About
What drives us
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Iowa-Irish-Fest-Volunteers

The Cedar Valley Irish Cultural Association, founder of the Iowa Irish Fest, is an organization intended to foster and develop Irish fellowship and outreach into the community with Irish cultural events and programs.  Entering its 19th year, the Iowa Irish Fest is an open-air event held on the first weekend of August in Waterloo, Iowa. The Fest provides nearly 50,000 annual attendees the opportunity to participate in a premier cultural event that broadens their global perspective and introduces them to experiences and lifestyles far beyond the Midwest, while acknowledging and celebrating the history of the Irish community. Association President, Jim Walsh, said, “The Irish in Iowa have done such a fine job of melding into their communities that we felt it was time to draw them back out a bit and show them off to their neighbors and as many visitors as we could.

Accolades and Awards

WINNER OF THE:

Cedar Valley Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
“2013 Event of the Year”

Cedar Valley Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
“2011 Event of the Year”

Cedar Valley Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
“2010 Event of the Year”

$40,000

in weekend passes and Iowa Irish Fest Merchandise for local organizations to use in their own fundraising efforts in 2023


$29,000

Donated from freewill offerings at the Sunday mass since 2019


1216 lbs

food donated for those in need to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in 2024.


$12,690

Donated since 2019 to local school groups


$15,300

Donated since 2019 to local veterans and first responder organizations


$16,000

Donated since 2019 to other local nonprofits in Iowa

Iowa Irish Fest Committee

The people behind Iowa Irish Fest

Cultural

Activities & Experiences

Food & Beverage

Operations

Anie Boreman
Workshops

Brenna Dabney
Family Fun & Learning Area

Casey Schotter
Entertainment

Christen O’Conner
Elks Lodge Events

Dee Kruger
Cultural Street

Dick Kester
Mass & Merchandise

Greg Tagtow
Entertainment

Jeanette Kester
Mass & Merchandise

Jolene Tagtow
Entertainment

Kate Schildroth
Workshops & Continuity

Kelly Sullivan
Heroes Area

Meagan Visser
Cultural Event Center

Mike Burns
Entertainment

Sean Riley
Workshops

Tamara Visser
Cultural Event Center

Taylor Shock
Elks Lodge Events

Trent Hunter
Heroes Area

Wendy Bunko
Workshops

Alex Toft
High Nelly Bike Rally

Angie Hunt
Celtic Cuise Motorycle Ride

Brooke Ullom
Shamrock N Run 5k

Casey Hansen
Rugby Invitational

Denise Kremer
Highland Games

Diane Craig
High Nelly Bike Rally

Greg Hunt
Celtic Cruise Motorcycle Ride

Jessie Shipman
Shamrock N Run 5k

Matt Lee
Celtic Cruise Motorcycle Ride

Mike Miller
Highland Games

Rhonda Weber
High Nelly Bike Rally

Terence Moriarty
Gaelic Athletic Association

Vickie Minard
Sheep Herding

Al Mennega
Beverage Chair

Amanda Korth
Workshops

Brent Gilmore
Cedar Ridge Whiskey Garden

Chris Roberts
Whiskey Snug

Shannon Sterling
Guinness Experience

Tonya Meeter
Guinness Experience

Andrew Sterling
Guinness Experience

Michael Meeter
Guinness Experience

Don (Matt) Mateo
Whiskey Master Class

Jan Pratt
Hospitality

Jason Mohorne
Beverage Chair

Jeff Eastland
Beverage Chair

Maggie Burke
Hospitality

Matt Parziale
Whiskey Workshops

Patrick Moran
Beverage Chair

Scott Lake
Beverage Chair

Tim Tierney
Beverage Chair

Kurt Sundermann
Whiskey Master Class

Robyn Sundermann
Whiskey Master Class

Kelly Martin
Beverage Experience Area

Travis Wilson
Whiskey Workshops

Al Werner
Token Chair

Chris Davis
Fest Shuttle & Transportaion

Dee Jordan
Treasury & Volunteers

Jane Messingham
Treasury

Jim Poock
Health & Safety

Keth Rodgers
Safety

Mike Bonser
Fest Shuttle & Transportation

PR & Marketing

Logistics & Outside Vendors

Administration

Annie Alvarado
Program & Website Design

Brandon Alvarado
Program & Website Design

Christine Short
Whiskey Snug

Connie Hix
Merchandise & TBD

Crystal Brooks
Merchandise

Stacy Harris
Ticketing

Emily Seliga
Merchandise

Jim Wheelan
Ticketing

Kathy Davis
VIP Experience

Ann Woods
VIP Experience

Renee Duesenberg
Merchandise

Salina Gavin
Website

Stephanie Kane
Visitor & Festival Information

Tracy Kerker
VIP Experience

Max Runge
Tech Assistance

Brad Martin
Tech Assistance

Kathy McGowan
Food & Merchandise Vendors

Kevin Greenley
Logistics

Marianne Kurtenbach
Logistics Electrical

Ben Simmens
Logistics & Electrical, IBEW288 Rep

Rich Kurtenbach
Logistics & Electrical, IBEW288 Rep

Ryan Dabney
Family Fun & Learning Area, Logistics

Shaun Kane
Logistics

Bob Craft
Logistics

Steve Hix
Logistics

Agnes Kress
Co-Director

Chad Shipman
Co-Director

James White
Impact Marketing

Kristina Miller
Treasurer

Lori McConville
Partner Sponsors

Madison Foley
Impact Marketing

Rory Dolan Sr
Board CV Irish Cultural Association

Ross Nunez
Impact Marketing

Jordan Larkin
Social Media

Lauren Hix
Social Media

Ted Batemon
Partner Sponsors

Julie Gage
Partner Sponsors