Activities

2026 Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School Activities

Classes during the Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School are only part of the experience! Join in on our sessions, evening events, and more to connect with fellow students and instructors.

Monday, August 10, 2026 at 7pm: Welcome Social and Talk and Tunes with Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (CelticMKE Center)

We kick off the Summer School week with our welcome social at 7pm. At 8pm, the Ward Irish Music Archives will interview singer and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh. Talk and Tunes is part of our ongoing Eugene Byrne Memorial Lecture series sponsored by the Eugene Byrne Fund, honoring the Dublin-born folk singer, festival organizer, and travel guide.

Session to follow at O'Donoghue's Irish Pub, 13225 Watertown Plank Rd, Elm Grove, WI 53122.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (August 11-13): Lunchtime Slow Session 11:15am to 12:15pm

Brett Lipshutz will lead students through tunes at a relaxed pace during our lunchtime slow sessions!

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (August 11-13): Irish Fest Summer School Book Club 11:30am to 12:00pm

Irish Fest Summer School book club will convene in the Archives Parlor Room during the lunch hour, 11:30 - 12:00. A discussion of An Irish Country Yuletide by Patrick Taylor will take place on August 11, 12, and 13 (Tuesday , Wednesday, and Thursday). Bring a lunch and join the discussion!

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 at 8pm: Instructors Showcase Concert at CelticMKE Center.

Join us for a special night of music featuring our fabulous roster of Irish Fest Summer School instructors! Doors open at 7:30pm, free to registered students. Free will offering suggested for the general public.

Session to follow at O'Donoghue's Irish Pub, 13225 Watertown Plank Rd, Elm Grove, WI 53122. Members of Kíla will lead Tuesday's session!

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 at 7pm: Grand Session

Join us for some tunes to close out our evening activities for the 2026 Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School! Tunes start around 7pm at our HQ, The CelticMKE Center! Expect multiple sessions, including a song session.

CelticMKE Center, 1532 N. Wauwatosa Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53213

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Instructors<Node DocID="26005" Linked="0" Level="2"><DocID>26005</DocID><HitCount>48040</HitCount><IndexPage>1</IndexPage><LinkParameter>/Instructors.htm</LinkParameter><ParentDocID>25981</ParentDocID><DisplayName>Instructors</DisplayName><Priority>20</Priority><DisplayTargetTypeID>100</DisplayTargetTypeID><PageIsSSL>0</PageIsSSL><ImageFile>/Irish-Fest/Summer-School/SummerSchool-1.jpg?Thumbnail</ImageFile><ImageAltText>Daire Bracken teaching fiddle at the 2010 Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School.</ImageAltText><WhatsNewImageFile>/Irish-Fest/Summer-School/SummerSchool-1.jpg?Thumbnail</WhatsNewImageFile><WhatsNewImageAltText>Come learn at the Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School, August 15 - 19, 2011!</WhatsNewImageAltText><GoLiveDate>01/09/2026</GoLiveDate><GoLiveDateRaw>2026-01-09T13:13:57.040</GoLiveDateRaw><ShortDescription>Learn all about the instructors teaching at the Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School!</ShortDescription><Description>Learn all about the instructors teaching at the Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School!</Description><DocumentTypeID>1</DocumentTypeID><IsImageType>0</IsImageType><IsVideoType>0</IsVideoType><Zones><Zone>Left</Zone><Zone>Menu</Zone></Zones><Node DocID="26063" Linked="0" Level="3"><DocID>26063</DocID><HitCount>1709216</HitCount><IndexPage>1</IndexPage><LinkParameter>/Instructors/Instructor-Bio.htm</LinkParameter><ParentDocID>26005</ParentDocID><DisplayName>Instructor Bio </DisplayName><Priority>20</Priority><DisplayTargetTypeID>100</DisplayTargetTypeID><PageIsSSL>0</PageIsSSL><GoLiveDate>05/13/2022</GoLiveDate><GoLiveDateRaw>2022-05-13T11:15:05.817</GoLiveDateRaw><ShortDescription>Instructor biographies for the Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School.</ShortDescription><Description>Instructor biographies for the Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School.</Description><DocumentTypeID>1</DocumentTypeID><IsImageType>0</IsImageType><IsVideoType>0</IsVideoType><Zones><Zone>Breadcrumb</Zone></Zones></Node></Node>
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