Needless to say, he wasn't. Nor was he a committee chair or even a volunteer as near as I could tell. Hell, since we were inside Crown Center, he may not even have bought a ticket. It happens. When an event is successful, as we've been fortunate enough to be so far, people want to jump on the bandwagon. Sometimes credit is taken where none is due. Revisionist history becomes an art form. Now I've been around for a long time and have worked on every one of Kansas City's Irish festivals, in Brookside, Westport, the riverfront and Crown Center. But I wasn't there in the beginning, when this little green egg was first hatched. Luckily, I know somebody who was. And when I heard recently that important idea is celebrating a milestone birthday this week, I asked for a history lesson.
It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years!
Every successful event has a beginning, a spark that sets a process in motion. While most people in the Irish Community in Kansas City remember that the first Brookside Irish Fest took place Labor Day Weekend ’99, most don’t realize that ten years ago this week there was a spark that would serve as the beginning of the Brookside Irish Fest.
After having an incredible trip to Ireland that summer, my wife Terri and I spent part of our Christmas break in 1997 reminiscing about our trip to a place so far away that made us feel like we truly were at home. We talked about how lucky we were to live in a town like Kansas City with a strong Irish Community and such a great St. Patrick’s Day Parade. But then we asked ourselves the question – why isn’t there an Irish Fest in Kansas City?
We then asked ourselves another question. If we were going to start our own Irish Fest, where would we put it? It seemed to us only natural that an Irish Fest in Kansas City should be held in the heart of the Irish Community. While there are people of Irish descent who live all over our metropolitan area, we felt that an Irish Fest in Kansas City belonged in Brookside.
That conversation ten years ago began a journey that has taken many twists and turns. The most challenging part of the journey was those first fifteen months. Learning how to put together a festival, dealing with politics of the community and then securing funding was all new to us. There were many people along the way who helped us to find our way and encouraged us not to lose the dream. The best part of the journey happened fifteen months later - putting together a committee of incredibly talented and dedicated individuals who over the years have become my best friends. It truly has been a great ten years!
Ed Follis
Board of Directors
Kansas City Irish Fest
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6 comments:
Ed is the reason I got involved (that and the committee meetings at Scanlon's). It has been a wild ride, hasn't it? I am just sorry I missed out on the BIF 1999.
I heart Ed!!! I still feel guilty that- one time, at KCIF 20004- I yelled at him. Of course I apolized soon after but still.....the shame lingers. Ed was also the only person not related to me that visited us in that crappy little town that we used to live in.
~Sarah
I mean I apologized to Ed...
~Sarah
It was the begining of one of the greatest chapters in my life! And beyond a shadow of a doubt meeting a lifetime true friend in Ed Follis. I can remember someone suggesting to me, (I think it was Ronan Collins), that I would be really good for this and ought to meet with this "lad". Thus a relationship was born!
We had many a "meeting" at Charlie Hoopers around several beers and glasses of wine with the likes of Barb and Ed Scanlon as well as Margie Manning and Tom Shawver; I hope I haven't forgotten anyone. This was and still is part of the very same people that are still bringing you the now famous Kansas City Irish Fest.
So KCIF lovers it's hats off to our dear friend Ed Follis!!!!
Mary Alice Beebe
Secretary of the Board of Directors
Kansas City Irish Fest
My hat's off to you and your great idea Ed. You have forever changed the Irish here in Kansas City. Because of you and what you started Kanas City has had the chance to experience world class Irish music, dance and lots of fun. I could list group after group that rocked their way into our hearts.
I remember in the beginning it was not easy. Cleaning up the festival grounds on Saturday night so it looked good on Sunday. Picking up zip ties on Sunday night and Monday morning so Brookside would let us return the next year.
The friendships that were forged will stand for a long time. The committee for this festival is such a wonderful group of people who are hard working, creative and so much fun to work with. They have grown to be a real “family”.
I know that the creative energy of the fest committee is felt by the whole community. The attention to every detail is evident all over the festival grounds. But the best is the fact that this year because of the festival you are starting to give back to the community with the Kansas City Irish Fest Foundation.
Thanks for the memories - I am looking forward to next year and what it will bring.
Barbara Scanlon
Ed,
Your passion is contagious!
Laren
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