If you are as obsessive or as compulsive as I am (it's the non-Irish part of my heritage), you may also sit down with the Irish Fest brochure and try to plan out how you take advantage of everything that Irish Fest has to offer. Here's my plan, both to help you with yours and to let you tell me what I'm really missing out on.

I've not always attended Irish Fest on Thursday, but I highly recommend it, especially this year. As the least attended day of Irish Fest, Thursday is the perfect day to see the most popular new musical acts, to shop, and just to walk the grounds. Since I work at Marquette University, I plan to use the Milwaukee County Transit System's $3 Wisconsin Avenue shuttle to get from work to Maier Festival Park on Thursday night. If my wife decides to come, she has a few travel options from our neighborhood on the far west side of Milwaukee. She can drive and park at Marquette and join me, or take the Freeway Flyer for $6 from State Fair Park, or take the #10 bus down Wisconsin Avenue to Marquette and join me there, or just drive down and park at one of the Maier Festival Park lots. We find the bus to be the best way to go to things like Jazz in the Park and the most popular ethnic festivals, avoiding the parking hassles and the cost. There will also be some free shuttles from some locations, like County Clare and perhaps Slim's, but the local parking for those locations is also often problematic.

If parking is the choice on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, the Italian Community Center lot is usually my choice. It is fairly convenient to the main gate, is well run, and it does not involve driving all of the way down to the Main Gate and encountering all of the parking there. Just take I-794 East to the Jackson/Van Buren left-hand exit, turn right (south) on Jackson, and go south on Jackson just past the Italian Community Center on the left side of the street and turn in on the left to the parking area. The cost is $10 and involves a walk of two or three blocks to the Main Gate. There is closer parking, but the traffic getting in and out is horrendous.

Admission on Thursday is only $5, but I expect that we will put together donations of school supplies and use that to get free admission on Thursday.

Jane Anderson, the Executive Director of Irish Fest, said that last year's "Who's Your Paddy?" was very popular and is being moved to Thursday. Intended as a social event for young professionals, the free event (on Friday last year) included beer tickets. As a result, the line wound all the way through Maier Festival Park, as people (including those who don't even come close to the definition of a "young professional") waited to get in. It's being moved to Thursday this year and is being provided more space (the exact location on the grounds not yet announced), but since I am no longer young and in no need of free beer, I will be passing by "Who's Your Paddy?"

The first thing to do on Thursday is, of course, to grab a stout. Only Wisconsin beers may be sold at Maier Festival Park. For those who don't care quite so much for the standard American lager, this leaves only three spots on the grounds that I know of at which to purchase your stout—the Sprecher, Water Street Brewery, and Lakeshore Brewery pavilions. (McSorley’s is not bad and is available on the north end of the Maier Festival Park just north of the Tipperary Tea Room.) Personally, I prefer the Water Street and Lakeshore stouts, and they are located on the south end of Maier Festival Park at the Lakefront Pub (on the lake side) and the Water Street Brewery (on the city side) of the same building, right across from the south entrance and just outside the Cultural Area. This is also a good time to buy your beer coupons for the entire Irish Fest and perhaps ration your purchase of beer, apart from contributions at the AOH Hospitality Area.

This diversion for a stout is really quite convenient, because the first stop for shopping is in the Cultural Area. The Belleck Milwaukee Irish Fest Christmas ornament will be on sale there for $20, but it is a limited edition, and my wife loves Christmas and will be pleased that I have this gift picked out for her already. It’s best to get this taken care of early, and I’ll be sure to bring a backpack or something in which to carry it safely. Belleck will be in the Moore Street Market (right in the middle of the Cultural Area), along with many other County Clare artisans new to Irish Fest, so a quick reconnaissance through the Moore Street Market is next on the agenda. The other shopping areas are in the center of Maier Festival Park (Grafton Square) and at the north end near the Celtic Rock Stage (Lilliput Market), include everything from Guinness pint glasses (in case you’ve broken one or more), Sinn Fein apparel, soccer and rugby jerseys, Donegal hats, Aran sweaters, Irish lace and jewelry, and anything else that might be remotely considered Irish (or, more often, "Irish inspired"). My suggestion is to look through the shopping areas and buy what you really want as soon as you can—in Milwaukee, the larger sizes tend to disappear quickly. Then, focus on the music!

The first musical stop on Thursday will definitely be the Celtic Tenors at the Miller Lite Stage at 7 PM. We’ll try to get there a little early to get the best seats and have time to eat a sandwich, or the fish and chips, before the music starts. The Celtic Tenors debuted as the Three Irish Tenors on RTE's Theatre Nights on October 1995 and were formed as the Celtic Tenors in 2000. The group consists of Matthew Gilsenan, James Nelson, and Daryl Simpson. Singing a mixture of Celtic, operatic, and re-worked popular songs with a Celtic bent, the group has had significant success, in the United States in particular.

After that, Líadan will appear at 8:30 PM at the Celtic Rock Stage. Líadan’s mesmerizing singing and creative instrumental music have been captivating audiences throughout Ireland, Europe, and America since the band’s formation in 2004. Blending together their rich musical backgrounds, these six young women create a fresh and exciting sound that explores both traditional and new material. Their tune playing features striking string and reed rhythms and accompaniments, the band also performs a selection of traditional songs using a capella, harmonies, and instrumental arrangements.

From Galway, Limerick and Dublin, this all-female band is comprised of six members: Síle Denvir, harpist; Deirdre Chawke, piano accordion; Valerie Casey and Claire Dolan, fiddles; Sarah-Jane Woods, flute; and Elaine Cormican, whistles.

After that, I plan to grab a stout and head home, avoiding vehicle operation if necessary based on my condition at the time. One can't put the rest of Irish Fest, among other things, in jeopardy.

Friday will begin bright and early with the AOH Irish Fest Golf Outing at 8:15 AM at Naga-Waukee Golf Course in Pewaukee. The details are posted elsewhere on the blog and Web site, and we hope to have a sufficient number of participants to make a truly social event. What's more Irish than playing golf, telling stories, and enjoying a beverage with Irishmen?

I plan to take the Freeway Flyer to Maier Festival Park (or perhaps catch a ride with someone) in order to participate in Hospitality Area setup between 3 PM and 4 PM. That’s quite convenient, because Blarney will begin to play at 4 PM at the Miller Lite Stage. Blarney's roots run through Irish Fest. Formed in 1975 in Milwaukee, Ed Ward and this band were the catalyst for the gathering of Irish bands into the festival as we now know it. With six recordings to its credit, Blarney celebrates the history of Irish music through "songs of the sea, songs of love, songs of uprising and rebellion, and of course, the spirited pub tunes of revelry" and is dedicated to continuing the Irish ballad tradition. The current line-up since 1989 has been Chuck Ward, Kevin Stapleton, and Dennis Murphy.

Then it's time to grab some dinner, and perhaps ask the wife what she would like to do! This is also the perfect time just to socialize with the members. Remember, there is no such thing as a stranger--just a friend that you haven't yet met! The Hospitality Area is the perfect place to cement the commitment of new and old Division members and show Milwaukee's legendary hospitality to all of their guests. I've signed up for Greeter duty between 8 PM and close, but if I do it correctly, it won't be a duty--it will be part of the reason for being at Irish Fest.

Gaelic Storm will appear for the first time at 9 PM at the Miller Lite Stage. A big Irish Fest favorite, Gaelic Storm began at O'Brien's Irish Pub and Restaurant in Santa Monica, California. In 1997, Gaelic Storm appeared in the film Titanic as the steerage band. This catapulted Gaelic Storm into touring throughout the world, where the band were met with extreme success and popularity. Gaelic Storm tours aggressively and plays over 125 dates a year. It has also put out six albums since its inception and is notable for its energetic rendering of traditional Irish and Scottish music. Its latest CD, Bring Yer Wellies, was released on July 25, 2006, and made it to Number 2 on The Billboard World Music Chart in its first week.

After that, we close the Hospitality Area and consider whether our constitution will permit a stop at one of the fine Irish pubs in Milwaukee before heading home for a little sleep. All will no doubt be packed!

Saturday morning begins with the Irish Fest Run/Walk. 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 Saturday. 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 to follow. Participants receive a gift bag that includes a Run/Walk to Irish Fest T-shirt and a wristband for free admission to Irish Fest until 3 PM. Online registration is available 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. If you plan to be at Irish Fest anyway, this is a great way to make a charitable contribution to a great cause, get some exercise on Milwaukee's beautiful lakefront (or not, as you choose after you pick up your materials), and get free admission to Irish Fest, a commemorative T-shirt, and who knows what else in the goody bag?

The AOH Hospitality Area opens at 12 noon, and Blackthorn is scheduled (at least) to begin performing at 12 noon at the Miller Lite Stage. Blackthorn is a talented folk ensemble from southeast Michigan. Through song and story, the band brings to life the beauty and legend of the emerald isle through song and story. Since forming in 1984, Blackthorn has delighted audiences with its songs of emigration, sea shanties, ancient melodies and the best of contemporary songs. The tunes incorporate a wide variety of instruments and tempos to provide a thorough tour of Irish heritage.

The Tossers perform at 1:45 PM at the Celtic Rock Stage, in their only performance at Irish Fest. You may recall that Laura Weinstein, our speaker at the March Division meeting on the Troubles, said that her interest in all things Irish (she’s a PhD candidate in Irish history at UW—Madison) started with her interest in Celtic rock and that the Tossers were her favorite band and the place where that interest started. They look to be hard core, so be ready for anything if you check out the Tossers!

Jane Anderson advised that Archbishop Brady would be lecturing Saturday afternoon in the Theatre Pavilion in the Cultural Area at 2 PM. If at all possible, I will heading down to hear the Archbishop. I hope he will offer insights on all things Irish, including the recent political settlement in the North, as the Archbishop of Armagh has traditionally been active in this regard.

Then it’s back to the AOH Hospitality Area for the musical group Baal Tinne, scheduled to perform at 5:15 PM at the Miller Lite Stage. An annual favorite of Irish Fest, Chicago's Baal Tinne takes traditional Irish music and respectfully arranges it to suit the extraordinary talents of each band member. The band features the self-taught talents of Noel on the flute and his son Kevin, a world-class bodhran player. Rounding out the sounds of this lively band are the exceptional and powerful playing of Sundstrom on guitar, Roche on keyboards, and daughter Cathleen on the fiddle.

Once again, I will be a greeter, from 8 PM to closing.

The David Munnelly Band will perform at 8:45 PM at the Miller Lite Stage. Members of the David Munnelly Band hail from Ireland's west coast. They favor the wilder, freer West Mayo style of performing their traditional music. Their music evokes the rugged, natural beauty of Ireland's famously beautiful West coast. Along with Irish button accordion wizard David, the band consists of award winning members who have toured with, and been part of, some of Ireland's finest performers and bands.

To wrap up the evening of a very long day, Gaelic Storm will perform again at 10:30 PM at the Miller Lite Stage. Then it's time to close up the Hospitality Area.

Sunday is a good day to drive down to Irish Fest and pay the parking fee. I will park on the very south end of Maier Festival Park near the Marcus Amphitheatre and enter at the south entrance to the Park to the Amphitheatre for the Irish Fest Liturgy for Peace and Justice. As with the other AOH members, I will arrive around 8:45 AM to get my assignment and then try to get the rest of the Brothers to stand in a line for the procession into Mass. Bring your canned goods and deliver them as you go into Mass, to assure free admission into Irish Fest later on. The AOH brethren usher, learn from the homily, and appreciate the beauty and effort that goes into the Mass. As always, we remain together after the procession so that we can meet the celebrant and have a group picture taken.

After Mass and admission into Irish Fest, it's an excellent time to wander down to the Tipperary Tea Room to take advantage of a little dessert and, in particular, the Celtic Crossing liqueur and coffee that's served there. It's an interesting taste that puts one in the right mood for the remainder of the day. If there is anything going on at the Hedge School or the Theatre Pavilion in the Cultural Area, this would also be a good time to wander back in that direction and to check those out.

I've volunteered to man the AOH Cultural Area from 1 PM to 3 PM. It's a chance to meet visitors, some of whom don't always want to be met, and encourage passersby to consider membership in the AOH. I expect to bring my lunch and perhaps a beverage to make the time pass just a little more easily.

Afterwards, it's a good chance to check out the rest of the Cultural Area exhibits and see if there is anything interesting. I'll probably go out to the car and change out of my usher uniform to something a little more comfortable. I then plan to listen to Scythian at 4 PM at the Celtic Rock Stage. The members of Scythian (pronounced sith-ee-yin) are all classically trained musicians who came together as nothing more than a group of street performers. The chemistry was right from the start and the band became one of the most energetic groups in the Washington, DC, area. Scythian incorporates their classical training, Celtic traditions, folk, gypsy, and Klezmer elements into a high-energy show featuring dueling fiddles.

After that, it's back down to the other end of Maier Festival Park to see the Clare Ceili Band at 5 PM at the Lakefront Brewery Dance Pavilion. It's a chance to hear more traditional ceili band players straight from County Clare. After that, it's time to get the best seat possible to hear Leahy at 6:30 PM at the Old Style Stage. The pride of Lakefield, Ontario, this band of eight siblings performs exuberant Irish music. Each member is a multi-instrumentalist and all are accomplished dancers. Led by Donnell, an internationally-recognized fiddle player, Leahy has performed some of the most popular shows in recent Irish Fest history. I was disappointed that Leahy was not back last year and don't intend to miss them this year! I bought their CD, and the music is great, but it's the live performance that makes Leahy special.

If I have the energy, then it's off to listen to Ce at 8:15 PM at the Lakefront Brewery Dance Pavilion. Based in Milwaukee, this three-piece band is made up of multi-instrumentalists who play traditional and contemporary Celtic music, including original compositions, and has released two CDs.

Finally, if I have not yet collapsed, the Scattering happens at 9:45 PM at the Aer Lingus Stage. It's a gathering of many of the artists who have played at Irish Fest and a good time. Then I figure out how to get to the south exit and my car and back home!