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Another p.r. man, Dan Fennell, was dispatched, tongue-in-cheek, to clear any IRA snipers from the then-half-constructed City Center Square building up the street. Chiefs great Jim Lynch was recruited for additional security. An anonymous tip was called in to the KMBC TV newsroom, located just around the corner, on Central. And history was put in motion.
"A handful of us gathered outside the Continental Hotel on 11 th Street, and proceeded to walk the entire distance of about a block and a fifth," said O'Neill. "At first we were out there in the street all by our lonesome, feeling a little embarrassed. But as we walked, people appeared out of nowhere, and before you know it, we had a crowd. Of course, we led them right into Danny's joint, and he had more business than he'd had in years."
A grand local tradition that had been dormant since the 1890s was re-rooted and quickly grew into the biggest event of the year Downtown. Even as more and more Kansas Citians moved to the suburbs and Downtown continued to decline, the parade grew behind the energy and charisma of ad hoc chairman Freddy Wyrsch and a group of young Irish that included Denny Lowe, Pat Hughes, Betty Wyrsch, Danny Ervin, Pat O'Connor, Jim Glynn, Mike and Cy Perkins, Ned O'Connor, Tom Wyrsch and Kathleen Aylward. The event continued to double and triple in size throughout the 1970s and '80s.
By the mid-1980s, Kansas City's Irish parade had become one of the largest in the United States and the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee had expanded its role to include concerts, dance demonstrations and fund-raisers for local charities like Harvesters, the community food bank.
"I don't think any of us ever dreamed our little publicity stunt would turn into a parade two miles long with several hundred thousand spectators," said O'Neill. "We just wanted to drum up a little business for our friend, Danny Hogerty. Today's parade is really a tribute to the popularity and appeal of Mike Murphy, and it's a reflection of the marvelous sense of pride that still exists among the Irish in Kansas City."
Jody Watson, the Lone Bagpiper, will, as he has for many years, lead off the march followed by color guards, bands, drill teams, floats of all description and revelers of all sort. During the years the Parade has evolved into the largest single day event in Kansas City and shows no sign of stopping. One thing for sure--Mike Murphy and pals will be present in their garbage truck just to make sure this Parade stays "odd".
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