Irish Fest kicks off honoring Shaun Brady with a cookbook of his recipes

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – It’s been one year since Irish chef Shaun Brady was killed just before the Kansas City Irish Fest.

He was gunned down outside of his Brookside restaurant just days before the city’s Irish festival.

This year, there are special tributes to honor Brady and his family.

“He was a big piece of our festival and the Irish community as a whole,” said director Keli O’Neill Wenzel.

After his death, they canceled the brunch he was in charge of. They are bringing it back this year with a new name.

“Everybody kind of came together this year, and we’re going to bring back the brunch, and we’re calling it Brady Brunch,” Wenzel said.

But that’s not all. Wenzel’s dad, along with Brady’s son and others, came up with a special cookbook you can only buy on the grounds.

“It’s his recipes from various things, and it’s also family and friends that came together for little tributes, and all proceeds will go to the family,” Wenzel said.

Wenzel’s dad, along with Brady’s son and others, came up with a special cookbook you can only buy on the grounds.(KCTV)

The cookbook includes photos of Brady doing what he loved to do — baking his famous scones and spreading joy from his kitchen to the community.

“It means a lot to us to be able to honor the Brady family, and that means a lot,” said Matt Scanlon, president of the Irish Festival.

Not only is this year special with tributes to Brady, but the Ambassador of Ireland to the US will be making an appearance. “We’re having a reception for her, and it kind of solidifies that we have that support by the ambassador coming to our festival,” Scanlon said.

With nine different stages, an endless amount of food, drinks, whisky, and chocolate pairings, and more, you don’t have to be Irish to have a good time.

“We have a little bit for everybody,” Wenzel said. “It’s such a good, strong community. It’s been around for this long, and the weather is fabulous. So why not enjoy your community?”

Gates open Friday at 5 p.m. Brady Brunch is on Sunday.