Kansas City Irish community banding together to remember Shaun Brady
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Irish community is coming together to kick off the Kansas City Irish Fest and remember Shaun Brady.
The 44-year-old was an integral part of this festival, and this community remains strong together.
“It’s all about remembering the better times, and crying through it if we need to,” Committee member Sami Kane said.
Second juvenile suspect charged in deadly shooting of Kansas City restaurant owner
Organizers say that Brady played a big role at Kansas City Irish Fest. Now, they say this weekend is about coming together as a community to remember their friend.
“He was a bright light and it’s just stunning and shocking and senseless that, that light’s been put out,” Creative Director, Co-Founder of Irish Fest and Brady’s friend Danny Regan said.
He said Brady was a big piece to putting on the celebration for the Irish community.
They’ll have nine stages for music as well as food trucks and more than 30 artists.
Regan said Brady loved the Kansas City Irish community and was Irish in all the best ways, embracing life and people.
“I would like our staff patrons and people to kind of share that same spirit,” Regan said.
“Shaun never met anybody that wasn’t a friend instantly.”
A big part of this weekend is now about remembering the life and contributions of Brady.
While preparing for some 70,000 people to take over Crown Center from Friday to Sunday, staff are wearing buttons with Brady’s initials and an Irish saying on them.
“Loosely translated, means in the shelter of others, we survive,” Regan said.
“It’s the essence of the Irish community. We come together, we take care of each other, we have each other’s backs and Shaun would have too.”
Teen charged in Kansas City restaurant owner’s killing appears in court
One local restaurant proved that. Sami Kane’s husband helps run “The Snug”, a hang-out spot at Irish Fest. She said Brady was a longtime friend and regularly hosted dinners at “The Snug”. He was slotted for Saturday.
After what happened, Woodyard BBQ stepped up, donating food in Brady’s honor.
“It shocked and overwhelmed us,” Kane said.
“Her exact quote was that, ‘this is devasting to the Irish community and as one fellow Irish restaurateur to another, we want to take care of the sides, in honor of Shaun.’”
While much of the festival will be the same, the Irish breakfast on Sunday that Shaun started is canceled.
Instead of buying a $45 ticket, people can donate to a memorial fund to support Brady’s wife and two children.
Irish Fest has since learned of a GoFundMe that was not set up by festival organizers or loved ones of Brady. A spokesperson for Irish Fest sent FOX4 the following statement on Saturday:
“Thank you to all who have generously given to the memorial fund for Shaun Brady’s family. Sadly, it has come to our attention that a separate GoFundMe has been created that we believe is a scam. Neither the family nor Kansas City Irish Fest knows the individual who created it. If the organizer of the page would like to come forward to validate it they are welcome to contact Kansas City Irish Fest directly. Until then we want to emphasize that the only legitimate donation site is the one created by the Kansas City Irish Fest.”
The Irish Fest team has posted QR codes outside food trucks and tents.
At last check, it’s more than $117,000 dollars.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.