Cultural Village 2010

2010 CULTURAL PREVIEW

The Milwaukee Irish Fest Cultural Area is again planning on giving attendees a chance to travel to Ireland without leaving the Milwaukee lakefront

The Cultural Village is a bit of Ireland at the south end of the grounds. You can find everything, from traditional Irish sports to the Irish language. Or find some of the best Irish craftspeople and writers, or discover Irish theater and your ancestors.

The Cultural Exhibits Tent will concentrate on Northern Ireland. One of the central exhibits will be on Narnia, from the C.S .Lewis series of books, which was based on many spots in County Down. Other displays are being developed. The Irish Fest Photo Contest will have a new feature in 2010. The original contest centered on photos of Ireland. The new part of the contest will center on all aspects of Irish Milwaukee, from parade and dance to the festival.

The Harp Tent is the place to hear the music of the harp, the only musical instrument to be the symbol of a country. The mix of music marries the ancient to the modern, in an often electric manner, with some of the best harpers in the world.

The Hedge School will offer a series of lectures by leading authorities in Irish history, literature, language, and culture. Among them will be Sandy Smith, from the C. S. Lewis Foundation in Belfast, Basil McCrea, of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Dr. Tim Campbell, from the St. Patrick Centre in Downpatrick, County Down, and singer-songwriter Tom Sands, from Omagh.

The Literary Tent has Irish and Irish-American authors, such as Erin Hart, Kevin O’Hare, J.P. Dolan, Tommy Sands, and more. Visitors can meet the authors, and discuss the books with them.

Moore Street Market is a must-see destination featuring some of the best artists from Ireland and Northern Ireland. Donegal knitter Rosaleen Hegarty, whose hand crafts are among the best to come out of Erin, returns to the festival, and retro versions of Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) jerseys and clothing will be available for purchase. Students from Southeastern Regional College in Downpatrick will show their artwork to all festival attendees.

You can also learn about Irish music at the Archives tent; hear the music of the harp, the only musical instrument to be a symbol of a country; find out about your forebears in the Genealogy Tent; and find some of the best in Irish theater. You can also learn to play a bodhran, the Irish frame drum, at Walton's Music of Dublin; hear some of the best Irish music from Ireland and Milwaukee at the Pub; and discover more of Northern Ireland at the Roots Tent.

A trip to the Cultural Village is truly a unique chance to experience all the Emerald Isle offers without a plane ticket.

 

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