Irish Fest
Celebrating a troubadour's tuneful life
By VIKKI ORTIZ
vortiz@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 15, 2007
Milwaukee's Irish Fest lost a dear friend this year when longtime performer Tommy Makem died at 74 on Aug. 1.

Irish Fest


Illustration/
Ruth Sykes

If You Go
When: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday; 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday
Where: Maier Festival Park
How much: $5 tonight; $15 adults; $10 seniors 60 and older; free for children 12 and younger Friday through Sunday
Fireworks: Sunday night, after the 9:45 p.m. performance of The Scattering (a fest-closing concert at the Aer Lingus stage)
More information: http://www.irishfest.com/

Don't Miss
1 - "Remembering Tommy Makem." The song and story remembrance will feature the Makem and Spain Brothers, Tom and Jimmy Sweeney, Brian Doherty and Kevin Evans, and Eugene Byrne and Friends on the Miller Stage Friday through Sunday.

2 - Mass with two archbishops. Sean Brady, the archbishop of Armagh, Northern Ireland, will join Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan for an outdoor Mass at 9:30 a.m. Sunday in the Marcus Amphitheater.

3 - Seeking Belleek. Belleek Pottery, an Irish china and porcelain producer, will celebrate its 150th anniversary with a special shop featuring limited-edition pieces. The company also will sell an Irish Fest ornament collector's item, which can be signed by a Belleek artist who will be on hand.
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Irish Fest: Celebrating a troubadour's tuneful life
Schedule of events

But in true Irish tradition, organizers have pledged to use this year's festival not to mourn Makem's loss but to celebrate his life with a big party.
Call it an Irish Wake on the Lake.

"It's going to be a great celebration," said Ed Ward, founder of Irish Fest, who noted that Makem performed at Irish Fest for 20 of the past 27 years. In the musician's honor, there will be three "Remembering Tommy Makem" shows with songs and stories dedicated to his memory. Fans will be able to browse a photo montage or sign a remembrance book. And Irish Fest organizers are flying in Makem's daughter and granddaughter to be part of the celebration.

"We're going to miss him, but we're also going to celebrate his life and the fact that we got to know him and have him entertain us in Milwaukee," Ward said.

Fest history
Irish Fest was born in 1980 when Ward, then a 30-year-old Marquette University law student with Irish roots, finished a volunteer shift at Festa Italiana. Ward, who spent his free time playing in an Irish band called Blarney, wondered why there wasn't a similar festival celebrating Irish heritage.

So he went home to tell his roommate about his idea. Soon afterward, plans were under way.

Today, Ward's late-night inspiration has grown to a four-day festival with more than 100 entertainment acts, 16 stages and nearly 4,000 volunteers. And Blarney, Ward's band, still performs on one of the stages.

What's new
Family passport. The festival introduces a new family activity this year: a passport encouraging parents and children to make notable or must-see stops on the grounds. Pick up a passport at the children's area, then get stamps from each of 10 different attractions. Those with completed passports will be rewarded with pirate hats.

"Siege of Ennis." Got Irish happy feet? Head to the south gate area at 3 p.m. Sunday, where Irish Fest will be asking people to join in a ceili dance. The lively social dance, popular for more than 150 years in Ireland, asks people to join in on the moves while traveling through the festival.

Celtic Women in Music showcase. The music will have a decidedly female flair at Irish Fest this year, as some of the world's most recognized female performers of Irish and Celtic music take the festival's stages.

One highlight: a reunion concert by Cherish the Ladies, an all-female, traditional Irish band, at 5:30 p.m. Sunday on the Aer Lingus stage.

A dish to try
The Mader's restaurant booth has been retooled this year by two of the restaurant's employees with Irish roots.

The new stand will be known as An Chistin Mor, Gaelic for "the big kitchen." Dishes will include Irish Ale potato pancakes served with sour cream and applesauce; Irish Butty (brat) served on a bun with onions and a deli pickle; and a Banger platter that includes two Irish sausages; mashed potatoes, baby carrots and toasted onion gravy.

A slice of Irish life
This year's Cultural Village will honor County Clare, a region in Ireland known for artists, poets, dancers and musicians.