Milwaukee Irish Center in peril

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Added: Tue. Aug 24, 2010 8:52am
Posted in: Living

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 Milwaukee’s Irish Fest, which just wrapped up a couple of days ago, is known around the world as a spectacular gathering place and music festival on the shores of Lake Michigan.  I just spent a day there and did the full-on experience.  I petted an Irish Wolfhound and an Irish Setter, bought a book from a Northern Irish author, Patricia Falvey, bought a lovely silver ring with a woven Irish design from a vendor, ogled the companies of bag-pipers in their crisp plaid kilts and caps, watched a lot of great Irish dancing and listened to a lot of great Irish music.  Rain or shine, Irish Fest is always a resounding success.

 There’s another important Irish icon in Milwaukee, however, that could use some help and use it sooner rather than later.  The Irish Cultural & Heritage Center, a bastion of all things Irish in Milwaukee during the other 362 days of  the year when Irish Fest isn’t set up at the lakefront, is in jeopardy of losing its gathering place because of the cost of expensive repairs to the building.  Since 1996, the ICHS has called a national landmark church on Wisconsin Avenue its home.  It’s a beautiful building, with soaring ceilings and stained glass windows, a massive pipe organ, and hardwood floors for dancing and other community events.  I’ve gone there to sit down for concerts, and gone there to dance my feet off at ceili dances, and it’s just wonderful.  Atmospheric, inspiring, a place steeped in the aromas of history.  The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ran a newspaper article about the ICHS’ plight a couple of months ago.  A combination of losing a dance troupe that outgrew its space, a drop in donations because of the recession, and a whopping $200,000 needed in roof repairs may sink the organization’s stake in the building that they bought for only a dollar back in 1996.

 I would hate to see the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center move elsewhere from such a grand and historic building.  And I’d further shudder at the thought that if they have to sell the building because the cost of repairs are too great, we might have just one more set of pretty, soul-less condomiums instead of a lovely and historic building that was built not just for gathering people together but inspiring them as well.  And should remain so.

 So, may the road rise to greet you, may the wind be always at your back, and may you click on this link to donate to the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center to keep the wolf from their door.  Thank you!

 www.runningwithstilettos.com