Irish Gala 2026
Friday, November 20
Cocktails at 6pm - dinner and program to follow.
Brush off that suit and tie and polish your dancing shoes, it's time for the Irish Gala!
This yearly event celebrates the best of our Irish community and supports the Irish Center, Kansas City's year-round home for Irish art, music, film, language, literature, handcrafts, and so much more.
John J. Sullivan Jr. Foundation Humanitarian Award Honorees
We are delighted to award the John J. Sullivan Jr. Foundation Humanitarian Award to two outstanding individuals this year.
The John J. Sullivan Jr. Foundation Humanitarian Award is given annually to an honoree who exemplifies the legacy of John’s ethical values, integrity, generosity and goodwill for this community and its people.
The Irish Center is thrilled to celebrate Ron Einbender and Keli O’Neill Wenzel as the Sullivan Award honorees at the 2026 Irish Gala.
Entertainment
We’re going to dance all night at the Irish Gala with the Stolen Winnebagos!
The Stolen Winnebagos are a trio based in Kansas City. With two decades of experience playing together, they have entertained audiences at venues ranging from dive bars to amphitheaters.
They stand out from typical cover bands by performing upbeat, engaging sets filled with unexpected songs. Their diverse catalog spans from the 1950s to today, blending classic rock, new wave, grunge, hip hop, punk, alternative, classic country, and modern rock. You never really know what to expect with The Stolen Winnebagos, except that you will have a great time!
Celebrity Emcee
We are excited to welcome our friend Kathy Quinn as the celebrity emcee at the 2026 Irish Gala!
Kathy Quinn is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and longtime reporter for FOX 4 Kansas City (WDAF-TV), where she has been a familiar face on Kansas City’s top-rated morning show for over two decades. Her Emmy recognition highlights her excellence in journalism, particularly in storytelling and community impact.
Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Quinn has deep roots in the community she covers. She is deeply involved in Kansas City’s cultural scene, as the voice and an emcee for the Kansas City Irish Fest and recently receiving an impact award from Our Lady of Guadalupe Center, the largest social service agency for the Latino community in the U-S.
Quinn is proud to sell t-shirts as “merch girl” for the beloved local Celtic rock band The Elders (a connection that ties into her Irish heritage and community passion). Quinn’s husband and son are in the band.
