Temple Bar TradFest 2014

Happy new year, kids. I hope you celebrated safely and enthusiastically throughout the holiday season. But all that silliness is behind us now and it's time to get back to business. Specifically the business of bringing you the best Irish Fest in the nation every Labor Day weekend.

That relentless pursuit of that goal takes us to the ends of our strength and to the far corners of the world. For example, later this month it takes me to Dublin for the 9th annual Temple Bar TradFest, one of Ireland's largest celebrations of traditional culture and music. From the 22nd through the 26th of January, Kansas City Irish Fest entertainment committee member, stage manager and musician Kelly Dougherty and myself will take in the sights and more importantly the sounds of TradFest with an eye and ear toward bringing Kansas City more great music in the future.

So do us a favor, will you? Take a look at the event program and tell Kelly and me who you'd like us to check out. It's a staggering amount of talent. We'll do our best to cover it all.