Culture

Milwaukee Irish Fest's Celtic Canine Area is truly an emerald in the pot of gold. This unique area is unmatched by any other festival. Here, you will have the chance to see and pet some of Ireland's most popular dog breeds, meet and talk with some of the Midwest's top breeders, and learn about grooming, general care and training.

Learn about all nine of the Irish breeds - Irish Wolfhounds, Irish Terriers, Irish Red Setters, Irish Red and White Setters, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers, Irish Water Spaniels, Kerry Blue Terriers, and Glen of Imaal Terriers - in our display area that features more than 250 photos, prints and descriptions of Ireland's native dogs. In our demo area, we feature hourly events that demonstrate obedience, agility, hunting and conformation. We are certain you'll be both impressed and entertained by the dogs, who love to keep their owners on their toes!

Other dogs, with the exception of service animals, are not permitted on the festival grounds because of health and safety regulations. The dogs in this area have received special permission and permits to gain access to the grounds.

Irish Fest features a number of sporting events to watch and become involved in during your visit. The sporting events are held in different areas of the grounds and can be viewed by all fest goers.

Currach Races
The Currach Races are held in the lagoon on the south end of the grounds on Saturday. There are  featured races from noon - 5 p.m. To learn more about currach racing, visit them on Facebook or Instagram.

• Saturday, August 17, 12 pm - 5 pm: The North American Currach Association National Regatta
• Sunday, August 18, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: The Firefighters vs Police Officers

Hurling
Learn about hurling, the Irish sport known as "The Fastest Game on Grass" at our information booth located at the north end of the grounds. Visit Master Hurley Maker Philip Doyle as he demonstrates the handcrafted cottage industry that supports hurling. Or, try your hand at hurling in our hitting cage.

Gaelic Football
Join us at our booth on the North end of the grounds to learn about Gaelic Football, a true Irish sport played throughout the world. We will have small demonstrations on the basic skills of the game. And for those that want to pick up football, we'll have a goal with a net to give you a hands on experience!.

5K Run/Walk
The Arthritis Foundation's Run/Walk to Milwaukee Irish Fest is a 5 kilometer run and walk along Milwaukee's beautiful lakefront on the Saturday morning of the Festival. Proceeds support the Arthritis Foundation's research into finding an answer to the nation's most common cause of disability. Learn more about the 5K Run/Walk.

Lilli-Putt Miniature Golf
Located in the Children's Area, just behind the water fountain, families can enjoy a round of miniature golf.

Irish Fest Sports Pub
Located on the North end of the grounds near the Dance pavilion. Quiz Cube trivia will be there Friday through Sunday with various trivia themes and prizes. The sports pub will also be streaming Gaelic Football and Hurling Games (thanks to our friends at GAAGO) throughout the festival weekend!

Join the evil trivia AI QuizCube and the silly human host Rob as they throw down some mind-bending trivia questions for fabulous drinks and prizes!

Rob Wieland is an author, designer and professional nerd. He writes for outlets like Milwaukee Record and Geek & Sundry, designs tabletop games for licensees like Star Wars, Shadowrun and Firefly, and runs nerdy events throughout the country. 

QuizCube is an artificially intelligent trivia construct bent on proving its machine superiority through silly banter, sassy comebacks and brain-bending trivia.

• Friday, August 16:       7:00 pm 
• Saturday, August 17:   3:00 pm and 7:00 pm
• Sunday, August 18:     4:00 pm

• Top Score - Drink ticket good for 10 drinks - redeemable only at the Irish Fest Sports Pub
• Worst/Best Team Name - Drink ticket good for 6 drinks - redeemable only at the Irish Fest Sports Pub
• Worst Score - Mom's Basement - Goofy Prize & drink ticket good for 5 drinks - redeemable only at the Irish Fest Sports Pub

4 rounds of 7 general trivia questions each. Each round will have at least one question that is related to Irish history and/or culture. 

The final round will be the IQ - Irish Quotient - a single round with multiple answers and worth double the points of the previous rounds. 

August 12 - 16, 2019 - The Irish Fest Summer School is held every year during the week leading into Irish Fest. The Summer School features classes that showcases the rich culture, history and traditions of Ireland and Irish America, past and present. Come learn to play the Irish fiddle, flute, tin whistle, guitar, harp, Celtic music styles, and more from master musicians. Or take a discussion class and learn about Celtic history, Irish language and culture. Our Celtic art classes offer hands-on learning for everyone!

Over 50 class options available!
Whether you're a beginner or seasoned musician, advance your skills with music classes that focus on a variety of Celtic music styles and instrumentation. From bodhran to fiddle, from guitar to singing, there are opportunities for every one of all ages and musical capabilities. 

Some notable music classes, taught by world-renowned musicians include: 

• Fiddle Variation, Innovation & Improvisation - taught by Fergal Scahill of We Banjo 3
• Irish Guitar: Backing, Flatpicking and Fingerstyle - taught by Shane Hennessy, from Ireland
• Songs of Peace - taught by Tommy Sands, a folk singer-songwriter from Northern Ireland

Cultural class highlights include: 

• Irish Language (beginner, intermediate and advanced options)
• Sean-nos dance
• Roots Into Words - Writing Your Irish Memoir

Most classes run either Monday through Wednesday or Tuesday through Thursday (three days of classes), but if you are unable to commit to a week, there are Friday sampler and workshop options available, such as a fiddle class taught by The Kane Sisters who are a part of the Irish Fest Galway showcase. Classes will be held at the CelticMKE Center in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, as well as surrounding locations in the Wauwatosa village. For a complete list of classes, instructors and to register, click the button below. Class sizes are limited to optimize the experience, so register early for a guaranteed spot. All registrants will receive one complimentary admission ticket to Milwaukee Irish Fest. 

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