Milwaukee Irish Festivals, Inc., home of Milwaukee Irish Fest,announced that it is rebranding the organization under a new name, CelticMKE, according to a press release on Tuesday. The organization said the name and logo better reflects the organization’s mission to preserve, promote and celebrate all aspects of Irish, Irish American and Celtic cultures through year-round programming and events.

Only the parent organization, Milwaukee Irish Festivals, Inc., will change names to CelticMKE. The Milwaukee Irish Fest at the lakefront each August will continue under the name Milwaukee Irish Fest.

“What started as a festival 35 years ago has now grown into a year-round organization with global reach and influence,” said Patrick Boyle, executive director of CelticMKE. “Our organization is a leader in promoting Irish and Celtic culture here in Milwaukee and around the world. We feel the new name and branding better represents who we are today and where we see ourselves down the road.”

“As musical and cultural traditions of the Irish and Celtic diaspora blended over the past few decades, Milwaukee Irish Fest has been at the forefront of the trend,” said Ed Ward, founder of Milwaukee Irish Fest. “CelticMKE remains passionately committed to honoring older traditions, as well as to finding new and modern interpretations of Irish, Irish American and Celtic music, dance and culture.”

For more information about CelticMKE and its year-round programming, visit the new website, www.celticmke.com.