World’s largest cultural showcase energizes lakefront festival grounds

VISITORS TO Milwaukee Irish Fest, Aug.19-22, will savor a unique music and cultural experience, notable for talent, energy, variety and risk-taking.

“This year’s entertainment line-up is particularly well-rounded, with a number of ‘world’s bests’ and Irish Fest firsts. It’s an eclectic concert of more than 200 performances ranging from debuts to legends– even a Broadway-caliber musical this year– for one low $12 ticket,” says Irish Fest executive director Jane Anderson.

Milwaukee Irish Fest is the world’s largest celebration of Irish music and culture, showcasing more than 100 entertainers annually at the four-day, 16-stage event at Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest grounds) on Lake Michigan. Other attractions highlight Irish art, history, culture, genealogy, children’s activities and sports.

Special performers include fiddlers Eileen Ivers and Natalie MacMaster, and Galway accordionist Joe Burke, all of whom are among the world's best and best known on their instruments. A number of bands make their Milwaukee Irish Fest debuts this year, including world beat, Celtic and groove-inspired Bad Haggis with Eric Rigler; traditional Téada; German duo Pipeline; tenor Tommy Fleming; and pop favorite Luka Bloom.

The festival adds a new way of celebrating Irish dance this year. Ragús, a 45-minute traditional music, song and dance cabaret show, will make its Milwaukee debut in the Theater Pavilion in the Cultural Village, while local dancers from Cashel Dennehy Irish Dancers, Glencastle Irish Dancers and Trinity Dance Academy will return to the festival for several performances throughout the weekend. “We're thrilled about the energy and caliber of Broadway-style Ragús, which has toured internationally and will remind many of Riverdance,” says Ed Ward, Irish Fest founder

For those interested in Irish culture and heritage, Milwaukee Irish Fest is like a day-trip to Ireland. Anderson recommends strolling the entire festival grounds, as not to miss out on sites and sounds.“One of the greatest joys of Irish Fest is uncovering hidden treasures on every corner of the grounds, from shopping and Celtic rock on the north grounds to an entire Ballyfest Cultural Village on the south,” Anderson says.

In the Children’s Activity Area, kids accompanied by adults can build castles from Legos, fashion Celtic crosses from foam, weave fairy wreaths, cast lines in the Pot-O’Gold fishing game and hop along stepping stones in the Fairy Ring musical game. Red hair and freckle contests; impromptu visits with festival mascots Paddy and Molly McFest; Celtic Canines; and environmental educational activities in Greenwish Village are also popular attractions for families with children.

Irish Fest boasts great shopping for all things Irish. Authentic wares in the Grafton, Lilliput, and Moore Street Markets, include CDs, Waterford, Belleek, jewelry, baskets, knits, arts and crafts. In the Cultural Village, Kenny’s Bookstore of Galway offers an eclectic collection of Irish and Irish-American books while Waltons Music Shop provides a wide variety of Irish instruments and free music lessons in the Celtic Groove School.

This year, the festival also includes a one-time opportunity to explore the mystery, romance and legend of the Isles of Ireland. “What is left behind by ancient settlers?” asks Cultural Village Coordinator Brian Witt. “The Fest’s comprehensive exploration of island life will tap several years of networking and research to find the answer.”

Because fishing was an important cornerstone of island life, the Saint Barbara, a Galway “hooker” built in Chicago by Connemara native Steve Mulkerrins, will be docked alongside the Fest. The Milwaukee Currach Club will sponsor an exhibit on the history of the traditional fishing boat with the distinctive rust-colored sails and the islands’ maritime history will be further explored in an exhibit about famed female pirate Grace O'Malley, who lived on Clare Island, County Mayo.

Inside the Cultural Pavilion, one-time attractions include a broad overview of the islands organized by Comhdhail na Oileain, the Island Federation of Ireland; paintings and crafts created by artisans in the Women’s Inter-Island Network; knitting demonstrations by Aran knitter Una McDonagh; and quilts created by Cape Clear Island artisan Christine Sawyer.

Everyone’s invited to mark their calendars for Milwaukee Irish Fest’s 25th anniversary, August 18-21, 2005. Additional information on the 2005 festival and events leading up to it will be available throughout the grounds.

Hours of Milwaukee Irish Fest 2004 are 5 p.m. -10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19; 4 p.m. – midnight Friday; noon - midnight Saturday, and 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 414-476-3378 or visit www.irishfest.com.