Irish Pub Quiz raises about $2,400 / LJWorld.com

Archive for Monday, February 18, 2008

Nearly 100 people gather at Zig & Mac’s for annual fundraiser

February 18, 2008

Trivia contest raises funds for St. Pat's parade

Friends and co-workers put together teams and gather at Zig and Mac's for the annual Saint Patrick's Day trivia contest. Enlarge video

Photo by John Henry

Aaron Hoare, at left, Whitney Gallagher and Erin Leary, of the Johnny's Tavern team, react to Leary's answer to a quiz question Sunday during the sixth annual Irish Pub Quiz at Zig & Mac's, 1540 Wakarusa Drive.

Without the aid of Google, relying only on their wits and the combined brainpower of their teammates, nearly 100 trivia fanatics gathered Sunday night at Zig & Mac's, 1540 Wakarusa Drive, to test their knowledge of the random and to raise money for the Lawrence St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee.

The trivia tournament featured questions ranging from the arbitrary ("What '90s sitcom's finale was titled 'The Final Frontier?' ") to the maddeningly obvious ("What is the number on the train in Watson Park?"). For the record, the answers are "Mad About You" and 1073.

Event organizer Scott McDaniel said the sixth annual Irish Pub Quiz raised at least $2,400 for the beneficiaries of the parade. This year, proceeds are being donated to the Social Service League of Douglas County and the County Fair Swim Club.

He said the trivia tournament was part of a series of fundraisers leading up to the parade on March 17.

Jud Easterday was part of a team representing O'Malley Beverage. It was his first time participating in the trivia challenge, but he said his company always looks forward to the event.

"Every year we want to get heavily involved with the parade," he said. "We want to give back. We're really conscious about things that are local, and we want to support Lawrence, and that's what this does."

For Leawood resident Rosemary Deen, who plays trivia every week at Conroy's Pub, 3115 W. Sixth St., Sunday's event was a way to keep her team's brains sharp while donating to a good cause. She said her team, Tabula, has played in the Irish Pub Quiz for the last four years.

"A lot of the beneficiaries are children," she said, which keeps her team coming back each year. Deen said Tabula had a strategic method to winning, though she was cautious to divulge many details. Her four-person team, she said, had individuals with deep knowledge of literature, music, sports and politics.

There are three more fundraising events leading up to the parade. An auction is scheduled for Feb. 23, and the 5K Shamrock Shuffle and the Luck-of-the-Irish Poker Run are set for March 8. More details are available at the committee's Web site, www.lawrencestpatricksdayparade.com.