An Irish Welcome Without Going Too Far from Home
I would have loved to have been in Ireland last weekend, but I was perfectly content with the hundred thousand welcomes I received at Milwaukee Irish Fest. There’s something about an Irish festival that gives us an interim taste of the Emerald Isle between trips (even if it includes a few things that don’t resemble anything I’ve seen in Ireland – Can anyone say shamrock sequined feather boas and leather kilts?).
Some Folks Wanted to say, “Hello!” to You
I met loads of people from Ireland and the US promoting Ireland who want to say, “Hello,” to YOU! Just for fun, I snapped their pics (links to their web addresses can be found at the bottom)…
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- This Celtic Canine wants to say hello!
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- Liam the Extra Large Leprechaun and these lively ladies say hello
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- Carol from Ballynahinch Castle
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- Edel from Donegal and her fabulous knitwear and her lucky mirror say hello
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- Katie from Earthen Craft Pottery
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- Gillian from Loughs Agency in L'Derry
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- Michael from the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny
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- Deirdre from Harvey's Point in Donegal
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- Roisin from Manor House Hotels
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- Roinsin from Discover Ireland says hello
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- Irish Fest's most-photographed sign
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- Siobhan and Flan from Clare say vote for the Cliffs of Moher for 7NewWonders
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- Corey from Irish Fireside and Ireland's minister of State Fergus O'Dowd say hello
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- Natasha from Derry
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- Jason from Causeway Coast and Glens
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- Máire Aine from Fáilte Ireland North West
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- Roisin and Ann from Galway
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- Naimh from Ireland of the Welcomes Magazine
My Favorite Moments
The very best memories from the festival came when some of YOU stopped by to say hello. I’m glad I had a chance to chat with so many of you… and my apologies to those whose visits were cut short because our booth was so busy (a popular booth is both a blessing and a curse).
A special shout out to Andy, Anne, Annie, Barb, Bill, Bit, Breda, Brendan, Bridget, Cari, Carol, Chris, Christian, Christine, Doug, Eileen, Flano, Fran, George, Gillian, Gwen, Heidi, Jayne, Jeanette, Jessie, Jill, John, Joyce, Judy, Karen, Katie, Katy, Kelly, Kieran, Laura, Liz, Maureen, Michele, Mike, Nancy, Pat, Patty, Peggy, Pete, Ronan, Rory, Ryan, Sarah, Sean, Shawn, Sheila, Siobhan, Susan, Tim, Tom, Tristan, and anyone I might have missed. All these Irish Firesiders took time out of their day to visit us, and we really appreciate it!
Our next stop, the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem, PA, on September 23-25. If you’ll be in the area, definitely stop by and visit us in the Donegal Square tent.
If you’d like us to visit your local Irish festival, be sure to recommend us to festival organizers. We’d be happy to join the craic, talk about Irish travel, and/or show off our shard jewelry from Ireland.
7NewWonders – www.new7wonders.com
Ballynahinch Castle – www.ballynahinch-castle.com
Causeway Coast and Glens – www.causewaycoastandglens.com
Clanree Hotel – www.clanreehotel.com
Cliffs of Moher – www.cliffsofmoher.ie
County Clare - www.clare.ie
Derry Visitor – www.derryvisitor.com
Discover Ireland – www.discoverireland.com
Earthen Craft Pottery – www.ecptile.com
Edel MacBride – www.facebook.com/pages/fashionknitwear#!/fashionknitwear
Galway – www.discoverireland.com/us/ireland-places-to-go/counties/galway/
Harvey’s Point – www.harveyspoint.com
Ireland of the Welcomes – www.irelandofthewelcomes.com
Kilrush – www.kilrush.ie
Liam the Extra Large Leprechaun – www.facebook.com/pages/Liam-the-extra-large-Leprechaun/59093542158
Loughs Agency – www.loughs-agency.org
Manor House Hotels – www.manorhousehotels.com
North West Ireland - www.irelandnorthwest.ie
Support Irish Theatre – www.supportirishtheatre.com
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It was great spending the weekend with you guys! Hope to see you in the not too distant future.
You should check out the Michigan Irish Music Festival in Muskegon, MI in September. One of the best, and only a 2-hour ferry ride from Milwaukee!
http://www.michiganirish.org
Corey,
Maureen and I enjoyed meeting you and Liam at the Milwaukee Irish Fest.
What a beautiful display of fine shard jewelry. Very interesting process in constructing the jewelry, the ultimare recycling of Belleek etc.
We also enjoyed hearing about Knockahopple cottage and Liam’s unusual guided tours.
See you next year, God willing.
Corey
Lovely to meet you again this year. Sorry we delayed you waiting for that pic….. wish I had known you were at the Cultural Village I would have stopped by every day. Ah well there’s always next year….
great to see you getting out to Irish festivals as well as craft fairs. hope to cross paths with you along the road.
Thanks for the promotion guys, great neighbours, great mirror keep it safe for me next year!