Meet The Staff

In every organization, there are stars. You know what I'm talking about. People that will take the job you give them, and do it very well, and then see ways to expand and improve the job itself and do that very well, and then create new related jobs that nobody ever knew needed doing, and then do those very well too. People who you just don't need to worry about, because you know that if they're supposed to get it done, it will get done. And perfectly. And on time.

Ladies and gentlemen, at the Kansas City Irish Fest, I am not one of those people. But I know somebody who is.

I know somebody who didn't exactly sign up for Irish Fest, but was sort of drafted by her brother. Somebody who took on one of the most challenging, demanding and difficult jobs we have at KCIF, and does it more spectacularly every year. Somebody who, when others at Irish Fest staff meetings give their committee reports with a comment or two and maybe a Xeroxed chart or two, gives a Power Point presentation. Somebody who, I think it's fair to say, consistently astounds and amazes us all with her love for and dedication to this event and her part in it.

Meet Shawn Sullivan Warner, our Children's Area coordinator.

Shawn, tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in Kansas City leaving it for periods of time in New York and Denver but I am home now. My husband, Mark and I moved to Kansas from Denver 4 years ago. I come from a VERY large Irish-Catholic family (most are right here in KC) and I have slowly been meeting my relatives in Ireland. For me, that Irish tie explains so much of the dynamics I see in my family and gives me a real understanding of my heritage. I am very proud of my family and most of them will be here volunteering the weekend of the Fest. I have two wonderful children, Bill and Megan and my first daughter-in-law, Julie, and a son-in-law in 2007, Alex.

Who is in this photo you sent?
It is four generations of Irish women. My great-grandmother, Kathleen (Kitty) O'Connor Kennally was born and raised in Kansas City from Irish Immigrants Patrick O'Connor (Limerick) and Anne (Annie) Lynch (Cork), my Grandmother, Anne Dalton, my Mom, Kathleen Rose Sullivan and me.

The Heritage Area Irish Fest this year is working with Kansas City Southern for their displays. My Great-Grandfather, Ed Kennally worked for the railroad for 54 years starting in 1904, and I have the letters and postcards he sent from his many stops while he was courting my Great-Grandmother.

On the Sullivan side, my Great Grandfather, James Flannagan,became involved in the Rochester Brewery at the turn of the century. The brewery was founded at 20th and Washington in 1888. The beer business was something the family stayed with. My paternal grandfather, Edward T. Sullivan founded Sullivan Beverage in 1948 after working for the Schlitz wholesaler for a time. Sullivan Beverage was a beer distributor. That family legacy has continued with my Dad, Bob Sullivan and brother, also Bob (and a former Irish Fest Board Member and president).

On March 17, 1873, the local Irish immigrants had the first Kansas City St Patrick's Day Parade. I believe I had relatives in that first parade, and I certainly know I had relatives that policed the parade. 

After the parade of March 17, 1891, my Great-Granduncle, Father William James Dalton delivered a speech to the Knights of St. Patrick at the Midland Hotel.

It is time that I gave back to Kansas City and my Irish Heritage for the haven that the city and the community have given to my family.

The Daltons also began a family business, Dalton's Flowers, founded by my Grandparents, Anne and William James (named for his uncle Father Dalton) over 65 years ago.

And the other pictures?
My family. And our newest arrivals, Julie, my daughter-in-law and Reagan Delaney, my latest goddaughter and niece.

What is your job with the Fest?

The Children's Area.

How did you get started in the Irish Fest?

I believe I was served on a platter by my brother Bob (retired Irish Fest Board) to Dan Regan (current Irish Fest Pres), knowing I would NEVER say ‘no to the children. Dan thought he would have to schmooze me and I said yes before lunch was ever served.

Easiest job I ever had! What do like best about the Fest?

The best thing about the Fest is the Children. They are all my personal guests. They are there to have fun and MY GREAT Volunteers and I are there to make sure that happens. And I have the greatest Children'’s Staff working with me to deliver the fun. Anne, Ginny, Nancy, Kari (my sister-in-law), Julie (my daughter-in-law), Cami, Janet, and Joann. (Anne is a Dalton cousin, one of ‘lots that I am the oldest of).

Here is a picture of Ginny and Nancy running KC Irish Fest Bingo for the kids.

I also love the people I have met in/from Ireland, particularly Pen Pal folks like Pat Brennan at Sacred Heart in Dublin, Mary Loughran at our Lady of Lourdes, Danny Dunne at St Finian's, Michael Farry, from the Irish National Education in Cavan. That is not counting the great band folks, I have had an opportunity to meet.

And the great local teachers, like Ann Scott and Megan Gearheart and others who jump in and participate in our wonderful programs.

And that doesn't begin to touch the folks that we work with in ChildrenÂ’s like Jan Hile of Kaleidoscope, Melissa Toye of Creative Faces, the guys (Derek and BJ) at Mad Mary's in St Joe, how many am I allowed to name?? And my fellow Staff Members, I was awed the first year I was here from the collective talent and creativity that this group has and uses every day. In my travels, I have had the opportunity to see many Irish Fests all over the country and loved every single one, but I bet that every single one would be jealous of our staff. I could write about the talents of each one and this would never end!

I know you spend endless hours on the Children's Area. When will you have to start your work on next year's Irish Fest?

I already did.

I'm not surprised. Anything else?

Kids, get on the website and enter everything. We'’ll see you at the Fest. Adults, I need a special kind of volunteer that will help me make this year'’s fest special for the kids, so sign up!

Contact Me at shawnanne@everestkc.net, or write me care of Irish Fest.

I told you. Shawn even takes our little Meet The Staff profile and makes it an informative multi-media piece. If you have children, if your neighbors have children, if you yourself have ever been a child, you need to come to our...I mean, Shawn's Children's Area at Irish Fest.