Matt Miller died too soon, but he left behind a lasting legacy of love, laughter and leprechauns.
Owner of McGuinness Pub and promoter of all things Irish, Miller cut a wide swath through the cities he loved, and he left Northeast Wisconsin a little more festive and a lot more Gaelic than it had been.
In 2021, Miller brought Irish Fest to Appleton and Jones Park came alive with the world-renown likes of Skerryvore, Eileen Ivers, Rising Gael and more. For some bands, it was the first gig they played after the pandemic. People came to hear the music, sip the Guinness, taste the food and soak in the atmosphere, which would have been enough.
But Miller offered more. He made genuine friendship the festival’s hallmark as he worked his way through the crowds, shaking hands, slapping backs and introducing folks. Each night, the festival wrapped up and Matt’s friends — from famous musician to shyest volunteer — gathered back at his pub, where they raised their glasses in celebration of a job well done.
“Matt found a different kind of friendship with everybody he met and encouraged the youth to try their best and learn as much as they can,” said Matt’s friend and one of the keeper’s of his legacy, Amanda Hudson.
Hudson and her husband Mark , who have been key members of the Irish Fest committee since discussions of it first began in the wee hours of 2019, are chairing this year’s festival in Matt’s honor. It’s going to be an especially good Craic.
All of the major bands will be back. Fox Menagerie even wrote a song for Matt, which they will perform Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at a ceremony honoring him.
The Festival starts today at 4 p.m. and runs through tomorrow night. I can’t wait and I hope to see you there. For more information and for tickets to the event, you can use THIS LINK. You can also purchase your tickets on site.
I asked Amanda to send me a few pictures of Matt and she sent me a bunch. I’m going to use almost them all because each one tells its own story about a man who appreciated his family, his dog Maddie, his friends, his heritage, music and laughter. He especially loved the festival that celebrated them all.
“He was such a presence and to know him and call him a friend was a blessing,” Amanda said. “We all just wish we had more time with him.”
