Donnelle McKaskle, president of the Celtic Cultural Center of Texas, was born in Louisiana and moved to Texas when she was 14 years old. The youngest of eight children, McKaskle comes from a hardy Celtic stock of blue collar workers who tolled and struggled on farms and railroads, in sawmills and oil fields. She studied Communications and English in Austin, and won early awards for her creative writing.
McKaskle began producing “Celtic Storm” on 91.7FM in 1998. This Celtic music program has been named by the Austin Chronicle Readers’ Poll as one of the best radio shows in Austin. The poll also named McKaskle as one of the area’s top radio hosts. She uses the show to explore and learn every aspect of Irish culture, believing Ireland’s history is best told through its music.
As the director of the Austin Celtic Festival, McKaskle has seen it grow exponentially under her leadership, and is proud of its focus on traditional artists. She founded the CCC in 2002. This non-profit group produces some of Austin’s largest Celtic events, including the St. Patrick’s Day Festival and the Celtic Christmas at the Cathedral, earning McKaskle the title of “Celtic Firestarter” from the local press.