Milwaukee Irish Fest 2007
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I was invited to attend the fest by Veronica Ceszynski, director of the Literary Corner. Veronica read all the books of the all the authors she invited. On this day, I wished that I had packed my Irish sweater. It was chilly on Lake Michigan, but this was the day after the big storm so we were thankful that it was not raining.
I was also invited to speak at the Hedge School. On this day I was on a panel of women writers. We answered questions about writing and publishing in general. This was one of my favorite times at the fest. Pictured left to right: Ann O'Farrell, Me, Brenna Briggs, Cynthia Neale, and Marcy O'Malley. The name Hedge School comes from a time in Ireland, during the Penal Laws, when Catholics were not allowed to educate their children. Teachers hid out in the wild (hedges) and taught anyway. At the fest, the sessions in the hedge school are for teaching and learning about Irish culture.
I was also given a time on my own when I talked about St. Brigid: who she was, if she really existed, what miracles she performed. This was fun too, although it was pouring rain at the time and most people had not yet left Sunday morning mass. (Notice that all the tables are up on the platform in an effort to keep things dry.
Tom and I were able to attend part of the mass. The Peace and Justice Choir and the Orchestra of Milwaukee Irish Fest were amazingly beautiful. There were a ton of people filling the amphitheater. We missed hearing the archbishop of Milwaukee speak but we did hear the archbishop of Armagh, Ireland, Sean Brady.
Autograph Tree booth in the Literary Corner. Veronica and her volunteers put up a very attractive spot for authors to sign their books for customers. Later after this picture was taken, high winds and heavy rains hit the area. The next morning we found everything blown over, but it was soon restored. The volunteers did a terrific job in protecting all the books. Mine stayed very dry, and I think that was the case for them all.
Below: With NY Times Best Selling Author, Edward Rutherfurd.
On one trip on the shuttle from the hotel to the festival grounds, I met Dr. Tim Campbell, Director of the Saint Patrick Centre in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. With my interest in Celtic saints, our meeting seemed divinely appointed! I have already received one magazine assignment to write about the Centre.
Tom and I love Irish music. Fortunately we were able to see one of our favorite groups, Cherish the Ladies, when it didn't rain. Well, it didn't rain too much. It started to rain at the end and Joannie Madden thanked us all for staying. She said she wouldn't sit in the rain to hear them play! This was a reunion with several former band members. In this picture Cathie Ryan is singing. I love her voice!
One of the bonuses of being a festival participant is getting to ride on the shuttle with band members. We were in awe sharing a ride with some of these band members along with Eddi Reader, Aoife Clancy, and others. Before the festival began, Tom got to have a chat with Gaelic Storm's stage manager. This insider look was really fun.
Before we participated in the fest, on sunny beautiful Friday, we attended a game at Miller Park. It's a beautiful stadium, lots of tailgaters who asked us to join them, and our team, the Reds, were in town. We couldn't pass up the chance!
On the way home we beat the rain long enough to take a walk on Chicago's Navy Pier.
A writers life doesn't always have to be behind a desk!
Slan,
Cindy