by Jim Collar
St. Patrick’s Day is a feast for the senses, and while many clamor for the food and drink, others are drawn by its signature sound.
New London — or shall we say New Dublin — has one of the region’s biggest St. Paddy’s Day parties, and this year, it will feature one of the top Celtic-infused rock bands in the Midwest.
Milwaukee-based Reilly will celebrate their 25th anniversary on St. Patrick’s Day and will be the featured band at the 2026 New Dublin Irish Fest on March 21. The festival also coincides with the March release of their sixth album, Milwonkee.
“We really think it’s going to be our best album,” frontman Michael Tierney said. “The listener will have his opinion, but we know what we think.”
America has long tinkered with immigrant traditions to create something all its own. Celtic music is a prime example. Artists figured out that Irish folk music melds seamlessly into punk, and it’s become a popular genre through bands like Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. It also works well with an acoustic, pop-oriented sound, as noted in bands like Gaelic Storm.
Reilly brings their own twist.
You’ll hear satisfying harmonies and feel a hard rock edge, created from driving, gritty vocals rather than heavy guitar distortion.
“I think that’s what sets us apart from some of the other Celtic bands that are out there,” Tierney said.
It’s earned them a following. Reilly are two-time winners of the Celtic/Folk Rock Band of the Year award from the Wisconsin Area Music Industry. While one might think that March would bring their highest demand, Reilly has kept a busy, year-round calendar with Irish heritage festivals, music festivals, and other engagements across a territory extending from the Dakotas to Ohio.
Tierney handles vocals and plays guitar, harmonica, octave mandolin, bouzouki, banjo, whistles, and bodhran. He’s joined by bassist and vocalist Joe Neumann, drummer Lyle Brotkowski, and Peter Eisenhauer, who plays fiddle, accordion, keys, and also has lead and backing vocals.
New Dublin Irish Fest will run Saturday, March 21 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in a heated tent in downtown New London. Sheamus Fitzpatrick and the McNally Boys will open the event, performing from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Reilly will perform from 1-6 p.m.
Reilly will also play at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 20, at Pup’s Irish Pub in New London. Enjoy both engagements, knowing no two Reilly shows are the same.
Tierney estimates the veteran band can play more than 13 hours without repeating a song. While some favorites carry over from show to show, they read the room and try to get a sense of the right songs for the moment.
For long events like Irish Fest, it’s particularly valuable.
“As the show goes on, the demographics might change, or the vibe might change,” Tierney said. “You have to know how to go off course, and we’re able to change the play at the line. Those guys also know that if we do have a setlist, it isn’t going to stick.”
This article was originally published in the March 2026 issue of Appleton Monthly Magazine.
