For my birthday @sorayadesignsthings drew me a picture of Brian that captures him perfectly in every way, surrounded by nature, in that stance of his, with his guitar always close. I took it with me to Las Vegas and then to LA, along with the LEGOtegas that my brother-in-law made for me (with pink LEGO brain and all). In the background you see two hearts and the edge of a butterfly wing from a drawing my niece made for me. 🦋 How incredibly fortunate and grateful I am to be surrounded by artists who continue to use their talents to honor Brian’s memory. My world is brighter because of them. This weekend I will be spending it in the company of Brian’s friends and some of the best Irish musicians in NYC as we come together for a weekend of Trad Music to celebrate my prince and to continue the work he started through IMPAQ (Irish Musicians, Poets, and Artists of Queens Inc.), a not-for-profit organization that enables the performance & education of Irish arts & culture by funding free events that celebrate & rightfully pay the musicians & artists who make such entertainment possible. His first event was a week-long Trad Music festival last year that he won grants for, organized to the last detail, promoted, emceed, recorded, and even occasionally performed at, without ever letting any of us sing the praises he so deserved. He wanted to showcase only the music and the work of the musicians he had assembled. We all got to experience a wonderful week’s worth of Brian doing so much of what he did so well, without ever possibly imagining that one year later his closest friends would be tasked with trying to recreate a fraction of the project he undertook. But here we are and try we will. For Brian “Bickie” Bannon: Musician, IMPAQ Founder, NYC Bartender, Ballyshannon Native, Our Brilliant Friend. And my whole world. 🎶😌☘️ #ForBrian #WithBrian #IrishMusic #StarTrek #StrangeNewWorlds #LLAP