Irish Fest features an area on the south end of the festival grounds dedicated to Irish and Celtic culture!
Cultural Pavilion
The Pavilion continues its long tradition of bringing all things Irish and Celtic to the festival through digital and physical displays. More information coming soon.
Literary Corner
Irish Fest is accepting inquiries from authors who would like to be part of the Literary Corner in 2023. Please email your information to melissaw@celticmke.com.
Hedge School
History, genealogy, politics, literature, modern culture and more will be discussed in the Hedge School.
Theatre Pavilion
In keeping with the rich Irish association with theatre performance, Milwaukee will again present a range of plays for our audience enjoyment. We have some comedy, some love story and a wide selection of other topics. There might even be a chance for an audience member to join in the fun!
Gaeltacht
Steeped in tradition, brimming with talent and sweetened with native speakers, the Gaeltacht line-up is sure to hit the spot. The Gaeltacht, or Irish speaking area, will showcase the Irish language and traditional Irish culture. You can learn simple Irish phrases or challenge yourself with some flirty chat-up lines! You can stop in any time and enjoy traditional Irish humor, song, dance and language. The Gaeltacht is where the Irish go to feel at home!
Genealogy
The Genealogy Tent is located on the south end of the grounds in the Cultural Area just south of the Water Street Brewery. The tent is bringing back favorite displays including DNA, Irish First Names, Irish Surnames, Map of Ancestor locations, and much more to assist you in your journey of finding your ancestors. There is some one-to-one research support for attendees as well as computers available for individual lookups.
Come learn about Irish surnames, given names, and DNA. Tag the giant Ireland map with your family’s ancestral home. Discuss your genealogy search questions with volunteers in this area.
Irish Language Workshop
Learn more about Gaelic, the Irish language, and its history at our Irish Language Workshop tent! This year's workshop features Dr. Tara MacLeod and Dr. Brian O'Conchubhair from Notre Dame University.