Cultural Fun at Irish Fest Summer School

Amidst a growing public thirst for extreme adventures, Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School, Aug. 15 to 20, offers an all-age interactive immersion in Irish singing, instruments, history, dance, language, genealogy, arts and crafts.

"There’s nothing like it—even in Ireland," said Jane Anderson, executive director of Milwaukee Irish Fest. "Picture a space camp simulating life on the Emerald Isle, or fantasy baseball camp where players exchange their bats, mitts and balls for Irish dance shoes, tin whistles and knitting needles." 

Summer School offers tracks for children ages 6-10, teens ages 11-18, and adults. Discounts are offered as an incentive for families to participate together. A week of classes for one adult is $400 with a rate of $200 for each additional adult and $150 for each additional child. 

"Where else can children perfect Irish dance steps with a Riverdance star while their parents learn about current events from a cabinet-level minister of the Irish government?" said Summer School Director Jane Walrath, citing world champion Irish dancer Jean Butler and Minister of Ireland’s Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamon O’Cuiv, both of whom will teach classes at Summer School.

For travelers, low-cost housing and meal arrangements are available from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. All classes are offered on the UWM campus and headquarters for Summer School are in the Wisconsin room in the university’s student union, 2200 E. Kenwood Ave.

This year, a comprehensive one-time mini-curriculum exploring the offshore Isles of Ireland will be offered in several classes, including Aran knitting by Una McDonnagh, a native of Inisheer; an archaeology class by Theresa McDonald from Achill Island; Aran Island folklore by Dublin academic Padraigin Clancy; Island literature by author Lillis Ó Laoire; and the story of the Blasket Islands, taught by Micheal de Mordha of the Blasket Island Center.

Other new offerings include "Live Like A Celt," a kids’ class that will explore Celtic food, dress and shelter; "Irish Music in the American Civil War," taught by David Kincaid and presented by the Ward Irish Music Archives and "Irish Illumination," which will teach students the art of decorating manuscripts with brightly colored designs from the Middle Ages. 

Summer School is an outgrowth of Milwaukee Irish Fest, the world’s largest celebration of Irish music and culture which takes place the third weekend each August along the banks of Lake Michigan in downtown Milwaukee. Irish Fest supports Summer School as a way to further the festival’s mission of meaningfully passing the Irish culture and heritage to future generations. Milwaukee Irish Fest, August 19-22, begins the Thursday of Summer School, and most participants stay on in Milwaukee to participate in the weekend’s activities. 

In addition to daily classes, special events include:

Monday, August 16:

A floating session (musical cruise) around the Milwaukee Harbor from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Expect a lively informal gathering of fiddlers, accordion players and tin whistlers where all who know the tune will be encouraged to play or sing along. Tickets are $20, including transportation and a picnic dinner launch party. Reservations are limited to 125 people.

Tuesday, August 17:

A ceili (participatory Irish dance party) for all Summer School participants from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Attendees may join in to learn Irish dance basics or relax and enjoy live music at the UWM Gasthaus.

Wednesday, August 18:

A public lecture by Eamon O’Cuiv, Minister of Ireland’s Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. O’Cuiv will address "Ireland and the Global Economy."

Thursday, August 19:

A Hooley (Irish party) at the opening of Milwaukee Irish Fest at the festival grounds on Lake Michigan from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, August 20:

A Summer School Sampler offering brief experiences in the liveliest aspects of Irish culture from 9 a.m. until noon. The children’s curriculum will include straw weaving, story telling, and a celebratory Hooley. Adult options will include bodhran (drum), dancing, language and genealogy classes.

Organizers recommend registering early, as popular classes fill up. Registration materials are due August 2. Late and walk-in registrations are accepted with a $10 fee, subject to availability.

Download additional Summer School brochures from www.irishfest.com. For registration information, contact Barb Breed-Heidt at 262-227-6538 or joheidt@uwm.edu.