Cow Art For The Home

This year's Kansas City Irish Fest cow, illustrated by my friend Dick Daniels, was one of the more popular in our growing herd. If you liked it as much as we did here, you're in luck. You can now own your very own Dick Daniels original.

Dick, along with dozens of other Hallmark artists, will be selling original art at the annual Hallmarket art fair tomorrow here at Crown Center:

"Back for the fourth year, "Hallmarket: A Hallmark Art Fair" will showcase the creative talents of Hallmark employees 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 in the McGee Square.

More than 100 Hallmark employees who are photographers, sculptors, designers, photo stylists and graphic artists will display and offer their personal art work for sale. An array of artwork will be available, including textiles, turned wooden bowls, sculptures, art quilts, jewelry, oil and watercolor paintings, and photography.

Admission is free and purchases may be made by cash or check, directly to the participants."

Come check it out.the McGee Square is the turnaround area near the Hallmark visitors Center, directly above and behind the Irish Fest Miller Lite Stage.

The Business At Hand

Okay, before I took that detour down Morrison Road, I was about to tell you that Irish Fest volunteer coordinator and my good buddy Sarah Walsh and I will be live on the radio this coming Sunday from 1:00 to 2:00 PM during the The Thistle and Shamrock program, wherein Fiona Ritchie plays all that great Irish and Scots music. When the music isn't playing Ms. Walsh and I will be cajoling you to pledge your financial support to Kansas City's award-winning National Public Radio Station.

KCUR  is a long time media partner of Irish Fest. They do a lot for us, let's do a little for them. On Sunday afternoon, call in at 816-235-5287 or pledge online at www.kcur.org. Give a little money to help keep all the great programming KCUR provides on the air. It doesn't have to be much. If you want to be like me–and let's face it, who does–become a monthly giver. A small amount will come out of your checking account each month. Adjust that amount whenever you like, there's no contract here.  Or make a one-time gift. Either way, you'll help support a KCUR as they support Irish Fest. And we'll read your name on the air and tell the world how amazing you are.

Remember, Sunday, between 1:00 and 2:00 PM, call in at 816-235-5287 or pledge online at www.kcur.org.

Thanks, friends.

Turn Up Your Radio

Twice a year  when I go to write this particular blog post about being on the radio for the KCUR pledge drive and I try to think of a title for it, the line that pops into my head is "Turn Up Your Radio."

That is a line from Van the Man Morrison's classic "Caravan." I always figure most people who read this will know that and they'll silently congratulate me on my clever musical reference. I'm more than likely wrong about that, as I usually am when I place the words "me" and "clever" in the same neighborhood.

At any rate, it's a good excuse to hear a great song before we continue with the business at hand. Has Ireland ever produced a more staggering talent? Ah, feck it, let's hear another Van Morrison radio-themed song, this one with the great Irish poet Paul Durcan. The business at hand can wait.

The Dough: Where's It Go?

If there's a question that gets asked more often around here than this one, I don't know what it is:

What does Irish Fest do with the money?

Okay, "is Davey Colgan single and can you introduce me?" is a very close second, but that money question is the money question. And I can answer it in two chunks. Chunk one: the money pays the bills. Irish Fest is hella expensive to put on every year. Think about it: bands, fencing, security, generators, tents, insurance, potties, utilities, fees and permits...if it weren't for the fact that we're volunteer staffed we'd never be able to get the fest off the ground at all. So there's chunk one. The money goes to keep us going.

Chunk two is what I want to talk to you about today.

We give the money to you.

Of course there's a string attached: You gotta ask.

Once again, it's time for Irish Fest grant applications. The deadline to get yours in is the last day of this month, September 30th. We'll award up to $1,500 grants for individuals and up to $3,500 for qualified 501(c)3 agencies and grants must be used during the 2014 calendar year. We won't just give money for anything either. Bricks and mortar, items of a political nature, operating expenses, salaries, rent and payment for professional services are excluded from consideration. And as you apply keep in mind that we're Irish Fest. If you're looking to fund your trip to Kyoto to further your study of Kabuki theater, maybe look elsewhere. However if you have a dream to explore, expand and enhance some aspect of our rich Irish character and culture, we might just be able to help.

Get all the details on how to apply and see a list of past grant recipients here. Remember, the deadline is one week from today.

Shiver Me Timbers

Today is National Talk Like A Pirate Day. Did you ever notice how for many people Talking Like A Pirate morphs into Talking With A Irish Accent? I wonder why that is.

Anyway, whether your pirate voice is Irish, British or Deppish, enjoy the day, ye scurvy dogs.  Me, I'm going with Somali, since they seem to be the only pirates that make the news lately.

Here's a cartoon I did to mark the day over at the Other Job.

Take Me Out To The You Know What

Today is September 17th which means that half a year from now it will be March 17th, St. Patrick's Day. That's become a bit of a big deal around here the past several years and not being ones to miss out on a party, The Kansas City Irish Fest has jumped right in.

Tonight we're sponsoring the half way to St. Patrick's Day party at the Royals game. Now, you ought to be going to the game anyway because the boys in blue are in the playoff hunt for the first time in a looong time and we're playing the Indians of Cleveland who are ahead of us in the wild card race. Big game. But if that's not enough for you, head out there tonight and you can get this swell t-shirt for nuthin'. Got our logo on it and everything.

So come on out. I'm going, along with a bunch of other festies. Be one of the first 10,000 to get that dandy shirt.

More Winners

Presenting the lucky winner of our trip for two to see The Lumineers in Dublin, sponsored by Tourism Ireland: Jonna McDonough of Kansas City, pictured with her son and her husband Tom.

Congratulations Jonna, and thanks to the more than 2000 of you who entered!

We Banjo 3 WIth David Munnelly and Mick Conneely

Here's one of my favorite musical moments from the weekend, Sunday night, the view from back stage. Shame the crowd wasn't into it.

Winners!

If you ask me, everybody lucky enough to be at Irish Fest this pat weekend was a winner, but we did have three actual raffle winners and we congratulate them heartily:

The Grand Prize Trip to Ireland was won by Deloris Sabia of Overland Park, KS 

Second prize, the Boulevard Tasting Room party goes to Angelo Ortega of Olathe, KS 

Third prize, the Snug membership for Irish Fest 2014 belongs to Brenton Hunt of Plano, TX

Congratulations all!