Loath as I am to blog about blogging, I should probably tell you that currently I’m working on putting a system into place that will prevent periods like this of quiet activity on IrishKC.

Or in other words there are all sorts of exciting things destined for this Kansas City Irish corner of the web, but I can’t give you an exact date when because matters relating to painting Irish pictures take priority.

You’d think, lazy as I am, that I wouldn’t have priorities.

Read: A Kansas City Irish Corner Of The Web »

Today I launched a sale of my new Irish paintings that were exhibited at the Irish Blog Awards in Galway last weekend.

Long-time Irish KC readers might be interested in several paintings which have come from the the Cottage Chronicles.

As well as Donegal scenes, in this group of paintings you’ll also see scenes of Dublin, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Cork, and some birds on wires.

They launch at half-price. Normal prices will apply from the end of the week.

There’s 24 paintings in total, 22 of which are Irish, 1 Italian, and 1 American - a Kansas scene as it happens. 12 paintings have sold already.

Read: New Sale of Irish Paintings »

The Irish Blog Awards? Em, I won.

That, and getting ready for the exhibition of my paintings at the awards in Galway, is the reason for the dearth of activity from myself on here in the last few days.

I presume you were busy yourself, being Irish and stuff?

Did you see Mason Brown in Lenexa, Kansas, or Miles From Dublin in Weston, Missouri?

We’ll talk soon.

Read: I’ve Been A Little Busy »

The lists of finalists in the 2010 Irish Blog Awards were announced last night, and I was delighted to see my blog Bicyclistic among them.

If you’re interested in my photographs of Ireland and keeping up with my Irish paintings, Bicyclistic is the place for that. Currently I’ve posted a brief review of Year One for anyone who wants to catch up.

Sponsored by iQ Content, Best Specialist Blog is a category with quite a variety of blogs. Here are the other finalists I am honoured to be among:

    • Sentence First
    • Etsy Ireland
    • Ronan Lyons
    • Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer
    • Organic Growing Pains

Like in all the other categories there are some blogs I’m familiar with and some blogs new to me, so I’d urge you if you’re interested in the state of Irish blogging, to explore the lists of finalists and maybe add some new blogs to your regular reading.

I’ve been a fan of Stan Carey’s Sentence First for some time, as anybody who likes words should be, and I’d love to see it win.

Wiith Irish blogging growing in numbers there were far more blogs nominated this year than ever before. Twice before I’ve had blogs of mine make the lists of finalists - American Hell and Irish KC - but with the increasing quality cleary visible in the lists, I’m especially chuffed with Bicyclistic making it this year.

Going on previous years it should be a great night in Galway, and with my paintings being exhibited at the awards, I’m really looking forward to it.

Thank you to iQ Content, to the Irish Blog Awards organisers, to the judges of which on average 8 judged each blog, and to whomever nominated me.

Read: Finalists for 2010 Irish Blog Awards »

Today everybody is a Hoffenpurpenburger, so be safe people and enjoy - have a great Hoffenpurpenburger Day.

I’m off for a walk with the dog myself.

Read: Happy Hoffenpurpenburger Day Everyone! »

To round off the Paddy’s Day nonsense, here’s some links from news and blogs possibly related to Kansas City and St Patrick’s Day. I suspect there may yet be more.

• A reminder that KU’s Spencer Research Library boasts one the largest collections of Irish literature outside of Ireland

• KCTV5 interviews parade co-chair Kevin Bundy in Browne’s

• The parade committee announced the 2010 KC St Patrick’s Day Parade Prize Winners

• Brookside & Snake Saturday Parades feature the Star’s Photo Gallery

• The Voice of Pete McCluskey features on the KC Star’s Video report of the parade (1:45mins)

• The 1st Irish triplets in the KC Area had their 6th own little neighborhood parade

• Why can’t a girl have 2 favourite colours? Learning Leslie enthuses about the colour green

• Downtown Lee’s Summit announced its 5th Emerald Isle Parade results

• The Kansas City Gaelic Athletic Club went to the parade

• Irish Oatmeal and Irish humidity gets an appreciation by The Star

• In a 2 minute video on Fox4, Ireland’s Ian Byrne lives the American Dream

• Jules gets understandably irritated at the Brookside parade, and gives us a whole bunch of facts about St Patrick (that to be honest some of us don’t accept)

• Original Kansas Citian Julie makes for the 1st time Irish soda bread in Nebraska

• How Did You Spend St Patrick’s Day? The Bonner Springs Chieftain tells a few very short stories

• Kansas Bob remembers singing “When Irish Eyes Were Smiling” in Elementary school

• Types of Irish beverages are described in a drinks rundown by Blake Hannon

• Not for the 1st time, the luck of the Irish is called into question as the sort of luck you might want

• Drunk-Monkey found it hard to get into party mode midweek

Read: KC Irish Links Round-Up for Paddy’s Day 2010 »

Parade Route
The route of the St Patrick’s Day in Kansas City for 2010 is the same as it was in 2009: Along Broadway starting at 33rd Street (Linwood) going south to 43rd Street in Westport.

Not downtown.

UPDATE: List of Parade Winners

Parking & Bus Info
The Parade committee website has information on parking & bus routes for the parade.

Times
It begins at 11am and as it’s shorter these days than it was a few years ago it should be over around 1pm-ish. I hope people stay to the end; I used to hate seeing people stream away from the parade while hundreds more paraders were still coming down the street.

Grand Marshall
Ireland’s Ian Byrne is the Grand Marshall. He performs in some band called The Elders

Special Guests
The FDNY are special guests with the New York firefighters being joined in the parade by members of KCFD.

Television
Live television coverage is on Fox 4 from Noon - 1pm.
There is also online streaming coverage from 11am - 1pm on Fox4KC.com

St Patrick’s Day Events
Other Irish Events in Kansas City

Read: 2010 Kansas City St Patrick’s Day Parade »