About
What drives us
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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 16th 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.

Iowa-Irish-Fest-Volunteers

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”

$6,000

in weekend passes for local organizations to use in their own fundraising efforts.


$8,838

donated from a freewill offering at the Sunday Mass.


$6,832

meals donated for those in need. Partnership with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.


$834

donated to the Boy’s and Girl’s Club.


$500

donated to the Boy Scouts of America.


$1,100

to local school and church groups.

Iowa Irish Fest Committee

The people behind Iowa Irish Fest

Pillar

Pillar

Pillar

Pillar

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

Shaylin Girsch
Jameson’s Public House

Tamara Visser
Cultural Event Center

Taylor Shock
Elks Lodge Events

Trent Hunter
Heroes Area

Wendy Bunko
Workshops

Alex Toft
High Nelly Bike Rally

Andrew Sterling
Guinness Experience

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

Michael Meeter
Guinness Experience

Mike Miller
Highland Games

Rhonda Weber
High Nelly Bike Rally

Shannon Sterling
Guiness Experience

Terence Moriarty
Gaelic Athletic Association

Tonya Meeter
Guinness Experience

Vickie Minard
Sheep Herding

Al Mennega
Beverage Chai

Amanda Korth
Workshops

Brent Gilmore
Cedar Ridge Whiskey Garden

Chris Roberts
Whiskey Snug

Christina Gilmore
Cedar Ridge Whiskey Garden

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

Travis Wilson
Whiskey Workshops

Al Werner
Token Chair

Brad Martin
Tech Assistance

Chris Davis
Fest Shuttle & Transportaion

Dee Jordan
Treasury & Volunteers

Jane Messingham
Treasury

Jim Poock
Health & Safety

Keth Rodgers
Safety

Max Runge
Tech Assistance

Mike Bonser
Fest Shuttle & Transportation

Stacy Harri
Ticketing

Pillar

Pillar

Pillar

Annie Alvarado
Program & Website Design

Brandon Alvarado
Program & Website Design

Christine Short
Whiskey Snug

Connie Hix
Merchandise & TBD

Emily Seliga
Merchandise

Jim Wheelan
Ticketing

Jordan Larkin
Social Media

Julie Gage
Public Relations

Kathy Davis
VIP Experience

Lauren Hix
Social Media

Renee Duesenberg
Communication Specialist

Salina Gavin
Website

Stephanie Kane
Visitor & Festival Information

Tracy Kerker
VIP Experience

Kathy McGowan
Food & Merchandise Vendors

Kelly Martin
Everage Experience Area

Kevin Greenley
Logistics

Marianne Kurtenbach
Logistics Electrical

Rich Kurtenbach
Logistics Electrical

Ryan Dabney
Logistics

Shaun Kane
Logistics

Steve Hix
Logistics

Agnes Kress
Ticketing Chair

Chad Shipman
Director Iowa Irish Fest

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

Ted Batemon
Partner Sponsors