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WELCOME TO OUR SITE
| WHEN: | Sunday August 29, 2010 |
| WHERE: | Burr Oaks Woods, Grove 1 East side of Harlem & 135th Street, Orland Park |
| TIME: | 1:30 PM - Sunset, Mass at 1PM |
| FEE: | Picnic is FREE / Raffle tickets $100 per ticket |
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PICNIC FLYER
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
RAFFLE TICKETS
Winners need not be present to win.
One 1st Place Winner $1,000.00
Five 2nd Place Winners $100.00
Make checks payable to Irish American Alliance.
FEATURING:
Irish Entertainment
Kids Games & Activities
Adult Games
Door Prizes
Raffle
Beer, Wine and Soda
Burgers and Dogs
VOLUNTARY DONATIONS REQUESTED
CALL 708.598.4838 OR 815.666.8154 FOR ADDITIONAL INFO
The Chicago Irish American Alliance is at it again. Despite the rain, the IAA has put on its summer face and is ready for another season of fun and events for young and old alike. Our first event of 2010 was a very successful St. Patty’s Pre-day gathering at the Cork & Kerry. The club was very fortunate to have two sets of Musicians for this special night. The first entertainers were Paddy Horan & The Four Courts, extremely talented entertainers who provided an incredible traditional Irish Seisiun. Paddy has continued an impressive career since coming to the Chicago area three years ago, and was the featured tenor for Mayor Daley’s St. Patty’s Day reception in 2009. The club was then entertained by Dan and Paul Cassanto, a pair of acoustic guitarists, who provided more modern rock and roll music. Dan and Paul kept the crowd in house until well into the evening. Many thanks go out to Jerry Doorhy for securing the Cork & Kerry Pub as the setting for the party and Jerry Doorhy, Ann Bourke, Tom Lynch, Joe Sabia and all others who helped make the party a success.
Thanks to all of the people who renewed their membership’s over the past few weeks and to those new to the club, Welcome!!
Remember, renewals can be done at anytime by simply filling out the bottom of the newsletter and mailing it to the address listed at the top of the newsletter. Our annual renewal date is August; however you can renew your membership at anytime through the year.
Check back for info on the next upcoming event or click a link below.
We wish a speedy recovery to Tom Lynch after major surgery in early April.
Ann Bourke has been traveling extensively back and forth to Ireland to tend to her mother.
The entire membership of the Chicago Irish American Alliance was deeply saddened at the loss of one of our first members and 1993 Woman of the Year, ELIZABETH (BETTY) LEEN.
NEW GROUP ACTIVITIES
SOUTHSIDE IRISH PARADE WRAP UP
We had a pre-St Patrick’s Day Membership Drive and gathering at T.R.’S Pub on February 19th. It went over quite well, with many faces from the past renewing long forgotten memberships, and new members signing up. On the heels of our Membership Drive our Club began it’s 18th Annual March down South Western Avenue in participation in what has always been known as the South Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Our participation in the parade has always been an annual highlight and this year it clearly was the best year ever. There was a sunny sky and the temperature was 70 degrees and when our St. Patrick, John Brogan, a man who is the “Featured St. Patrick” in many parade photos and renderings began the march.
Through the years this event has meant a lot to our members. We have hosted a variety of dignitaries through the years including the the Irish Council General, the Mayor of Galway, (courtesy of Mike Doorhy) and Democracy Organizers from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (courtesy of my neighbors the Dougherty’s). We have hosted innumerable friends visiting from England, Ireland and other Countries. We have also hosted our own relatives and friends. In addition we have sponsored numerous Organizations and Clubs on behalf of the Parade Organizers (remember marching with the Iberian Celtic marching band and the Irish Boxing Team, for instance.)
We have had members dressed as Monk’s, always had a St. Patrick, usually an Uncle Sam, (George Reig) an occasional clown. We have had music (Jerry Haughey), a Leprechaun, (Ginger Ripple), the Gavin Family Tumblers, the Great Irish Wolfhounds (courtesy of Joe Mahoney and others), and other forms of amusement, always on a well decorated float. We even had our own version of “the pet parade” with some members leading the way with their dogs on leash.
Most importantly we have always had our members and their families, from the little babies to our octogenarians, walking, riding, skipping, handing out material, candy and otherwise enjoying the float and the day.
The Parade has grown to an event of international renown. Presidents and others of great standing have participated. A record 340,000 men, women, children and dogs all seemed to wave and smile at the largest parade to date. We enjoyed it, but we guess that was too many.
The best we can ascertain was that there were problems, problems we either couldn’t see from our vantage points in the Parade, or problems which were generated after our group members had moved on to our homes and parties. The Parade Committee has decided to put the event “on hold for a year or two”. It seems that it will be a hard event to get back.
The Irish American Alliance has always had a wonderful relationship with the folks at the South Side Irish Parade Committee and we have always supported their events. They are volunteers from many walks of life who are giving a lot. We understand they are working on the matter and/or on alternatives. It cannot be easy and we hope their efforts are rewarded. We will keep the membership updated by newsletters, and of course our website, www.chicagoiaa.com
We do have some pictures of the 2009 parade are on the website, and would love to post more.
Email them to newsletter@chicagoiaa.org and we will post them as soon as we can. Again, we could not have been as successful for all of these years without our float sponsors, past and present.
Acme Refining
O’Connor & Gallagher Insurance
Shannon Imports
Law Offices of Thomas W. Lynch
Davoren Residential Appraisals
Risk Placement Services
State Bank of Countryside
Indiana Insurance
Irish Castle Paving
Killary Marketing
McNally’s Tavern