own? When you break it down to basics, the steps of song arranging are pretty simple.

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Blog Topic
  • Irish Music Tips
  • Music
Year
  • 2017
Founding of the American League by Irish Americans

The Founding of the American League by Five Irish-American Milwaukeeans

Most people do not know that the American League was founded and incorporated in Milwaukee. The fact that four of them were Irish-Americans, as well as the man who initially brought them all together, Ted Sullivan, is even less well-known.

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Blog Topic
  • Culture
  • History
  • Milwaukee
Year
  • 2017
The Man Behind the Mouse

The Scottish Voice Behind Mickey Mouse

The voice you all know and recognize - Mickey Mouse. Now, meet the Scottish-American behind the mouse and sound effects legend, Jimmy Macdonald.

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Blog Topic
  • History
Year
  • 2017
John Muir

John Muir: Scottish-American Naturalist

John Muir was a Scottish-American environmentalist. He spent his life loving the trees, the land beneath his feet and the world around him.

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Blog Topic
  • History
Year
  • 2017
San Patricios

Los Verdaderos Heroes: San Patricios

Mexico and Ireland have a relationship that dates all the way back to the 1840s.

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Blog Topic
  • Culture
  • History
Year
  • 2016
Irish Fiddle Players

5 More Irish Fiddle Players You Need To Hear

Learn about and listen to five important historical Irish fiddle players: Lucy Farr, Bobby Casey, Julia Clifford, Paddy Canny and Johnny Doherty.

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Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • Irish Fest News
  • Music
Derry Hegarty's Irish Pub

A Musical and Artistic Glimpse Inside the Fenians

A colorful piece of sheet music cover art leads Ward Irish Music Archives director, Barry Stapleton, on a journey exploring the Fenian Raids of Canada in 1866.

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Featured Columns
  • Analog Beat
Blog Topic
  • History
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
Year
  • 2016

Tips for Practicing Irish Music

To help make the most of your Irish music (or any style of music) practice time, we've compiled a few tips to help make getting started less daunting...

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Blog Topic
  • Music
  • School of Music
Year
  • 2016
An Interview with We Banjo 3's Enda Scahill

Interview with Enda Scahill

Enda Schaill, a banjo extraordinaire, talks with us about Irish Fest, the creation of We Banjo 3 and how he contributes his experience and skills to the infectious, high energy quartet.

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Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • Music
Etihad World Games North American Hurling Team Champions

Playing at the Croke: Etihad World Games

In August 2016, the North American Hurling Team competed in the Etihad Airways GAA World Games in Dublin, Ireland, winning the Native Championships at the infamous Croke Park!

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Featured Columns
  • Analog Beat
Blog Topic
  • Chicago
  • Music
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
Year
  • 2016
The Dullahan: The Irish Headless Horseman

The Dullahan: The Irish Headless Horseman

Even for the Irish, and the Celts, Dullahan is a starkly dark creature. Where did he come from, this headless one?

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Blog Topic
  • Culture
  • History
Year
  • 2016
The Story of Halloween

The Story of Halloween

Halloween has its roots with the Ancient Celts. Discover the history and transformation on this centuries-old holiday and learn about the traditions some still practice today.

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Blog Topic
  • Culture
  • History
Year
  • 2016
Irish Session

What is an Irish session?

Irish sessions are fun gatherings of musicians sharing tunes and conversations in a relaxed setting...

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Blog Topic
  • Music
  • School of Music
Year
  • 2016
Kevin Burke's Trips to Milwaukee

Kevin Burke's Trip to Milwaukee

The Ward Irish Music Archives revisits early trips to Milwaukee by Irish fiddler Kevin Burke and guitarist Micheal O Domhnaill.

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Featured Columns
  • Analog Beat
Blog Topic
  • Milwaukee
  • Music
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
Year
  • 2016
5 Irish Flute Players You Need To Hear

5 Irish Flute Players You Need to Hear

The sound of the flute has been a part of Irish music for generations.

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Blog Topic
  • Music
  • School of Music
Year
  • 2016
Shannon Heaton

4 Steps to Inhabiting Your Irish Music Repertoire

It's not what you play, it's the way that you play it. It's sometimes hard to believe this, especially when you're sitting in a session and you don't know all/any of the tunes being played. There are so many tunes to learn.

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Blog Topic
  • Music
  • School of Music
Year
  • 2016
Derry Hegarty's Irish Pub

The Barman and The Bards

Derry Hegarty decided in 1975 that Milwaukee needed real Irish folk music and hired a Boston-based, four person group to appear in his pub, Derry's. The Bards, originally from Belfast, became a big hit on the local Irish scene.

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Featured Columns
  • Founder's Corner
Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • History
Year
  • 2016
The New England NFL Connection

The New England NFL Connection

The first New England Irish Festival, a two day event, ran inside the Patriots' Sullivan Stadium, in 1984. Michael Chamberlain, Stadium Manager at the time, hired none other than Milwaukee Irish Fest's Founder, Ed Ward to coordinate and run the event.

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Featured Columns
  • Founder's Corner
Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • History
Year
  • 2016
McNamara's Land

The DERRY-AIRS

In 1977, Ed Ward submitted a request to the Shamrock Club to organize a concert featuring local Irish talent. The concert became the first ever of its kind, using SOLELY local artists. The lineup included a quartet of Irish bar owners, dancers, a fiddler, a ten year old banjo player, and more.

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Featured Columns
  • Founder's Corner
Blog Topic
  • History
  • Music
Year
  • 2016
The Color Purple

The Color Purple

My generation's exposure to purple was Sheb Wooley's song, "The Purple People Eater." Well, that and finding out that purple crayons don't taste like grape. But you may be surprised to know that in the mid-1980s the color purple and Irish Fest had much in common.

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Featured Columns
  • Founder's Corner
Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • History
Year
  • 2016
Nash's Irish Castle

Kit Nash and the Bloody Tinker

Everyone I know who frequented Nash's Irish Castle has a story to tell.

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Featured Columns
  • Founder's Corner
Blog Topic
  • History
Year
  • 2016
The French Connection

The French Connection

Ed Ward talks about the beginnings of Irish Fest and the seeds that planted the creation of his Irish band, Blarney, in the 1970s.

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Featured Columns
  • Founder's Corner
Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • History
Year
  • 2016
Paddy's Daddy

Paddy's Daddy

After some discussion exploring issues of visual identity, color and an aspect of “fun” the Irish Fest Board selected the orange, white and green leprechaun image as the new logo.

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Featured Columns
  • Founder's Corner
Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • History
Year
  • 2016
Say Hello to CelticMKE

Say Hello to CelticMKE

The new CelticMKE brand embraces the larger and expanded musical world enabling us to better compete in a multitude of Celtic nations for funds, influence and new and innovative ideas.

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Blog Topic
  • Culture
  • History
  • Milwaukee
Year
  • 2016
An Afternoon With Maureen O'Looney

An Afternoon With Maureen O'Looney

The Ward Irish Music Archives staff reflect on their visit with one of Chicago's most beloved Irish figures.

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Featured Columns
  • Analog Beat
Blog Topic
  • Chicago
  • Music
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
Year
  • 2016
Bing and Burl: Irish Americans' contributions to our Christmas Music Repertoire

Bing and Burl: Irish Americans' contributions to our Christmas Music Repertoire

Irish Americans Bing Crosby and Burl Ives both contributed to our modern Christmas music repertoire.

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Featured Columns
  • Analog Beat
Blog Topic
  • Music
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
Year
  • 2016
5 Irish Christmas Songs to Listen To

5 Irish Christmas Songs to Listen To

The Irish have left their mark on Christmas across the world with their unique and catchy tunes. Listen to 5 holiday songs that range from 15th Century Ireland to the 21st Century.

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Blog Topic
  • History
  • Music
Year
  • 2016
The Victorians and White Christmas

The Victorians and White Christmas

The Ward Irish Music Archives takes a look at the evolution of Christmas music from the Victorian Era through the end of Tin Pan Alley.

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Featured Columns
  • Analog Beat
Blog Topic
  • Music
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
Year
  • 2016

St. Patrick's Day in Milwaukee History

St. Patrick's Day has celebrated Milwaukee's Irish heritage for years.

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Blog Topic
  • Culture
  • History
  • Milwaukee
  • Music
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
Year
  • 2016
1916 Easter Rising Centennial

1916 Easter Rising Centennial

Independence. Identity. Ownership. What leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising strived and fought for.

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Blog Topic
  • Culture
  • History
Year
  • 2016
St. Stephen's Day

The legend of St. Stephen's Day

Also known as Boxing Day and Wren's Day, this day commemorates the life of St. Stephen, known for his service to the poor and as the first Christian martyr...

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Blog Topic
  • Culture
  • History
Year
  • 2015
St. Patrick's Day

Seven Things You Should Know about St. Patrick’s Day

With such a strong and vibrant Irish community, it’s important to remember what St. Patrick’s Day is really about. Here are seven things you should know about this special day.

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Blog Topic
  • Culture
  • History
Year
  • 2016
Ward Irish Music Archives

Audio: The Real MacNamara's Band

Many Irish Americans are familiar with the song "MacNamara's Band" written by Shamus O'Connor and John J. Stamford and popularized by the likes of Bing Crosby.

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Blog Topic
  • History
  • Music
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
Year
  • 2016
Hamburgers

Grandma's Hamburgers

A Grandma's recipe is always the best recipe. Learn how to cook Grandma's Hamburgers, a recipe that's been been in the Nickels family since the 1940s.

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Blog Topic
  • Culture
  • Food
Year
  • 2016
AARIR Ludwig Bass Drum

From the Ward Irish Music Archives: Ludwig Bass Drum

This Ludwig bass drum came our way via Los Angeles and played an interesting role in Irish America’s support for Ireland’s independence...

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Blog Topic
  • History
  • Music
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
Year
  • 2016
Tommy Makem

Milwaukee Irish Fest Receives Rare Gifts from Makem Family

The family of Tommy Makem has donated two rare and valuable letters to Milwaukee Irish Fest to be added to the existing Tommy Makem Collection in the Ward Irish Music Archives...

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Blog Topic
  • History
  • Music
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
Year
  • 2015
Milwaukee Irish Fest School of Music

School of Music Student Delivers Powerful Message about the "R Word"

Our very own Irish Fest School of Music student Jonathan Schmidt was invited to speak to the young men at Marquette University High School during their "Spread the Word to End the Word" liturgy on March 19, 2015...

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Blog Topic
  • School of Music
Year
  • 2015
Ward Irish Music Archives

Ward Irish Music Archives visits the 48th Annual Association for Recorded Sound Collections

Ed Ward, Irish Fest Founder, Barry Stapleton, Director of the Ward Irish Music Archives, and Jeff Ksiazek, Archivist, represented Milwaukee Irish Fest at the 48th Annual Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) Conference this May in Chapel Hill, North Carolina...

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Blog Topic
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
Year
  • 2014
The Murphy Beds

The Murphy Beds perform live at the Milwaukee Irish Fest Center

On Friday, October 10, The Murphy Beds (Eamon O'Leary and Jefferson Hamer) performed at the Irish Fest Center...

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Blog Topic
  • Music
  • Year-Round Events
Year
  • 2014

Painting: the Fairy Bridges at Tullan Strand in Bundoran, County Donegal

Milwaukee Irish Fest board members were awarded this beautiful painting by The Institute of Study Abroad Ireland at the Transatlantic Connections Conference in Donegal in January in recognition of the work we do to keep Irish culture alive...

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Blog Topic
  • Culture
Year
  • 2016
Nicholas Carolan

Nicholas Carolan to present 2015 Chuck Ward Memorial Lecture

Nicholas Carolan, Director of the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) in Dublin, travels to Milwaukee this week...

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Blog Topic
  • Music
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
  • Year-Round Events
Year
  • 2015
American Library Association

Irish Sheet Music Archives site reviewed by American Library Association

If you have yet to explore the Ward Irish Music Archives' Sheet Music website, now is the time...

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Blog Topic
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
Year
  • 2014
An Irish Night at the Musem

Milwaukee Irish Fest Hosts "An Irish Night at the Museum"

A celebration of the 35th Anniversary of Milwaukee Irish Fest, An Irish Night at the Museum, will take place Saturday, April 25 at the Milwaukee Public Museum...

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Blog Topic
  • Year-Round Events
Year
  • 2015
Milwaukee Irish Fest Song Circle

Irish Fest Song Circle visits Riverview Village Assisted Living Center

The Milwaukee Irish Fest Song Circle had so much fun visiting the Riverview Village Assisted Living Center in Menomonee Falls on September 11, 2014 to celebrate "Halfway to St. Patty's Day" with the residents.

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Blog Topic
  • Music
  • Year-Round Events
Year
  • 2014
Patsy Touhey

150 Years of Patsy Touhey

Uileann piper Patsy Touhey was the most celebrated Irish traditional musician of his day...

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Blog Topic
  • History
  • Music
  • Ward Irish Music Archives
Year
  • 2015
Festival Experience Interns

Interns from across the globe go behind the scenes at Milwaukee Irish Fest

Each summer we invite students and recent graduates from across the globe to Milwaukee for a unique, behind-the-scenes look at how we run the world's largest Irish festival...

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Blog Topic
  • Festival
Year
  • 2015
Cathy Ward at KGMB Gala

Milwaukee Irish Fest honored at Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful 2014 IDEAL Awards Gala

Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful honored Milwaukee Irish Fest at the IDEAL Awards Gala on November 1, 2014 at Milwaukee's Intercontinental Hotel...

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Blog Topic
  • Festival
Year
  • 2014
Jon Schmit

Featured Student: Jon Schmit

Timmy’s older brother Jon took a huge interest in Timmy’s lessons, listening in often and continuously adding more and more Irish music to his iPod...

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Blog Topic
  • Music
  • School of Music
Year
  • 2014
Best of Milwaukee 2014

Irish Fest Voted Best Outdoor Festival

The Shepherd Express honored us this year in its 23rd Annual Best of Milwaukee event, held on November 11, 2014 at the Milwaukee Art Museum...

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Blog Topic
  • Festival
Year
  • 2014

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