The Great Irish Open, organized by CelticMKE and presented by O'Donoghue's Irish Pub, was held on September 18, 2019 at the Ironwood Golf Course. It was a great day, enjoyed by over 140 golfers, and the best part was that the event raised funds for our Ward Irish Music Archives! 

The funds raised by the GIO will go towards various projects for the Archives, in the coming year. Thanks to our golfers and event sponsors, the Archives will be able to: 

• Purchase a new HD camera, to conduct oral history interviews with Irish musicians
• Purchase new technical equipment, for digital preservation efforts

Having up-to-date technology, especially in a fast-changing technical world, allows the Archives to continue to preserve traditional and modern Irish music, by keeping with archival industry standards. 

About the Ward Irish Music Archives

The Ward Irish Music Archives, part of CelticMKE, is dedicated to the preservation of Irish and Irish American music in all its forms. Established in 1992, the Archives houses one of the largest public collections of Irish music in America. Items in the Archives ranges from early 19th century to modern singers and bands including U2. There are over 50,000 items, including Irish recordings; paper ephemera, instruments; photos; rare 78s, 45s and LPs; and even music recorded on wax cylinders.

All music items donated to the Archives are catalogued and entered into a comprehensive computer database. Click here to visit the Ward Irish Music Archives website.