Mícheál Ó Domhnaill at the 1981 Milwaukee Irish Fest

Irish singer, guitarist, and composer Mícheál Ó Domhnaill (1951 - 2006) was a major influence on Irish traditional music in the latter half of the twentieth century. Known for his work with bands such as Skara Brae, The Bothy Band, Relativity, and Nightnoise, it was Ó Domhnaill's collaboration with fiddler Kevin Burke that brought him to the first Milwaukee Irish Fest in 1981.

Mícheál Ó Domhnaill, along with fellow Skara Brae bandmate Dáithí Sproule, was among the first to use DADGAD guitar tuning for accompaniment in Irish music. His style continues to be influential today. Ó Domhnaill's arrangements of Irish language songs made them accessible to wider audiences.

Recorded on August 22 and 23, 1981 at the first Milwaukee Irish Fest, these tracks are from the Traditional Irish Music Workshops presented at the festival. Mícheál Ó Domhnaill appeared at the first two festivals with Kevin Burke and participated in several of the workshops conducted from the Channel 12 Stage in 1981: Irish Love Songs, Songs of Irish Resistance, Songs of Emigrations, and Irish Music on Plectrum Instruments. These tracks represent a sample of these workshops.

The workshops were given on the Channel 12 stage.