St. Patrick's Day - 2010

We were promised warm, sunny weather from the local news stations. All of Kansas City woke up expecting a beautiful St. Patrick's Day and even though we looked outside and saw drizzle, we held to the belief that by mid-morning it would become a tad more clement. It never did. We froze our collective arses off.

Here's some action from the parade. Thanks to all those that came out to march and to watch from the sidelines. And a special thanks to Lynn Klein for bringing her truck to carry the Irish flag for the KCGAC, which she did in memorial for her mother Jane Klein. We miss you Jane.

Green (as in the environment) was the theme this year

The things parents will make their kids wear: Wellies, Kilt, Paddy Cap. Check, check and check

This guy looks like an extra from Patriot Games.

Hurling and ATV riding = Multiple Dental Visits 

Irish Potato Famine Victims

Irish Cowboys

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

The Taylor Lads and their Dad braved the cold

Robert was Protected from the Elements

This wee Galway man came out to show the KCGAC hurlers how to play the old Celtic Cricket

Another great and safe St. Paddy's Day under our belt, hope to see you all again next year, when it will be bigger, better, faster and greener than ever.

The Celtic Ranch

Whether we're playing locally or around the Midwest we get asked about the white horse on our shirts and we simply answer "It's the Celtic Ranch in Weston, MO, the best sponsor an Irish club could have." I drove up there on Sunday morning to see what's going on for St. Patrick's week.

This is Nikki Tikki, he was hanging out with family at the Celtic Ranch. He looks like a classic Irish Sheepdog, but they said he's only tried herding horses, no sheep yet. He's now an honorary member of the KCGAC.

Inside they had complimentary Irish coffee, cake and Guinness brownies for all guests and shoppers.

The Celtic Ranch is not your typical Irish Store and it's definitely no Plastic Paddy Depot. You'll find beautiful Irish handcrafts, local art and photography. Currently there is an amazing collection of work on display by Irish artist Anna Nielsen. They also have a small library of books on Ireland from fiction and food to memoirs and travel. If you're planning a trip to the old country, this needs to be your first stop. And in the back of the store there is a miniature horse called Half-Pint McCoy.

The Celtic Ranch now has hurley sticks and sliotars in stock. Save yourself the expense of ordering from Ireland and get your gear locally from Terry at the Ranch. And as always they have the wonderful KCGAC jerseys in stock. Club members get a nice discount.

You don't need to wait for St. Patrick's Day or Irish Fest to go to the Celtic Ranch, just find a few hours off and take the beautiful drive up Highway 45 from Parkville (you can take I-29 but it's not as scenic) and make a day of it in Weston.

Brookside Parade Report 2010 - You had to be there

The weather was cold, wet and windy, just like Ireland, the Brookside parade organizers had obviously pulled out all the stops to ensure authenticity. 

We stood in the cold like brave arctic-explorers and counted down the minutes 'till go time. However, compared to the Renaissance Festival Kids we were relatively melting, those guys and girls had little more than napkins covering their torsos.

We were surprised how many people came out to cheer-on all the floats and groups, to all those folks I say a BIG "Thank You" from the KCGAC.

And thank goodness there were not too many flagrant examples of gratuitous Irish stereotyping, well there was that little old lady in the motor-scooter done up as a potato. That was a bit much, we had a famine people, a potato famine and the scars run deep.

Parading about the Town

It has been a tradition in Ireland now for about a million years to march in a parade on March 17th in honor of our patron saint: St. Paddy or Patrick if you are not a close friend.

I don't know if it's a coincidence that we march in March, but I like it and as my almost-one-time-father-in-law used to say "march fourth" is a sentence and a date, totally irrelevant.

The lads and ladies of the KCGAC will be putting on their marching shoes this year at two parades in the Kansas City metro.

Brookside Parade

First up is the Brookside Parade on Saturday the 13th of March. The parade kicks off at 2pm, but we will commence the gathering at spot no. 48 from 12:30pm onwards, so if you are looking to join the party come on down and join us or cheer for us. Oh, and it's a 1980s theme St. Patrick's Day for the Brookside folks this year. Good thing my Gaelic Football nut-huggers fit the bill perfectly, no costume needed.

Kansas City Parade

The BIG ONE. Rumored to be one of the biggest St. Paddy parades in the whole Universe. Last year over a billion people came out to cheer us on, let's make it a billion and one this year. Go on, get on your  green and don't be mean.

While I was marching with the gang last year, I had the wife on photography duties and here's a sampling of what you've got to look forward to this year.

Pete was driving this bus, he loves rainbows

Cool Cops...Chips for Life

Ah, there is nothing I can say that the picture doesn't already

The big man himself, looking a little bloated I might say

Traditional Giant Irish Shamrock

Irish Boud

His buddy Jack

Jack had the luck of the Irish

Have a great time and a safe time at the parades this year. If you find yourself having a pint or two, make sure to take advantage of the free rides home with Yellow Cab. Slan!

March - Irishness is in the air

We're a few days into March, which as we all know is the most Irish month of the year, apart from December, 'cause we all know Jesus was an Irishman, but March is a close second.

You'll need to be up on your St. Patrick's trivia so you don't get accused of any stereotyping.

Then to help you in your quest to be a well rounded Eire-phile watch the following videos.


The Real St. Patrick Story

Seriously this guy from Denver is the classic Drunk-Irish-American that lives the stereotypes for everyone in Ireland! Go on the Irish.


I love this girl's history of the potato...talk about a sexy spud


And for just a few more laughs