The Oireachtas na Gaeilge started in 1897 and is Ireland’s premier Irish cultural festival. It’s famous for competitions in traditional sean-nós singing, sean-nós dance, humorous songs, storytelling and music. Contestants range from young children to seniors. There are also awards for books and broadcasting, panel discussions, book launches, a vendor fair -- all happening in the Irish language. You’ll get a taste of that in our Gaeltacht.

Fear an Tí (host) Ray Mac Mánais is a teacher, writer and musician; he frequently performs with Joe Ó Dónaill. Together they have won countless competitions in the Lúibin – a traditional Gaelic satirical duet and the Agallamh Beirte - a poetic battle of wits in which the fluency of the language and the rhythm and rhyming structures are paramount. Don’t miss their bilingual Irish/English lúibín/triúbín together with Gearóid Ó Mórdha (flute).

Caitlín Ní Chualáin is a champion of sean-nós singing, who won the Corn Uí Riada competition in 2016 at the Oireachtas na Samhna. Sean-nós dancer Jackie O’Riley from Boston is an acclaimed dance instructor, and is joined by her husband uilleann piper Joey Abarta.

Fiddler Ed Paloucek has been a part of southeastern Wisconsin's vibrant music scene since the early 1990s; he also plays with Atlantic Wave and the Providence Céilí Band. Guitarist Sue Spencer hails from Duluth and comes by her Irish roots through Newfoundland; she also plays with the Providence Céilí Band.