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Ward Irish Music Archives Blog

Read articles about Irish and Irish-American music, recent donations and contributions to the Archives, and follow us as we travel the globe.  Established in 1992, the Ward Irish Music Archives houses the largest public collection of Irish music in America. The archive currently consists of more than 40,000 Irish recordings and pieces of music memorabilia. Search or filter subjects at right.

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Charlie Lennon: 1996 Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School Tea n' Talk

Charlie Lennon: 1996 Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School Tea n' Talk

Charlie Lennon describes the inspiration and process behind his "Island Wedding" concert suite during the 1996 Milwaukee Irish Fest Summer School Tea n' Talk series.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • Irish Traditional
  • Milwaukee
  • Musician Stories
  • Summer School
Year
  • 2024
Paul ryan

Paul Ryan

A frequent collaborator of Paddy Killoran in the 1930s and John O'Neill in the 1950s, Paul Ryan was a multi-instrumentalist, known for playing fiddle, viola, clarinet, and accordion.

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Joe Burke and Anne Conroy Burke at the 2004 Milwaukee Irish Fest

Joe Burke and Anne Conroy Burke at the 2004 Milwaukee Irish Fest

Joe Burke and Anne Conroy Burke at the 2004 Milwaukee Irish Fest

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • Irish Traditional
  • Milwaukee
Year
  • 2022
Scattering at the 2000 Milwaukee Irish Fest

Irish Dancing with the Eileen Ivers Band at the 2001 Milwaukee Irish Fest

Recorded on August 16, 2000 at Milwaukee Irish Fest, dancers Tarik Winston and Trinity Irish Dancers with the Eileen Ivers Band.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Blog Topic
  • Dance
  • Festival
  • Irish Traditional
  • Milwaukee
Year
  • 2022
Who Are The Maxwell Girls?

Who Are The Maxwell Girls?

The Maxwell Girls were featured in a number of 16mm Soundie films in the 1940s, including "Who Threw the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy's Chowder" included in the Songs of the irish Collection released by Castle Films. But why is it so hard to find out more about them?

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Blog Topic
  • Musician Stories
Year
  • 2021
The Erin and Irish Recording Company 78rpm Mystery

The Erin and Irish Recording Company 78rpm Mystery

Nearly identical 78rpm label designs points to a possible connection between a New Jersey based recording and Bill Stapleton's Irish Recording Company.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • 78rpm
  • Fiddle
  • Irish Traditional
Year
  • 2019
Scattering at the 2000 Milwaukee Irish Fest

The Scattering at the 2000 Milwaukee Irish Fest

Recorded on August 20, 2000 at the first Milwaukee Irish Fest, the opening set of reels from the Scattering.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • Irish Traditional
  • Milwaukee
Year
  • 2021
Ceoltoiri na Gael Ceildhe Band

Ceoltoiri na Gael Ceildhe Band

An interesting 78rpm disc from the David Giovannoni Collection started WIMA's efforts to learn more about the Ceoltoiri na Gael Ceildhe Band.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • 78rpm
  • Irish Traditional
Year
  • 2020
WIMA Work from Home Playlist of 78rpm Discs

WIMA Work from Home Playlist of 78rpm Discs

Listen to a playlist of 78rpm recordings from our collections as we work from home during the 2020 stay at home period.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • 78rpm
  • Irish Traditional
Year
  • 2020
John Kelly: Irish Recording Company 78 rpm Disc

John Kelly: Irish Recording Company 78 rpm Disc

A test pressing from Bill Stapleton's Irish Recording Company of West Clare's John Kelly

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • 78rpm
  • Fiddle
  • Irish Traditional
Year
  • 2019
The Story of the Magnificent Flanagan Brothers

The Story of the Magnificent Flanagan Brothers

Guest writer Mick Moloney talks about the Flanagan Brothers, among the most brilliant and colorful Irish performers in America in the 20th century.

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Author
  • Mick Moloney
Featured Columns
  • Irish American Hall of History
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • 78rpm
  • History
  • Irish Traditional
Year
  • 2017
Patrick Fitzpatrick: Uilleann Piper on Edison Diamond Disc Recording

Patrick Fitzpatrick: Uilleann Piper on Edison Diamond Disc Recording

A Leitrim-born uilleann piper, Patrick Fitzpatrick recorded this set of jigs back in 1917.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • Irish American Hall of History
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • Edison Diamond Disc
  • Irish Traditional
Year
  • 2017
Jack Healy: Irish Tenor and Saxophonist

Jack Healy: Irish Tenor and Saxophonist

One of Paddy Killoran's band members and collaborators, Jack Healy had one foot in the jazz world and the other in the 1930s New York Irish music scene.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • Irish American Hall of History
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • 78rpm
  • Irish Traditional
Year
  • 2017
78 rpm Selections from the Maureen O'Looney Collection

78 rpm Selections from the Maureen O'Looney Collection

Listen to a sample of the 78 rpm recordings from the Maureen O'Looney Collection, one of Chicago’s most renowned and beloved Irish figures.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • 78rpm
  • Chicago
  • Folk & Ballad
  • Irish Traditional
  • Singers
  • Tenors
Year
  • 2016
Tom Ennis: Uilleann Piper

Tom Ennis: Uilleann Piper

Born in Nebraska in 1888, Tom Ennis recorded "Maid That Left The County/Drowsy Maggie/Around The World For Sport" in 1917 for the Victor label.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • 78rpm
  • Chicago
  • Irish Traditional
Year
  • 2017
The Real MacNamara's Band

The Real MacNamara's Band

A family of talented brothers served as the inspiration for the song "MacNamara's Band" and recorded through the 1920s.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • 78rpm
  • Irish Traditional
Year
  • 2016
Paul ryan

Michael Whitey Andrews

One of the first guitarists in Irish music, Michael Whitey Andrews is primarily known for his recording work with Michael Coleman and Paddy Killoran in the 1930s.

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New Acquisitions - June 2017

Check out newly acquired Irish music recordings, videos, sheet music, and more for the past month at the Ward Irish Music Archives.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • New Acquisitions
Blog Topic
  • CD
John Huston

John Huston

Huston's long career included directing 44 films and acting in 37

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John Ford

John Ford

The career of John Ford lasted 51 years and he directed 136 films.

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Featured Columns
  • Irish American Hall of History
Allen, Gracie

Gracie Allen

Gracie Allen was one of the great comediennes of the twentieth century.

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Featured Columns
  • Irish American Hall of History
Allen, Fred

Fred Allen

Born John Florence Sullivan, Fred Allen is best known today for his radio shows of the 1930s-40s.

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Featured Columns
  • Irish American Hall of History
Dan Emmett

Dan Emmett

Besides "Old Dan Tucker" and "Dixie," other famous songs credited to Emmet are "Turkey in the Straw," "The Blue Tail Fly," and "De Boatman's Dance."

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Featured Columns
  • Irish American Hall of History
The original traditional Irish folk band, as far as anyone who came of age in the 1970s or 1980s is

Chieftains

The original traditional Irish folk band, as far as anyone who came of age in the 1970s or 1980s is concerned, is The Chieftains.

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Featured Columns
  • Irish American Hall of History
Berigan's uninhibited jazz style inspired and dominated every group with which he played.

Bunny Berigan

Berigan's uninhibited jazz style inspired and dominated every group with which he played.

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Featured Columns
  • Irish American Hall of History
William Quinn - 1930s Accordion Player

William Quinn - 1930s Irish American Accordion Player

Accordion player William Quinn recorded several 78rpm Discs in the 1930s.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • 78rpm
  • Irish Traditional
Year
  • 2013
Patrick Lynch - 1920s Accordion Player

Patrick Lynch: 1920s Irish American Accordion Player

Accordion player Patrick Lynch recorded several 78rpm and Edison Diamond Discs in the 1920s and 1930s.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • Edison Diamond Disc
  • Irish Traditional
Year
  • 2013
Mícheál Ó Domhnaill at the 1981 Milwaukee Irish Fest

Micheal O Domhnaill at 1981 Milwaukee Irish Fest

Recorded on August 22 and 23, 1981 at the first Milwaukee Irish Fest, these tracks featuring Irish singer, guitarist, and composer Mícheál Ó Domhnaill are from the Traditional Irish Music Workshops presented at the festival.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • Festival
  • Irish Traditional
  • Milwaukee
Year
  • 2013
Myles O'Malley became known as the Tin Whistle King in the 1930s and led his own successful band dur

Myles O'Malley, The Tin Whistle King

Myles O'Malley became known as the Tin Whistle King in the 1930s and led his own successful band during the period.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • 78rpm
  • Irish Traditional
Year
  • 2015
Audio: Thomas MacDonagh's Court-Martial Speech Read By Paul Farrell

Thomas MacDonagh's Court-Martial Speech Read By Paul Farrell

A 78rpm recording of Thomas MacDonagh's Court-Martial Speech read by actor Paul Farrell.

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Author
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Featured Columns
  • Track of the Month
Blog Topic
  • 1916
  • 78rpm
Year
  • 2016
Welcome to the new Ward Irish Music Archives site

Welcome to the new Ward Irish Music Archives site

Welcome to the new Ward Irish Music Archives website! Learn a bit about WIMA's plans for our online home.

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Author
  • Barry Stapleton
  • Jeff Ksiazek
Blog Topic
  • News
Year
  • 2017

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Search Our Collections

Search the Ward Irish Music Archives online catalog to find rare and unique Irish music recordings, videos, sheet music, and more! Search now...

Jack Healy - Irish American Singer and Saxophonist

Jack Healy: Irish Tenor and Saxophonist

One of Paddy Killoran's band members and collaborators, Jack Healy had one foot in the jazz world and the other in the 1930s New York Irish music scene. Read more...

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