Ward Irish Music Archives

Ward Irish Music Archives The Ward Irish Music Archives (WIMA) collects, promotes, preserves, and disseminates Irish and Irish-American musics in all their forms.

WIMA makes these cultural resources available to researchers, artists, and the general public... Established in 1992, the Ward Irish Music Archives houses the largest public collection of Irish music in America. It is named after John J. Ward Jr., father of Irish Fest founder Ed Ward. The archive currently consists of more than 40,000 Irish music recordings and pieces of memorabilia ranging from r

are 78 rpm's, LP's and sheet music to song books, instruments, and concert memorabilia. Many of the archives items are extremely difficult to find today, and our diverse collections focus on subjects such as Irish traditional music, Irish folk songs, Scottish music, and Irish contributions to American popular music. website: http://irishfest.com/Music-Archives.htm
The Dunn Family Collection: http://archives.irishfest.com
Irish Sheet Music Archives: http://irishsheetmusicarchives.com

05/14/2026

Cape Breton fiddler Jerry Holland dances… while playing his fiddle. 🎻

During a 1977 public television show with Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy, Liam recalls how Michael Coleman could dance and fiddle at the same time—and challenges Holland to do the same.

Jerry rises to the occasion with a lively version of “The Devil’s Dream.”

🎥 Watch the full segment in Episode 109 on our website (link in bio).

Thanks to musicians Sam Shackleton and Dusty the Kid for stopping by the Archives for a tour ahead of their show tonight...
05/05/2026

Thanks to musicians Sam Shackleton and Dusty the Kid for stopping by the Archives for a tour ahead of their show tonight at 🪕 Here they are with Tommy Makem’s first banjo and Aran sweater.

Looking forward to their next time in Milwaukee!

04/23/2026

An Irish revolutionary—and a recorded fiddler.

Born Isaac Nolan in 1899, Seán Nolan was an Irish speaker, a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, and served during the War of Independence and Civil War.

In the 1920s, his music brought him to the United States, where he recorded for Victor and HMV.

This 1927 disc (Victor 20764-A), from the Ted McGraw Collection, features two rarely recorded hornpipes—including “The Standing Abbey,” possibly its first recorded appearance.

Take a listen to the full disc of Thomond Bridge/Standing Abbey via the link in our bio.

At the Ward Irish Music Archives and Milwaukee Irish Fest we are very sad to hear of the passing of Moya Brennan. She wa...
04/14/2026

At the Ward Irish Music Archives and Milwaukee Irish Fest we are very sad to hear of the passing of Moya Brennan. She was so delightful to work with. Even if I ran into her at many other fests or musical events she took the time to chat and catch up. Family was always important to her many times traveling with husband Tim and their children Aisling and Paul. I always enjoyed meeting all of them and our very sincere condolences to her family and all who loved her. Barry Stapleton

03/26/2026

Joe Flanagan — of The Flanagan Brothers fame — made his final 78rpm recording in 1933.

And he went out with a laugh.

Joined by tenor guitarist Mike Andrews, Flanagan recorded “The Half Crown Song” — a comic tale of a date with a very expensive appetite.

The duo kick things off in true Irish style with a lightning-fast take on “The Teetotaler’s” reel before launching into the song.

Like many popular songs of the era, it circulated under a variety of titles, including “I Took My Girl to a Dance One Night” and “Only Half-a-Crown.”

Released on the Vocalion label (84168), this recording is preserved in the Ted McGraw Collection at the Ward Irish Music Archives.

Hear the full song through the link in our bio.

We're saddened to learn the passing of traditional singer, Dolores Keane. Our thoughts and condolences go out to her fam...
03/16/2026

We're saddened to learn the passing of traditional singer, Dolores Keane. Our thoughts and condolences go out to her family and friends.

She had already left De Dannan when they first appeared at Milwaukee Irish Fest in 1981, but she did perform at the festival with Kinvara in 1984 and 1985. Her impressive life in Irish music leaves a body of work including recordings with John Faulkner, The Reel Union, and solo recordings.

Images from the Noel Rice Collection, Rice PH 00-003 and 00-004.

03/13/2026

We were happy to host in the Archives for their acoustic VIP performance at tonight’s sold out Ceol & Ól Concert at ☘️

03/10/2026

When Fenian poet John Keegan Casey wrote “The Rising of the Moon” in 1866, he meant it as more than a song.

Set to the melody of “The Wearing of the Green,” the lyrics recall the launch of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 — and were intended to inspire the coming Fenian Rising.

More than a century later, folk revival icons Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy brought the song to television audiences in this rare 1977 television performance from New Hampshire station WENH.

“The Rising of the Moon” had long been part of their repertoire — they used it to title the first album by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem.

Preserved in the Tommy Makem Collection at the Ward Irish Music Archives.

Today is Bandcamp Friday! All funds from the Francis O'Neill Cylinders CD/Digital downloads will go directly to our miss...
03/06/2026

Today is Bandcamp Friday! All funds from the Francis O'Neill Cylinders CD/Digital downloads will go directly to our mission of preserving Irish music in America! Hit the link in the comments to get your copy.

02/26/2026

🎂 161 years ago today, legendary uilleann piper Patrick J. “Patsy” Touhey was born.

Sometime between 1904 and 1914, Touhey recorded this electrifying version of “The Duke of Leinster” reel on an Edison cylinder — capturing the sound of Irish piping at the dawn of recorded audio.

Tucked inside a copy of O’Neill’s Dance Music of Ireland in the Dunn Family Collection, we found a manuscript of the tune attributed to Touhey himself — a rare paper trace alongside the wax recording.

We’ve gathered the story of how Touhey’s cylinders made their way into the Dunn Family Collection, along with articles documenting his performances here in Milwaukee.

You’ll also find:

• A playlist of Touhey’s cylinder recordings in the Dunn Collection
• Additional cylinders from the Henebry/O’Neill Wax Cylinder Collection at University College Cork

Explore it all through the link in our bio.

Want to go deeper? Our Francis O’Neill Cylinders CD and digital download are available on Bandcamp — proceeds directly support the preservation of Irish and Irish American musical heritage.

Dunn CYL 00-007

Address

Wauwatosa, WI

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 4pm
Tuesday 11am - 4pm
Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

+14144768999

Website

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