The drums go bang and the cymbals and the horns they blaze away. And the McAteers, Mahoneys and Meagans all march along — pleased as punch with the wearin' o' the green in mid-August. After all, next to the High Holy Days of St. Patrick's March Madness, Milwaukee Irish Fest brings out the Emerald Isle in everyone...regardless of national heritage.

The Big Momma of the nation's Irish festivals will rock and roll on the lakefront, Aug. 16 to 19, setting the Henry W. Maier Lakefront Festival Park ablaze with every shade of shamrock you can imagine. 

There's not anything quite like it even in the Auld Sod either, which is why top entertainers from the entire Celtic universe knock on Milwaukee's doors — all eager to perform. The fest has leavened a heavy menu of traditional music with the upbeat sounds of contemporary Irish rock, as well as with Tin Pan Alley Irish, New Age Irish, World Music Irish and additional variations of ear-pleasing rhythm that have sprung from fiddle-tin whistle roots.

Fifteen stages host melodic diversions ranging from the folk music of icon Tommy Makem to the more driven sounds of Luka Bloom, the Fenians, Beginish, Off Kilter, among others. While festgoers may have a bit o' problem pronouncing some of the performers' names — Co. Waterford's noted Irish speaker and singer Ciarán Ó Gealbháin of the musical group Danú, comes to mind — they can enjoy a selection of musical styles as deep as the sea off the Mayo coastline.

The festival started with the vision of a few blarney-tongued friends chatting over a pint way back in 1981. The lively conversations were led by Ed Ward, who — along with some Marquette University pals — was a founder of the Blarney Irish folk group. Everyone and everything concerning the festival has grown a lot since those early years, to where the event attracted 129,000 guests in 2000. Today, Milwaukee Irish Fest is now one of the world's largest Irish cultural extravaganzas. More than a dozen other cities have followed Irish Fest's lead in this cultural stepdance.

All this Gaelic enthusiasm is fueled by the festival's 4,000 volunteers, according to Jane Anderson, festival executive director. "While we have a small Irish community, it is very active. They share their vision on what it means to be Irish and put the time and effort into Irish Fest to make it what it is," she affirmed. A strong youth volunteer program provides a steady stream of young people into the upper levels of fest co-ordination, ensuring more generations of support, Anderson pointed out. 

Milwaukee's brand of festival Irishness spills over from music into theater, genealogy studies, poetry, author appearances, a marketplace, cultural displays, athletic events and kid contests. From its inception, the festival was also a leader in environmental efforts, earning numerous awards for its playing up of the "green" theme in promoting "reduce, re-use and recycle." 

The fest is also known for its outreach efforts, most notably through a summer school held the week prior to the main weekend. The school is a joint project with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with courses ranging from calligraphy to demonstrations on Aran knitting and lectures on Irish place names.

Some of the biggest names in international Irishness will lead classes at the school, with many entertaining the crowds during the festival itself. They include Ray McManus, Irish language advisor to Irish president Mary McAleese, Harry Bradshaw, producer of traditional music programs for Radio-Television Erin (RTE), and Sean Mellet, a Dublin police officer and noted set dancer. Yet not only Big Names From Abroad will be on hand, many regional and local experts will present courses. Among them is Bettina Arnold, professor of anthropology at UWM who has supervised excavations in Celtic Europe and has written about the Celtic world. Milwaukee-based artist Linda Lubner will lead a class in Celtic calligraphy. From Chicago is flutist Noel Rice, founder of the Academy of Irish Music, and his son, Kevin, a well-known performer and instructor on the bodhran, the Irish drum. The elder Rice organized the Irish band Baal Tinne, a regular at Milwaukee Irish Fest.

"The Rices came to Milwaukee every month for three or four years go to lead classes in Irish music. Once a year at Irish Fest just wasn't enough," laughed Kristina Paris, one of the music co-ordinators for the summer school. In 1988, Paris collected many of the summer school's early participants for extra sessions, averaging more than 20 persons who met at her home. From that simple beginning emerged Ceol Cairde ("Music of Friends"), one of Milwaukee's top Irish traditional bands.

Fine arts, especially the written word, are integral components of Irish Fest. "Poetry has always been an essential part of Irish culture. The poet's command of words was just as magical as the Druid's command of nature," said Nancy Walczyk, co-ordinator of the festival's Hedge School and the Donn Goodwin Poetry Prize. "The typical Irish person is well versed in the art of poetry. Subsequently, the festival's support of writing recognizes this with its presentation of traditional and contemporary formats," she indicated.

Featured poet for 2001 is Galway-based Mary O'Malley, whose sharp-eyed vibrancy provides a woman's intimate perspective on the world. Published by Salmon Press, one of Ireland's largest literary publishers, O'Malley will give daily readings and present the poetry prize. The award is named after the late Wisconsin poet and linguist Donn Goodwin, who was active in supporting Irish and Irish-American writing. The festival offers a $750 first place prize to a winning submission, with second and third prizes of $150 and $100. Awards are given to entries best reflecting Irish and Irish-American poetry traditions, said Walczyk.

The Hedge School concept hearkens back to restrictive colonial times in Ireland when schooling for young Irish pupils was banned. Subsequently, teachers furtively held lessons hidden from view in hedge-shaded ditches. In addition to O'Malley's lyrical presentations, numerous other local, regional and nationally recognized poets will read from their works on the final night of the festival.

Also on tap at the Hedge School will be the Irish-born Tom O'Carroll, discussing the life and folk songs of Ireland's "travelers." These distinctive nomadic Irish are sometimes better known as "tinkers." Canadian enamel crafter Catherine Crowe will discuss Celtic art found on the European continent. Folklore specialists, anthropologists and other educators plan on discussing what it means to be Irish. These freewheeling programs offer plenty of opportunities for audience questions and answers. The Hedge School is located near the cultural area at the far south end of the festival grounds.

"Irish Fest strives to support all aspects of Irish culture," emphasized Walczyk. "While the festival may be noted more for its music, there are strong language, arts and theater components. It shows that that Irish Fest is not a one-trick pony," she added.

This will be obvious at the fest's cultural tent, with this year's theme as "odyssey." Exhibits on Irish railroads and the fabled 6th century voyage across the Atlantic by St. Brendan are featured, said Tadhg (Timothy) McInerney, the Limerick-born co-organizer of the area. McInerney, who came Stateside two decades ago, explained that for a country as small as his home nation, it certainly has a rich heritage. "Aspects of which we love showing off," he asserted.

And what a pot of gold at the end of the Irish Fest rainbow!
 
 

If You Go Milwaukee Irish Fest runs from 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 17; noon to midnight, Saturday, Aug. 18, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 19. A Grand Gathering preview is held from 6 to 11:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 16, and the Liturgy for Peace and Justice is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Sunday. Services will be led by Orlando (Fla.) Bishop Norbert Dorsey, national chaplain of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. For more information, call 414-476-3378 or check the fest's Website at www.irishfest.com. Tickets are $10 general admission, $7 for a seniors and $5 for the Grand Gathering. Admission is free for youngsters 12 and under; from 4 to 5 p.m., Friday; and prior to the Sunday liturgy with a donation of nonperishable food items.

Martin Hintz is publisher of The Irish American Post, the Milwaukee-based internationally distributed monthly journal of Irish and Irish-American affairs.