Irish Fest

Sponsorships at the AOH Hospitality Area are very popular! To date, the following sponsorships have been secured:

Callen Construction, Inc.
Joe Bennett
John Grogan
John Harrington
Pat Kryzewski/Cary Merkl
Pat Knight/Ed Shanley
Derry's Pub
Patrick Foran
David Farley Family
Denis Lynch
Village at Manor Park
Dennis Connor/Chuck McGrady
AOH-Milwaukee Division Officers
Patrick Matthews
Beres Builders
US Bank Private Client Group
Dan Melka
Affeldt Law Offices, S.C.
Carma Labs
Schenck Solutions

Special thanks go to each of our Members who have agreed to sponsor the Hospitality Area or who have helped to secure a sponsor who is not a member. We still need two more sponsors to meet our goal, and every additional sponsor will assure that money will be available for our contingency fund to support our Hospitality Area activities at future Irish Fests. Sponsorships are only $325. Contact Tom Callen or Doug Smith if you need additional information on how to participate or how to encourage others to do so.

To be sure that you get are ready for Irish Fest 2007, be sure to attend the August meeting of the Division, scheduled for Wednesday, August 8, 2007, at 7:15 PM at Derry's Pub, 54th and Bluemound. Passes for the AOH Hospitality Area will be distributed at this meeting. Dues-paid members who want Hospitality Area passes but cannot attend this meeting can obtain passes by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to Doug Smith at P.O. Box 26764, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, along with an indication of how many passes are required for Friday and how many are required for Saturday.

The 2007 Irish Fest Summer School takes place from August 12 through 17, 2007, and includes a variety of classes that may be of interest to Division members. A complete schedule and information can be downloaded from the Irish Fest website.

Get a jump on Irish Fest on Wednesday, August 15, when Leahy's Luck and Gaelic Storm appear as part of "Tosa Tonight;" at Hoyt Park, located at 82nd Street and Menomonee River Parkway in Wauwatosa. Leahy's Luck will open from 5:30 to 7 PM, and Gaelic Storm plays from 7:30 to 9 PM. This one is always crowded, so if you go, go early and get comfortable!

Irish Fest 2007 begins Thursday night, August 16, and continues through Sunday night, August 19, at Henry Maier Festival Park on Milwaukee's lakefront. I'm a planner and have my plan all planned. Check out my Irish Fest itinerary.

Hours of admission to Irish Fest on Thursday, August 16, are 5 PM to 10 PM. Thursday night is called the "Grand Hooley" and admission is only $5. Entertainers new to Irish Fest will be appearing at four of Irish Fest's regular 16 stages. Free admission is also available on Thursday night with a donation of school supplies (markers, notebooks, backpacks, etc.) for children served by Hope House. The performance schedule for Thursday is tentatively set as follows:

Miller Lite Stage--Millish at 5:15 PM; The Celtic Tenors at 7 PM; and Seanchai & The Unity Squad at 8:45 PM
Aer Lingus Stage--Trinity Irish Dancers at 5 PM; VIP Introduction at 6:30 PM; and Beoga at 7:30 PM
Celtic Roots Stage--Ladies of Longford at 5:15 PM; Eddi Reader at 7 PM; and Liadan at 8:30 PM
McGourthy's Tipperary Dance Stage--The Wise Maids Ceili at 5:15 PM; The Clare Ceili Band at 7 PM and 8:45 PM

Plan to participate in the AOH Irish Fest Golf Outing on Friday morning, August 17, at Western Lakes Golf Club in Pewaukee. Tee times begin at 8:15 AM, and the cost for greens fees and cart is only $49. Only AOH members, local and throughout the country, may participate. Contact Doug Smith at webmaster@aohmilwaukee.com to secure your place!

Parking is always exciting at Irish Fest. If you want to avoid it entirely, County Clare is providing a free shuttle service to Irish Fest 2007. Riders are picked up in front of County Clare and dropped off at the main gate of the Summerfest grounds. Return riders are picked up from the south gate and dropped off at County Clare's front door. Service is every hour on the hour to Irish Fest. The shuttle is free and operates on Thursday August 16 from 5pm to 10 pm; on Friday August 17 from 5pm to 12 midnight; on Saturday August 18 from 12 noon to 12 midnight; and on Sunday August 19 from 8 am to 11 pm. In addition, the Milwaukee County Freeway Flyer is $6 round trip, and the shuttle service along Wisconsin Avenue is just $3.

Free admission to Irish Fest can be had! The Division will have a limited number of free passes for Division volunteers. In addition, free admission is also available on Thursday night with a donation of school supplies (markers, notebooks, backpacks, etc.) for children served by Hope House. Free admission is also available to everyone between 4 PM and 5 PM on Friday August 17 at the Henry Maier Festival Park main gate. Ditch work, come to main gate during those times, and enjoy Irish Fest from the AOH Milwaukee Division hospitality area. It's also possible to get in for free on Saturday August 18, but you have to do a little work and make a contribution. The Arthritis Foundation 5K Run/Walk takes place at the lakefront, just north of Maier Festival Park, with registration between 8:30 AM and 10 AM on the Saturday of Irish Fest. The Run/Walk starts at 10:30 AM and continues along the lakefront and through Veterans Park. The Run/Walk is scheduled to be over by 11:15 AM, with refreshments and entertainment. Participants receive a gift bag that includes a Run/Walk to Irish Fest T-shirt and a wristbank for free admission to Irish Fest until 3 PM. Online registration is available now at http://runwalktoirishfest.kintera.org. The registration fee is $17 for adults until August 10 and $25 thereafter, with the proceeds supporting the activities of the Arthritis Foundation Wisconsin Chapter. Finally, those who attend the Irish Fest Mass for Peace and Justice at 9:30 AM on Sunday August 19 and bring a nonperishable canned good to contribute to local food pantries will obtain free admission to Irish Fest through the south gate immediately after Mass. Free admission is also available on Sunday between 2 PM and 4 PM with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Press Card at the Main Gate.

Regular admission to Irish Fest 2007 is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and free for children 12 and under.

The AOH booth at the Irish Fest Cultural Area will be open throughout the final three days of Irish Fest. Volunteer responsibilities are as follows:

AOH TABLE AT IRISH FEST CULTURAL AREA

Friday August 17
4 PM to 6 PM Ron Salmon, Chris Christian
6 PM to 8 PM Terry Donahue, Chris Christian
8 PM to 9:30 PM Tom Driscoll, Mike Driscoll

Saturday August 18
12 noon to 2 PM Mike Finley, Tom Driscoll
2 PM to 4 PM Rick McMahon, Mike Rice
4 PM to 6 PM Jeff Donovan, Cary Merkl
6 PM to 8 PM Ed Hefferon, Ken Trainor
8 PM to 9:30 PM Ken Trainor

Sunday August 19
11 AM to 1 PM Tom Callen, Patrick Foran
1 PM to 3 PM Doug Smith, Terry Brennan
3 PM to 5 PM Ken Trainor
5 PM to 7 PM Dennis Ryan, Jerry Hill
7 PM to 9 PM Brian Terry, Cary Merkl

The AOH Hospitality Area at the Miller Lite Stage will be open from 4 PM to 12 midnight on Friday, August 17, 2007, and from 12 noon to 12 midnight on Saturday, August 18, 2007. Volunteer responsibilities for the AOH Hospitality Area are as follows:

AOH HOSPITALITY AREA SETUP

Friday August 17 at 3 PM
Tom Callen, Doug Smith, Vince Agnew

SECURITY AT AOH HOSPITALITY AREA

Friday August 17
4 PM to 6 PM Denis Lynch, Terry Brennan
6 PM to 8 PM Tom Driscoll, Jerry Driscoll
8 PM to 10 PM David Smith, Pat Krzyzewski
10 PM to close Vince Agnew

Saturday August 18
12 noon to 2 PM Mike Rice, Rick McMahon
2 PM to 4 PM Tom Miller, Pat Krzyzewski
4 PM to 6 PM John Hopkins, Tom Conlin, Dennis Ryan
6 PM to 8 PM Brian Jennings, Joe Fretschel
8 PM to 10 PM Pat McNally, Dereck Morgan
10 PM to close Vince Agnew

GREETERS AT AOH HOSPITALITY AREA

Friday August 17
4 PM to 6 PM Dave Farley, Randy McCray
6 PM to 8 PM Ed O'Hare, Jeff Donovan
8 PM to 10 PM Ed O'Hare, Dennis Ryan
10 PM to close Doug Smith, Jerry Hise

Saturday August 18
12 noon to 2 PM Terry Brennan, Ron Salmon
2 PM to 4 PM Bill Mitchell, Mike Dwyer
4 PM to 6 PM Ed O'Hare, Steve McGaver
6 PM to 8 PM Ed O'Hare, Jerry Driscoll, Mike Driscoll
8 PM to 10 PM Doug Smith
10 PM to close Doug Smith, Pat Maraka

BARTENDING AT AOH HOSPITALITY AREA

Friday August 17
4 PM to 6 PM Dennis Connor, Jim Moran, Chuck McGrady
6 PM to 8 PM George Riordan, Bill O'Connor, Pat Quinn
8 PM to 10 PM Patrick Smith, Tim O'Brien
10 PM to close Ed Shanley, Pat Knight, Pat Brennan

Saturday August 18
12 noon to 2 PM Joe Bennett, Dick Casey, Dan Gaynor
2 PM to 4 PM Bob Loughrin, John Grogan
4 PM to 6 PM Dan Hounsell, Brian Terry
6 PM to 8 PM Tim Harrington, Terry Donahue
8 PM to 10 PM Mike Donohoo, Pat Maraka
10 PM to close

The Miller Lite Stage schedule during Hospitality Area Hours is as follows:

Friday, August 17--Blarney at 4 PM; The Fuschia Band at 5:30 PM; Remembering Tommy Makem at 7:15 PM; Gaelic Storm at 9 PM; and The David Munnelly Band at 10:30 PM

Saturday, August 18--Blackthorn at 12 noon; Kinsella Irish Dancers at 1:30 PM; Blarney at 3:15 PM; Baal Tinne at 5:15 PM; Remembering Tommy Makem at 7 PM; The David Munnelly Band at 8:45 PM; and Gaelic Storm at 10:30 PM

In addition, among the 85 performers and groups at Irish Fest, these artists may be of particular interest:

Friday, August 17--Cherish The Ladies at 10:30 PM at the Aer Lingus Stage; The Celtic Tenors at 5:45 PM at the Old Style Stage; Leahy at 9 PM at the Old Style Stage

Saturday, August 18--Gan Bua at 12 noon at the Aer Lingus Stage; Cherish The Ladies at 7 PM at the Aer Lingus Stage; The Celtic Tenors at 8:45 PM at the Old Style Stage; Leahy at 10:15 PM at the Old Style Stage; The Tossers at 1:45 PM at the Leinie's Celtic Rock Stage; John McGivern at 7 PM at McGourthy's Tipperary Stage; Finbar McCarthy at 8:45 PM at McGourthy's Tipperary Stage; the Larkin & Moran Brothers at 8:45 PM at The Snug

Sunday August 19--Cherish The Ladies reunion at 5:30 PM at the Aer Lingus Stage; Leahy's Luck at 11:15 AM at the Old Style Stage; The Celtic Tenors at 3 PM at the Old Style Stage; Leahy at 6:30 PM at the Old Style Stage; Finbar McCarthy at 8:15 PM at McGourthy's Tipperary Stage

The Irish Fest Mass for Peace and Justice will take place on Sunday, August 19, 2007, at 9:30 AM, at the Marcus Amphitheatre. Archbishop Sean Brady of Armagh, the Primate of All Ireland, and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee will be co-celebrants. AOH members are requested to wear a white shirt, tie, and AOH sash and to report for ushering assignments not later than 8:45 AM. Enter through the south gate to Henry Maier Festival Park to go to the west entrance to the Marcus Amphitheatre, and the AOH gathers there to process in at the beginning of the Mass.

Irish Fest 2007 will feature the largest, longest ever line of people dancing the "Siege of Ennis." It will take place Sunday August 19 on the lake walk.

The Raffle Drawing for the round trip to Ireland will take place Sunday at 7:30 PM at the Aer Lingus Stage. The winner need not be present. The Scattering, a long-standing Irish Fest tradition in which entertainers gather on one stage to perform a musical finale, will take place at 9:45 PM on Sunday at the Aer Lingus Stage.