2007 Milwaukee Irish Fest
The 2007 Milwaukee Irish Fest was dedicated to longtime Irish Fest friend and performer Tommy Makem who died a few weeks before the festival. A special show celebrating his legacy was held at the Aer Lingus stage all three days. The fest was also hit with three days of rain in 2007.
A festival wide Siege of Ennis dance was held on Sunday and went from the south gate to the Dance Pavilion. Irish Fest added Where’s Your Paddy, a happy hour in the Crossroads Area, to the Thursday night Hooley. The Goggin family celebrated a reunion over the weekend.
Cultural offerings featured County Clare. Exhibits on the Banner County included Brian Boru, Michael Cusack – founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association, watercolorist Philip Brennan, and Muiris O’Rochain visited from the Willie Clancy Summer School.
Other exhibits included a display from the St. Patrick Centre in County Down, an interactive learn how to make a Brigid’s Cross, and the History of Irish Rock Music was presented by the Ward Irish Music Archives.
Featured entertainers included The Fuschia Band, Gaelic Storm, David Munnelly, Beoga, Cherish the Ladies, The Celtic Tenors, Leahy, The Elders, Seanchai and The Unity Squad, Enter the Haggis, Seven Nations, The Tossers, The Makem and Spain Brothers, and The Clare Ceili Band.
The Celtic Roots Showcase was Celtic Women in Music and included Liz Carroll, Cherish the Ladies, Aoife Clancy, Ladies of Longford, Liadan, Eddi Reader, and Cathie Ryan. An exhibit was presented by the Ward Irish Music Archives in conjunction with the showcase, “A Celebration of Irish American Women.”