Ed Said "The End"

At 7:00 this morning most of the Kansas City Irish Fest board of directors (hope you enjoyed your beauty sleep, you slackers) trudged through the ice and snow and gathered around the conference table at the Irish Fest offices for the final time in 2008. It was also the final time for outgoing directors Ronan Collins and Ed Scanlon. Ronan turns over the adding machine and the checkbook to new treasurer Carrie Slattery. For Ed, who's led Irish Fest as president for the past two years it also marks the end of his presidency.

As president, Ed has kept you entertained and informed here for the past few years with his occasional Ed Said guest postings. Below, his Ed Said swan song.

This morning was my last Kansas City Irish Fest Board Meeting. I turned in my key to the executive wash room at Festival HQ. The Ed Follis Transition Team has met with my staff. I guess it is time for me to say good bye and thank everyone for your involvement with Irish Fest. Over the years from Brookside, Westport and Kansas City Irish Fests the number of sponsors, patrons, volunteers, committee chairs, board members, vendors and entertainers that I've had the great pleasure of meeting has been a reward that will stay with me forever. I cannot thank everyone enough.

With my exit strategy in place, it is out the door and see you at the 2009 Irish Fest. I'll be the one sitting enjoying a cold Boulevard and all the bands.

Thank you everyone

Ed Scanlon

On behalf of the rest of the board, I'd like to publicly thank Ed not only for his two years at the head of the Irish Fest table, but for his vision, determination and dedication since the very beginnings of Irish festivals in our town back in 1999. I honestly can't imagine that Irish Fest would exist today if Ed hadn't brought his passion and enthusiasm (not to mention his entire family) to the table in those early days and every year since. Ed has a work ethic that would put a Protestant to shame and a love for all things Irish that few could match. That combination is one that will be sorely and irreplaceably missed as we move forward to 2009 and beyond. Most of all, Ed has been a great friend to me and to all of us and best of all that won't change now that Ed will be joining Pat, Kyle, Bob, Patti and Ronan in the ranks of the retired.

As he leaves our ranks on the board, I'll borrow an apt quote from a favorite film of Ed's, Waking Ned Devine: "If he was here now, if he could hear what I say, I'd congratulate him on being a great man, and thank him for being a friend."