Back for the 36th year, Milwaukee IrishFest continues to bring a taste of Irelandto Milwaukee’s beautiful lakefront eachAugust. The festival is the world’s largestcelebration of Celtic music and culture andwith classic harp, electric guitar and every-thing in between, there’s something for theentire family. With more than 100 acts on17 stages, along with a variety of vendors,cultural exhibits, sporting events andmore, everyone is Irish for the weekend!This year’s festival takes place August 18-21 at Henry W. Maier Festival Park.Here’s a sneak peek at what festivalgoerscan expect at the 2016 celebration.

MusicHaving visited everywhere from village

pubs to international festivals looking forthe best and brightest in Irish music, Mil-waukee Irish Fest is jam packed with tal-ented entertainment. The festival is excitedto introduce 11 new artists who will beperforming for the first time, some ofwhom include: Donal Clancy, DrowsyLads, JigJam, Runa and Next GenerationLeahy, along with fan favorites like GaelicStorm, Seamus Kennedy, High Kings, WeBanjo 3, Socks in the Frying Pan andmore. To learn more about these artists andall the incredible acts coming to the festi-val, visit IrishFest.com.

Celtic World ShowcaseThis year’s festival features the Celtic

World Showcase that highlights musiciansfrom six of the Celtic nations. These actsshare centuries-old musical traditions andthe Celtic culture while continuing toshape modern global music. It is estimatedthat over 100 million people across theworld claim to have descended from theCelts, the Iron Age people who inhabitedlarge areas of Western Europe. The musicand folk traditions of these people con-

tinue to evolve and travel across the globe.Milwaukee Irish Fest is proud to showcasethese traditions at this year’s festival.

Celtic World Showcase performers include: Barrule, De Barra with specialguest Móya Brennan, The Wrigley Sisters,Dardanelles, Celtic Fiddle Festival, Calan,Dallahan, Ten Strings and a Goat Skin,Myserk and Tairis.

Crafts & CultureThe Cultural Village at Milwaukee Irish

Fest offers festivalgoers the chance to ex-plore Celtic history, genealogy, shoppingand more! Moore Street Market is hometo the largest gathering of Irish vendors inthe world with everything from drums tosweaters. Guests can trace their lineageback to the old country with a genealogistor learn the Irish spoken word at theGaeltacht stage.

Visitors can take time to learn about thehistoric events of the 1916 Easter Rising

with experts and exhibits at the 1916Commemoration. A special quilt collec-tion will also be on display, highlightingthe work of Penny Barnes. After its timeat the festival, the display will then travelacross the United States, having alreadytoured Ireland. Guests should be sure toexperience the mining exhibition and takethe opportunity to explore a replica minethat allows festivalgoers to walk throughand understand the conditions workersonce faced.

SportsNew this year, visitors will be able to

root for their favorite team during theGaelic football matches at Urban Field onthe north end of the grounds! Of coursefestivalgoers can still take a hands-on ap-proach at the hurling cages, watch currachraces in the lagoon or catch the crowd fa-vorite Tug-of-War competitions. Later,guests can sit back and relax with a pint atthe Irish Fest Sports Pub while they play around or two of video trivia.

AUGUST 4, 2016 • 7:00 PMMILWAUKEE MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Irish Cultural and Heritage Center (2133 W. Wisconsin Avenue)

T T T“Picnic” begins at 6:30 • Please bring a side dish or dessert to pass.

Milwaukee Irish Fest TransformsMilwaukee’s Lakefront into a Celtic Celebration

2016 Festival to celebrate Celtic culture, sights and sounds, August 18 – 21.........................................................................................................

Volume XLII, No. 6 • August (Lúnasa), 2016

continued on page 5

T Milwaukee Calendar of Events TFor More Information visit http://shamrockclubwis.com

AUGUST4 Shamrock Club Monthly Meeting; ICHC; 7 pm; Dinner at 6:309 Celtic Women International Book Club; viewing of the movie, Brooklyn;

Hostess: Sheila Isakson; ICHC; 1 pm13 Milwaukee Feis; UWM Union; 8 am14 McMenamin Feis; UWM Union; 8 am15-19 Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School; Irish Fest Center; Edel MacBride;

Jimmy Keane; Cormac De Barra; Brian Miller; Sean Gavin; more17 Tosa Tonight Annual Irish Fest Preview Night featuring JigJam and

Skerryvore; Hart Park; 6 pm18-21 Milwaukee Irish Fest; Summerfest Grounds; Dallahan, Trinity Irish

Dancers; Cherish the Ladies; Cashel Dennehy Irish Dancers; Gaelic Storm; Kinsella Dancers; Beglan Dancers; Frogwater; Leahy's Luck; Glencastle Irish Dancers; Gleasons; High Kings; Red Hot Chilli Pipers; Reilly; Solas; We Banjo 3, Donal Clancey; Drowsy Lads; Kilkennys; JigJam; more

SEPTEMBER1 Shamrock Club Monthly Meeting; ICHC; 7 pm; Dinner at 6:302-4 Wisconsin Highland Games; Waukesha Expo Center, Waukesha13 Celtic Women International Book Club; Scarlet Feather, by Maeve Binchey;

Hostess: Rosemary Walsh; ICHC; 1 pm ICHC; 1 pm25 Celtic Thunder; Milwaukee Theatre; 7:30 pm

OCTOBER6 Shamrock Club Monthly Meeting; ICHC; 7 pm; Dinner at 6:3015 Loreena McKennitt; Riverside Theatre; 8 pm

2

ON GOING … Set dancing at the following: Set dancing Wednesdays, 7 PM atO’Donoghue’s T Craobh Curtin Conradh na Gaeilge meeting at O'Donoghue's Pub, 7 PM, last Tuesday each month T Irish Emigration Library in ICHC open every Wednesday 12–6 PM T Irish Sing-a-long, Irish Fest Center, First Sundays, (throughMay) 7 PM T Irish Fest Sing-a-long: O'Donoghue's Pub, second and fourth Sundays, 7-9 PM T Irish Music Sessions at the following: Session - O’Donoghue’s,Sundays 7 PM; Thursdays @ Paddy’s 7 PM; and The Pub in Oconomowoc, 7:30 PMT Thursdays: Barry Dodd; County Clare Inn; 10 PM T Fridays: áthas and Myserk;County Clare Inn; 6 PM T

MilwaukeeMembership News..................................I am hoping to keep up with the mail

that seems to find me. I signed up myfirst new member as well as new mem-bers recommended by Del Canon. Mygoal is to be kept busy answering re-newals.

An activity that I need help with issetting up and taking down the materialused in the Shamrock Club Membershipbooth at Irish Fest. Please email or callme to help out the Club for a few hours– Thurs, Aug 18th and/or Sun, Aug 21stof Irish Fest.

We will also need to have volunteerssit in the booth in the Cultural Area forthree hour increments. When you re-ceive the Reflections, just take a mo-ment and email me two possibleavailable times. We will plan to havetwo people in each shift. It is a wonder-ful people watching opportunity.

I will be watching for the emails andthe phone messages. Thank you!

Maggie B. 414-344-0688 orslainte4142-shamrock@yahoo.com

- Maggie BlahaMembership Chair

Celtic Women International..................................

The CWI Book Club meetings begin at 1:00 pm at the ICHC and include discussion, tea, and treats. New membersand guests are always welcome to join us!

We will enjoy a viewing of the movie,Brooklyn, on August 9th. Our hostess willbe Sheila Isakson.

Maeve Binchey’s novel, ScarletFeather, will be our topic on September13th, hosted by Rosemary Walsh,

On Saturday, October 15th we will headto Chicago to attend IBAM at the ChicagoIrish Heritage Center.

The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter bySharyn McCrumb will be our topic on No-vember 8th. Pat Powers will be our host.

- Rosemary Walshrowalsh@wi.rr.com

3

Rent the ICHC for your next

PartyMeeting

RecitalWedding

Spaces available for large

or small events

Email: director@ichc.net

or call (414) 345-8800

MilwaukeePresident’s Message..................................Ladies and Gentlemen, Shamrock Club

Members and those with a Celtic Heart,

The Festival has arrived and it isOURS. This month features festival food,fun and frolic. Your "new" board wel-comes you to the other exciting Month ofthe Year (& almost half-way).

August is one of the busiest and mostrewarding months of the year for ourShamrock Club, the entire Irish Commu-nity and those with Ireland in our hearts.

Busy? We have volunteers helping inour new gift booth at Irish Fest.

We have folks recruiting new mem-bers in the Cultural Pavilion.

We have Color Guard Pipes andDrums marching and playing Eastside,Westside and all around town, with a spe-cial performance at Irish Fest.

We have our own Shamrock ClubGriffins Hurling Team challengingWisconsin's best hurling competitors inthe play-off championship rounds.

WOW!

Rewarding? Bring the kids, spendmemorable time with the grandkids andinvite your neighbors to the biggest, bestethnic festival on Milwaukee's lake front.The kids will remember you draggingthem down and then trying to drag themout. The grandkids won't want to leave. . .ever! Surrounded by sounds and sportsand stuff. . . most of us go home, only tosleep so we can get back the next day.

Rewarding? Volunteers may receivefood coupons, extra tickets, find newfriends, reacquaint themselves with oldaquaintances. . ."Auld Lang Syne". . .justhave a blast.

When it's over . . ."Of all the moneythat e'er I spent, I've spent it in good company."

Good Night and Joy be with you all!

The Scattering... 'til again! - Joseph Hughes, President

T T T

Fall Concert Series..................................The Irish Cultural and Heritage Center,

2133 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, hasannounced its fall Hallamór Concert Series.The start time for each concert is 7:30 p.m.

The season opens with Scotland’s Dal-lahan on Friday, Sept. 23. Since explodingonto the international folk music scene in2013, the band’s unique arrangements oforiginal and traditional Irish tunes andsongs, along with Scottish and Hungarianinfluences, have brought them to presti-gious festivals in Europe and the UnitedStates including Celtic Connections inGlasgow and Milwaukee Irish Fest.

“Dallahan is like a world music festi-val in one group, all trad, all Scots, allworld and all totally, completely new …virtual masters of their instruments, blaz-ing away in extremely rich and complexarrangements.” —LiveIreland

Performing on Saturday, Nov. 19, theChicago-based quartet Bua brings thebeauty and power of their critically ac-claimed traditional Irish music in a returnvisit to the ICHC.

With a mix of vocals, sean-nós dance,concertina, flute, uilleann pipes, whistle,guitar, bouzouki and fiddle, Brian Ó hAirt,Sean Gavin, Brian Miller and Devin Shep-herd “ can… raise the rafters with theirplaying, charm with their singing, and de-light with their contemporary energy” ac-cording to Dirty Linen. On Saturday, Dec. 10, acclaimed singer

Cathie Ryan will present “The Winter’sHeart:” A Celebration of a TraditionalIrish American Christmas. Known for herheart-stirring vocals, Ryan and her award-winning band will kindle the warmth andjoy of an Irish Christmas as well as celebratethe ancient rituals of the Winter Solstice.“For anyone wondering what constitutes

excellence in Irish American singingtoday, you need only attend a Cathie Ryanconcert … .“ — The Irish Echo

Tickets for Dallahan and Bua are $21in advance and $25 on concert day. Tick-ets for Cathie Ryan are $29 in advance and$33 on concert day. Student tickets for allperformances are $10 with ID. For ticketsand more information, go to www.ichc.netor call (414) 345-8800.

Sunshine Report..................................Joe Donovan, a charter member of the

Shamrock Club and Mr. Sunshine forforty years died June 18, 2016. The “old,former” members of the Color Guardstood Honors along with Malkin Wallace,the present organizer of the Guard. Joemarched with the Guard for twenty years,well before he was 94 years mature. Joe’swife, Catherine, died in 2013. We knowthey will have many “good evenings”.

Robert Donovan, Sr. will be 98 in themonth of August. If you see him around,be sure to extend warm wishes for anotherhealthy year. Robert and Joe are brothers.

Pam Canon’s father, Dr. Eugene T.Sonnleitner, passed away on July 9th.

We hope to get back to wishing all theJuly and August birthdays a proper greet-ing in the next Reflections.

Richard Pfeiffer is home recuperatingfrom a stroke last week.

Please send me any news you wouldlike to see in the Reflections. Maggie:slainte4142-shamrock@yahoo.com.

- Maggie Blaha, Sunshine Chair

Emerald Reflections

Copy Deadline.................................

Membership Chairs

Content for Emerald Reflections is dueon the 15th of the month (next deadline:Aug. 15th to appear in the September issue.)Copy received after that date will not appear due to deadlines. While we try toinclude every submission possible, due tospace limitations, we cannot guarantee thatevery submission will be included imme-diately. E-mail submissions preferred,send to:

Brian Witt, Editoremeraldreflections@shamrockclubwis.com

Pam Canon, Publisher

4

DANE COUNTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pat McCarthyP.O. Box 70765, Madison 53707-0765

pmmccarthy@charter.net; (608) 277-0394

FOX CITIES . . . . .P.O. Box 1632, Appleton 54912

LA CROSSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Linda O. Pfaff,1702 Jackson St., LaCrosse 54601

LAFAYETTE CO. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Beverly Mulcahy,504 E. Mary, Apt. A, Darlington 54530

MILWAUKEE . . . . Member. Chair Maggie Blaha, 2133 West Wisconsin Avenue,

Milwaukee, WI 53233slainte4142-shamrock@yahoo.com; (414)344-0688

NEW DUBLIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Suzi Snyder,313 W. Beacon Ave.., New London 54961

NORTHEAST WISC. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Judy Brehm,2577 Oakwood Ave.., Green Bay 54301

SOUTH CENTRAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ellen Dargel,E9899 Trophy Tr., Reedsburg 53959; (608) 356-7646;

email: ghdemd70@gmail.com

E-mail: . . . . . . . . . . club@shamrockclubwis.com

Web site: . . . . . . . . http://shamrockclubwis.com

To become a member of the Shamrock Club ofWisconsin contact the membership chair of thechapter you would like to join. MILWAUKEE ONLY:Family membership (includes both parents and all children under eighteen) - $25.00. Single membership - $20.00. Membership is renewable annually on the anniversary month of the originalmembership. Please send all new and renewal Milwaukee club membership dues to MembershipChair, 2133 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee,WI 53233. Be sure to send change of address notification to Membership Chair, also. The postoffice will NOT forward copies of Reflections.

Hurling Club News.......................................................................The Shamrock Club Griffins are in the hunt for a playoff spot in 2016. They are cur-

rently 3-2 in league standings, in 5th place. Two teams are at 3-3, tied for third, andWinchester 5-0, after a hard fought match against the Griffins left them undefeated infirst place. The July 17 match was canceled, due to thunderstorms.

Remaining matches are July 24 with the Griffins playing Milwaukee Ale House at12.30 pm, July 31, with the Shamrock Club side playing the Irish Pub at 12.30. Theplayoffs start on August 7, the semi-finals are on August 14, and the championship gameis August 28. The matches are all at Brown Deer Park, Good Hope and Range LineRoad.

Stop by to see the Fastest Game on Grass. - Brian Witt

Photo by Darci Neuwenschweiger

5

Food & SpiritsFestivalgoers should be sure to save

room for all the tasty treats MilwaukeeIrish Fest has to offer. Guests can treattheir taste buds to fun fare like a ReubenPuff, Gilles Jameson Frozen Custard orthe deep fried chocolate stout cake. Oth-ers may want to go the traditional routeand grab a plate of corned beef and cab-bage or a cup of Irish Stew. Thirsty? Sipon the new Irish Mule, featuring Jamesonwhiskey, ginger beer and a lime wedge, orthe Cask & Craft, which includes a pair-ing of Jameson whiskey and stout beer, atthe Jameson Lounge.

Visitors can also visit the Celtic Kitchenwhere world-renowned chef and TV per-sonality, Kevin Dundon, as well as otherlocal chefs, will share recipes and insightsabout the Irish Food Revolution. Recently,Irish chefs like Dundon have been meld-ing traditional recipes with modern tech-niques for a whole new fusion of flavor.Come find out how fresh, locally-sourcedingredients and innovative thinking haveshaped this new kitchen craze.

Fun for the Entire FamilyWith the little ones in mind, Milwaukee

Irish Fest features a children’s area full offun and free activities. Kids can create artsand crafts, join in story time or enjoy asnack in a children’s tea room. With twofamily stages, there is no shortage of entertainment for the entire clan! WatchIrish dancers perform or sing-along withDino O’Dell as he leads guests on a triparound the globe. Families are also invitedto stop by the Celtic Canines to meet thenative dog breeds of Ireland or head overto the Leprechaun Village to collectstamps for their Pirate Paddy Passport.

About Milwaukee Irish FestMilwaukee Irish Fest is the world’s

largest celebration of Celtic music andculture. The four-day festival showcasesmore than 100 entertainment acts on 17stages at Henry W. Maier Festival Park on

continued from page 1 Milwaukee’s lakefront. The annual festi-val occurs every third weekend in August.The 36th annual Milwaukee Irish Festtakes place August 18 to 21, 2016.

General admission for the festival is$20 for adults, $15 for seniors 60+ andfree for kids 12 and under.

The festival offers reduced admissionduring special promotional periods at thegate on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. OnThurs., Aug. 18, guests can get free admission with a donation of school supplies. On Fri., Aug. 19, it’s Half PriceFriday with admission for only $10. OnSun., Aug. 16, guests can receive free admission with a donation of a non-perishable food item before 11 a.m. at theSouth Gate. All donations go to benefitHunger Task Force. Those who donate arewelcome to stay for the Liturgy for Peaceand Justice at 9:30 a.m. at the Marcus Amphitheater. Those who choose not toattend the Liturgy will receive a handstamp for admission throughout the day.

Milwaukee Irish Fest makes it easyand affordable for the whole family toenjoy the festival. With partners like theWisconsin State Fair, the MilwaukeeBucks and the Milwaukee County Zoo,there are a variety of Dublin the Fun advance ticket packages, special promo-tions and discounts guests can take advantage of. Promotions include discounts for college students, seniors,military personnel and their families. Tolearn more about ticket packages, discounts and special promotions, visitIrishFest.com.

A 365 Day Celtic CelebrationMilwaukee Irish Fest is proudly

presented by CelticMKE, a non-profit organization dedicated to igniting a loveof Celtic culture in all people. With thehelp of more than 4,000 volunteers,CelticMKE and Milwaukee Irish Fest pro-mote Celtic music, dance, drama, sports,culture, children’s activities and genealogythrough the annual festival, as well asyear-round programming. For more infor-mation, visit www.CelticMKE.com.

See you in August!Milwaukee Irish Fest 2016 takes place

August 18-21. Keep up with festival up-dates at IrishFest.com, on Facebook atfacebook.com/IrishFest.milwaukee, or onTwitter and Instagram @MKEIrishFest.

Jackie’sCorner Cupboard..................................

The theme for the August meeting is asummer picnic. Hot dogs and buns will beprovided. Please bring side dishes anddesserts to share. There will be fun raffleprizes including specials prizes from IrishFest. Hope to see you there!

- Jackie KonkolSergeant-at-Arms

Phrase of the Month..................................Cupan - CupCheannaigh mé cupán tae. (Kayn nai may cup-on tay) I bought a cup of tea.

Advertise in theEmerald Reflections

Contactdpcanon@wi.rr.com for rates

EMERALD REFLECTIONSPHOTO OF THE MONTH

An Old Gaelic PrayerMay the Road Rise to meet youMay the wind be always at your backMay the sun shine warm upon your face,

till the rains fall soft upon your fields.And, until we meet again,May God hold you in the palm of His hands.

SHAMROCK CLUB OF WISCONSIN2133 W. Wisconsin AvenueMilwaukee, WI 53223

For Information: http://shamrockclubwis.comor: www.saintpatricksparade.org

Your 2016-17 Shamrock Club Board: Mary Moze, Nick Nowak, Pam Canon, Jackie Konkol,Maggie Blaha, Taffy Anderson, Ron Danielson, Joseph Hughes and Mary Culver.