I'm almost a bit sad to post this photo of hotass Kathy Ireland in regard to the Kansas City Irish Fest because I know it'll be maybe two or three weeks until local Irish folks start promoting the event again and that'll be the longest "those people" have went without pimping this new(ish) and admittedly fun KC tradition.
And even though it should already be ingrained in your memory, I'll repeat it once more for those of you who have been living in a cave and don't know it already: Irish Fest starts today!!! It's at Crown Center - August 31st, September 1st and 2nd.
Even better, I'm somewhat to interested to report that not even this happy go lucky Irish fun fest is not without some intra-ethnic conflict and even a bit of our beloved BLOGGER BEEF!!!
It's not exactly Protestants vs. Catholics but KC is fortunate to have two Irish blogs. There is my favorite Irish KC which covers EVERY TOPIC IMAGINABLE related to local and regional Irish culture and then there is the Irish Fest blog which is nearly as amazing because it finds some facet of Irish Fest to promote EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.
What you may not know is that there is a bit of a kerfuffle between these two contingents which thankfully hasn't taken the form of car bombs in KC . . . Yet.
Here's the scoop and what Irish KC has to say about the dust up:
I’m aware that many readers, including many regular readers, do not agree with many of the sentiments expressed here on Irish KC. I think that’s normal and I don’t take their readership as an endorsement of my views. But only one group has continually criticized how Irish KC is run, always in reference to their event and always mistaken in the underlying beliefs expressed that fueled those criticisms. And never once have my explanations been accepted . . . I continued to provide this service of free publicity without receiving a free admission ticket or a free t-shirt. I did it without receiving reciprocal links or being designated a “Friend of the Fest”. I did it without being thanked or being acknowledged for the favours I was doing. But I won’t do it any further for an event that lets any of its organisers phone me and threaten me with legal action while invoking its name.To be even more blunt, because I'm one of the maybe 3 to 4 people in Kansas City who don't plan on going to Irishfest (ex-girlfriend issues, don't ask) I have to say that I agree with the author of Irish KC and have noted that the Irish Fest promoters sniped at him whenever he didn't genuflect and grovel at the mere mention of the almighty Irish Fest . . . Which is strange because all the guy did was promote the thing in years past. But as we've seen several times before, blogging can hurt your career, business and even friendships unless you're willing to either be an outright and timid shill or closely guard your anonymity - which is pretty much impossible. Also:
Irish KC is the better blog.
Anyway, while none of this should put a hamper on you enjoying the widely lauded event it's interesting to see (yet again) that it's impossible to do anything in Kansas City without at least a little bickering. Strangely, that fact gives me comfort given that it's not just an "urban" problem . . . Obviously, it's even hard for local Irish folks to get along.
I am of Irish heritage and the kooks and wanna-bes who regale themselves in "IrishFest" are a total embarrassment to me. I am sure that the public expression of such sentiments will only result in another heavily padded and under performing contract being signed with Pat O'Neill's Family Full Employment Flack Firm but it is the truth.
ReplyDeleteThe cabal that run the show are at best IRISH INC. trying to turn a profit on booze and sentimentality. At worst they are the Celtic Nazi crowd who relish in their whiteness and decry the lack of (LillyWhite) schools as they wait for the next Minuteman cell to form. I can get drunk without invoking my immigrant ancestors, and because I know I have immigrant ancestors I find the right wing Irish Americans totally disgusting.
This whole extravaganza started as two festivals designed to raise money for a "Irish In Kansas City Museum" -- i.e. heap praise on a handful of families who tend to build their business and political empires on a tenuous connection to Ireland.
If they really wanted to do something that honored the heritage of the Irish in America, they should write a check to an immigrant aide group or march in an anti-Semler protest.
Don't hold your breath.
Oh, I see. It's ok for the blacks to have MJK Day, the mexicans to have Cinco Demayo but the Irish are relegated to a poorly observed St. Paddy's Day and we're not supposed to advertise an IrishFest?? St Paddy ran the nigs outta Ireland with the snakes. Too bad they ended up in KCMO....
ReplyDeleteDaveKCMO I'm trolling
ReplyDeleteBad luck of the Irish maybe?
ReplyDeleteWon't bother me at all after just half of a Guinness.
You should stop by Irish Fest Tony, you'd like it.
Tony might like it but he wouldn't like that Guinness you're having MacGoosh. They don't serve Guinness at the Irish Fest.
ReplyDeleteblah blah blah, murphy's Irish stout. total newsflash.
ReplyDeleteHi Tony. I want to clear up a misconception about this supposed rift between Liam Daly, author of IrishKC and The Kansas City Irish Fest as an organization. We have absolutely no beef with Liam or his blog. I think he does an astounding job documenting every aspect of Irish culture in and around our town. I don't know how he keeps it up. I know he never sleeps. I'm glad I only have one event to cover. But the "feud" was not with us, as Liam promoted but with Dave Shaughnessy, the man who books our music. Dave was not speaking for anybody but himself when he wrote the comments that Liam eventually took offense at. His opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of Irish Fest or anybody else involved with organizing it. If we've been lax in thanking Liam for mentioning us in his blog in the past, forgive us. We've been a little busy.
ReplyDeleteAnd please don't fault us too much for promoting the thing. Our first order of business is to stay in business. We're trying to get people in the door. The festival business is difficult and fickle (Spirit Fest anyone?) and you can't take anything for granted. Sorry if you heard too much from us or about us but at least, for this year anyway, it seems to have worked. You've got a year off. Enjoy it.
As to the Irisher-Than-Thou idiot who made the first comment, we don't "turn a profit on booze and sentimentality" or anything else. We're a volunteer run, not-for-profit organization and our revenues go to our substantial operating costs, our own foundation (where this "real Irishman" can apply for a $1500 grant he can then sign over to an immigrants' rights organization) and back into our community, including the Irish Museum and Cultural Center, Harvesters, the Redemptorist Center and elsewhere. I assume that this moron stayed home last weekend sending his rent check to the poor widders and orphans back home in Skibbereen. Too bad. He missed some great music and a lot of nice people who share his heritage celebrating however they choose to. But I don't think anybody missed him.
PS...as for there being a "blogger beef" between IrishKC and the Irish Fest blog that I currently author, below is the text of the one and only time I've referred to IrishKC in my blog. Why not more? Is that part of the "feud?" Part of IrishKC's proclaimed purpose is to inform readers about Irish events in Kansas City including festivals like ours. The Irish Fest blog is to let people know what's going on with the Kansas City Irish Fest. And that's all. We all...well, maybe not Dave Shaughnessy... wish Liam well with the move home and continued success with IrishKC.
ReplyDeleteKansas City Irish Fest Blog, March 10, 2006: "Sharp eyed readers of this missive may have noticed a recent change in correspondents. It is my unenviable task to attempt to fill the well traveled shoes of our good friend Eolaí gan Bhuairt, who has chosen to move on to greener pastures. It is my happy task to let you know where that particular pasture is. You can find Eolaí, with his finger firmly planted on the pulse of Kansas City's Irish community right here (link to IrishKC). Stop by and say hello. With a little prodding, he might even offer up a handy Irish phrase.
Bhi clú agus cáil air mar scribhneoir mór. (He was hailed as a great writer.)"
As the post on my site that Tony linked to made clear, it was written due to the actions and inactions of the Festival Board in dealing with Dave Shaughnessy's claims to represent the festival.
ReplyDeleteThis year was not the first for Shaugnessy's idiotic utterances and not the first time the Board have been alerted to them and chose to do nothing.
Tony's assessment is correct.