CelticMKE - Irish Music and Celtic Culture in Milwaukee, WI

CelticMKE

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to play a bodhrán – or what the heck one is – you’re in the right place. CelticMKE, the home of Milwaukee Irish Fest, is about sharing our love of Irish music, Celtic history, and culture with people in the Midwest, and all over the world! You’ll find programs for the whole family, lectures by leading experts in Celtic culture, classes in traditional language, music and crafts, and our signature event, Milwaukee Irish Fest. Whether you want to reconnect with your roots, or explore a culture that’s new to you, CelticMKE is here to help.

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What's New

CelticMKE Céilí Dances

Join us at our CelticMKE Center in the Village of Wauwatosa for monthly céilí dance gatherings. All ages welcome. Instruction always offered.

Rent Our Space

Host your next event in our beautiful, historic building, located in the village of Wauwatosa!

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Featured

5 Scotland Castles to Check Out

Five castles to put on your bucket list of castles to visit in Scotland! From the oldest Scottish castle to the biggest, these castles are rich with history, beauty and stunning views!

Pat Connaughton Learns Celtic Culture

NBA star Pat Connaughton from the Milwaukee Bucks takes a deep dive into Irish culture in a series of videos produced by CelticMKE

Tips for Practicing Irish Music

To help make the most of your Irish music (or any style of music) practice time, we've compiled a few tips to help make getting started less daunting...

A Musical and Artistic Glimpse Inside the Fenians

A colorful piece of sheet music cover art leads Ward Irish Music Archives director, Barry Stapleton, on a journey exploring the Fenian Raids of Canada in 1866.

CelticMKE Blog, My Trip to Glendalough, Dingle, Dublin and Belfast

Irish Destinations: My Trip to Glendalough, Dingle, Dublin and Belfast

Guest Blogger Jessi L. writes about her Winter trip to Ireland, which included sightseeing, concerts, Christmas markets, and more.

Say Hello to CelticMKE

The new CelticMKE brand embraces the larger and expanded musical world enabling us to better compete in a multitude of Celtic nations for funds, influence and new and innovative ideas.

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Upcoming Events

CelticMKE Céilí Dances

Join us at our CelticMKE Center in the Village of Wauwatosa for monthly céilí dance gatherings. All ages welcome. Instruction always offered.

Playing the Border and the Ball

February 2, 2023: Northern Ireland - from Partition to the World Cup. Join us for a history lecture on Northern Ireland with Professor Dr. Tim McMahon and Dr. Abigail Bernhardt.

Guinness, Chocolate and Bluegrass

February 10, 2023: Guinness Beers + Free Chocolate Pairings + Bluegrass with The MilBillies = the best way to celebrate the Valentine's Day season!

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Support CelticMKE on Amazon!

Are you an avid Amazon shopper? Did you know Amazon gives back to non-profit organizations like us through what they call Amazon Smile? The difference is that when you shop through Amazon Smile, they will donate to CelticMKE every time you make a purchase! All you have to do is choose "Irish Festivals, Inc." as your organization of choice to support, through the link here, and shop from the Amazon Smile website (shopping through the Smile website ensures donations go to the organization).

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Fáilte to Irish and Celtic Culture!

Fáilte (that means “welcome” in Gaelic) to CelticMKE, your go-to resource for all things Irish and Celtic in the Milwaukee area and around the globe! You’re probably familiar with our signature event, Milwaukee Irish Fest, but maybe you haven’t listened to historic recordings from our Ward Irish Music Archives, learned Celtic music and culture face-to-face with leading experts during the Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School, or learned the tin whistle or Irish fiddle with faculty from the Milwaukee Irish Fest School of Music. Start exploring your Irish and Celtic heritage - or discovering your own unique love for it – with CelticMKE today!