Just a Note to Mary Schmich - No Arrrests At the South Side Irish Parade

Leo Man marches with Big Shoulders Fund at the downtown St. Patrick's Parade.

Mary Schmich wrote a snotty and unnecessary column about St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

The Irish and Catholics in general are last ethnic joke-stereotypes available to faux wits in the media.

I penned a snotty, but most essential blog post in the response to a media person who gets a universal free pass on such nonsense as her column, because of her Progressive pedigree.

By way of courtesy, I offer this report that the south side Irish Parade was arrest free, even though it was very political: Rauner was heckled, Rahm was hectored and Chuy was  cheered.

 The South Side Irish Parade continued the St. Patrick's Day weekend celebrations Sunday by adding a third year to its zero-arrests record.
The annual event, which takes place in the Beverly neighborhood on the Far South Side, used to be known for its rowdiness, public drunkenness and high number of arrests. Parade organizers and Chicago Police cracked down on the mayhem in 2012 with a "zero tolerance" policy on alcohol, and the event has enjoyed zero arrests ever since.(emphsis my own)

No arrests.  At the downtown parade, I saw no bad behavior and the parade route was booze free. I saw drinking on the side streets, but no bacchanal. 

Ask Yourself, "Do I Really Swallow This Nonsense?"

Onthe day of the great 2015 Blizzard. Mike Houlihan and Jesus Garcia began attracting Chuy-lligans at Cork and Kerry.

Question: Who said the following?  Was it Barack Obama, Elizabeth Warren, Dick Durbin, former Governor Pat Quinn, Rahm, or some old dude with beard and BO? More importantly, do you swallow this stuff?

“Constant revolution in production, uninterrupted disturbances of all social conditions, ever-lasting uncertainty and agitation, distinguish the bourgeois epoch from all earlier ones. All fixed, fast-frozen prejudices, with their train of ancient and venerable prejudices and opinions are swept away, all new formed ones become antiquated before they can ossify. All that is solid melts into air, all that is holy is profaned, and man is at last compelled to face with sober senses his real conditions of life, and his relations with his kind.”

Hey, Kid!  have a shiney new Saccagewea Gold Coin for the first kiddie who can tell me who uttered the idiocy above posted - it was not Muriel Abbott.

If you do not, you know that

• Rahm Emanuel is Toast on April 7th
• Barack Obama is sad disappointment to most folks, but can't stop working his gums.
• The South Side Irish Parade will be packed with Chuy-lligans
• Elizabeth Warren is a daft grifter
• The News Media is only loud
• Most Academics Can't Spell Academics
• Schools Are Empty of Scholars
• Your Neighbor Knows More than Eric Zorn, Carol Marin and WTTW Under Torture
• Cars are better than Bikes
• Bike Lanes on the south side are hilarious ( do travel Vincennes south of 63rd) and empty
• Parking should cost no more than $0.25 per half hour
• City Transit should allow all forms of American currency 
• Forrest Claypool (CTA Boss) should find his own means of employment
• Rahm's two brothers will provide him with Golden Parachutes - we are now off the hook
• Bruce Rauner will wish that he was Pat Quinn
• Dick Durbin is a walking euphemism  
• Your voice, your vocation and your vote matter to all of us

April 7th 2015?

A Few Traditional South Side Irish Tunes

To Really appreciate the . . .



The In Crowd


Your mane will be back no later than . . .










Now, I ask you . . .




Not really.

Jim "Skinny" Sheahan Leads on Parade

James "Skinny" Sheahan is a leader. Skinny took the lead to offer Paul Vallas to voters of Illinois over the 'smart' choice of Democrat deal wizards who backed the toxic Rod Blagojevich. The wizards got their way after a very close primary battle and Illinois is still paying for that wizardry.

The South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade was cancelled over concerns for the safety and properieties damaged by train-loads, car-loads and bus-loads of revellers from all over Illinois who viewed the neighborhood celebration as Mardi Gra Lite. The very same Chicago media that invited one and all to get their CHIRISH ( Miller Brewing) on by showing up hours before the parade kick-off fully Kreuzaned ( Old Style) and Bud-lit-up, only to toss their celebrations onto the pavement while weeping to neighborhood residents, " War Cuh. . .Eye gud a Cab . . . Toxey, Duuuude?"

Well, old son, I never have much problem hailing one at Clark & Division, Take the CTA # 49.

"Whar?"

The stop right behind you. God speed, Wayfarer!

The same media that swelled interest in the parade as a political platform (Clinton, Gore, Jerry Brown, Pat Buchanan, Barack Obama, and our home grown beauties jigged mightily down Western to Kennedy Park)and day -long guzzle for mopes, ridiculed the parade and most of all the very good people the event was meant to celebrate.

Perhaps the old committee pulled the trigger too quickly; maybe there were things that could have been done. The Face Book attempt to get the CHIRISH ON was as successful as an Italian cruise and travelled about as far.

Two years agon Skinny spoke with Chicago Sun Times reporter Mark Konkol and predicted this -

More from Skinny Sheahan via the great Mark Konkol


"I'm sure the parade will be back because we need a parade. Beverly's still Irish, but [without the parade] it's very boring," Sheahan said. "Listen, I was in charge of every parade in Chicago for 10 years. I've seen more parades than anybody in the world except for Mayor Daley, OK. This was a great, great parade. Two percent of people at the parade were goofballs, that's a fact. But the parade will be back. They'll have a heart attack when they read that, but I don't care."

For the husky side of two years, Skinny Sheahan and number of neighbors have worked bring this event back to its purpose and common sense.

Organizers Want South Side Irish Parade To Return To Its Roots: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Skinny Sheahan leads. Democratic wizards give people Blago. Skinny leads.

South Side St. Patrick's Parade Committee Deserves a Huge 'Well Done!'

The South Side Irish Parade will be on the road again March 11.
Organizers of the St. Patrick's Day event are focused on making it alcohol-free.

Chicago Tribune

This is the story of how the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Parade began. As with many stories told by the Irish, exaggeration is inevitable, however, this story is completely true. The parade was the vision of two best friends, George Hendry and Pat Coakley. Both were raised on the South Side of Chicago, George in the St. Sabina Parish and Pat in the Little Flower parish in the Auburn neighborhood. The two did not meet until their early thirties, when both moved to the Morgan Park community with their young wives. There they became neighbors, best friends and in 1979, co-founders of the South Side Irish Parade.

History of South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade (click my post title)

The South Side Parade was a great event, even though politicians and drunks marred the spirit of day.

How and why the Parade was killed really does not matter. Our Chicago Media which helped to bring more politicians and drunks to the route and the side-streets sniffed at the boorish goings-on they helped perpetuate.

The Parade should and will return and that is the story.

A group of dedicated neighbors from the parishes which comprise our neighborhood worked for the husky side of two years to has out the logistical strategies that just might keep politicians and drunks where they belong on Sunday.

For three or four hours, politicians and drunks can abstain from BSing and Boozing.

I know that the South Side St. Patrick's Day Committee has great political ( within the 19th Ward and Beyond) and pathological inebriate ( CHIRISH from fern bars and suburbs) opposition to their hard work and we can expect great waves of 'cautionary tales' about the post osmosing scatological necessities of the diposmaniac demographic.

It will be tough, but the kids, the elderly and the responsible will have a great time.

Well Done, Folks!

South Side Irish Parade - Lazarus Come Forth!

A solid well done to Chicago Police and Fore Departments and the Liquor Commission!

Yesterday's neighbrhood events were untroubled, because Commander Mike Kuemeth and the officers of the 22nd Police District and Chicago Fire Department specialists worked with Illinois Liqour Commissioners to prevent any all idiocies.

The neighborhood enjoyed a good day - not a great one.

The South Side Parade should march again. Chicago Sun Times writer Mark Konkol, a solid guy and an honest journalist sought out two solid Parade Advocates - James "Skinny" Sheahan, long-time Chicago Special Events Director and Renaissance Man Mike Houlihan concerning the resusitation of this great family event.

Quoth Houli and Skinny:

Born on St. Patrick's Day in 1979, she would be 31 years this Wednesday. 31 years. I'm almost twice as old as that.
When I was 31, well, I acted like a goof sometimes myself. But nobody said, "He got drunk and embarrassed us, let's kill him."
No they didn't. They believed in me. They saw the potential for something greater in me and never withdrew their love and support.
But South Side Paddy ... Well, is SHE really dead?
You've got to listen to the rest: SouthSideIrishParadeeulogy.WMA

By the way, James "Skinny" Sheahan -- Mayor Daley's former parade czar -- predicts the parade will be back next year. Why?
Because without it, Beverly is Irish, but "boring."

More from Skinny Sheahan via the great Mark Konkol

"I'm sure the parade will be back because we need a parade. Beverly's still Irish, but [without the parade] it's very boring," Sheahan said. "Listen, I was in charge of every parade in Chicago for 10 years. I've seen more parades than anybody in the world except for Mayor Daley, OK. This was a great, great parade. Two percent of people at the parade were goofballs, that's a fact. But the parade will be back. They'll have a heart attack when they read that, but I don't care."

Let's revive the South Side Irish Parade! If the spirit is still in the bones, save the wake.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2102550,CST-NWS-stpats15.article

Cousin Willie's Mass & Corned Beef and Cabbage Parade Day Tradition Continues

Cousin Willie is a 19th Ward Icon- Special Events genius,bartender, singer, community leader, and parish-go-to-guy and beautiful Irish/Italian/Polish wife Kerry have tossed a South Side Irish Parade Day Mass longer than most in attendance have been breathing.

President Obama and Michelle and the kids attended when running for the U.S. Senate, Paul and Sharon Vallas, Sheriffs Sheahan and Dart and no end of great folks took breafast and cheer following a Mass.

Primarily Willie's house was swelled by our massive extended family and friends -Winters, Brennan, Walsh, McNamara, Dibrizio, Helmer, Demateo, Diana, Morland, and Hickey members by the butt and boatload.

Though the Parade ended this tradition continued.

Father Jim Hennighan reminded one and all about our granparents. My grandmother Nora Sullivan left Cahirciveen, County Kerry at the age of thirteen and knowing only Irish after a Wake was held for her.

The Irish who emigrated to America rarely returned; thus, the child died for all intents and purposes as she crossed the waters.

My cousin from Castleisland County Kerry Robbie O'Connell joined us. He is the one wearing the Irish Bling of Office as the Mayor of the County Kerry Council.

Willie and his brothers John and Mark made more than 100 pounds of corned beef made by Limerick Mike at County Fair cabbage, spuds, carrots, onions and tables full of Soda Bread. I used to make the bacon and sausages, but told to bring cookies (which I did) but have my nose out of joint because my kitchen skills were not wanted, evidently. Irish Alzheimers - I forget everything,but my hurt feelings.

We had dancing and music - Maura Dalton Winters is my nephew Brendan's wife and was an All Ireland Dancing Champion who now teaches Steps for Cross-Keys.

There were scores of babies and as a typical Hickey/Winters Baby Sap, I had a ball.

Thank you Willie and Kerry Winters

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

South Side Parade with No Parade: Commander Michael Kuemmeth Prepares for Every Possibility

Commander Michael Kuemmeth and his staff are prepared to make this a nice day for 19th Ward residents and sobering one for nitwits.

I spoke with Commander Michael Kuemmeth this morning and he remarked that we were all in unchartered waters.

There will be zero tolerance for any all breaches of the public peace. No matter what the Chi-Rish ( Faux Paddy Gras Nitwits) believe this parade is was and shall be a neighborhood celebration of Faith, Family and Friendship.

Bus loads of slobs have tossed bottles, cups and at times Fully Kreuzened losers from their doors and windows.

Buses doing such will be impounded in accordance with littering laws.

Bottle and cup wielding dopes will be consigned to the holding pens prior to the trip to the drunk tank.

God Bless the Chicago Police and Fire Departments! They are set up and preparing for the unexpected - To Serve and Protect. Thank you Commander and all the women and men of the 22nd District
Have Fun at the Beverly Arts Center!

Southwest Observer Scoops - South Side Parade On!

99% confirmed: South Side parade @ 10:30 a.m. Sunday

This is very good news.

» Read similar stories filed under: Beverly Breaking News Local Organizations Morgan Park Mount Greenwood
Location(s)
10300 S. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL, 60643

A

n inside source has told the Southwest Observer that the South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee plans to march - quietly and inconspicuously - from 103rd Street to 111th Street along Western Avenue at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

The reason is simple: The committee will lose its parade permit unless it continues to step off from the original parade start point at the intersection of 103rd and Western. Although no one would confirm this on record, it's all but guaranteed that - because of this technicality - the parade will continue.

For the obvious reasons, the committee has kept it quiet, so as not to attract the thousands of drunks who ruined it in recent years for the rest of the neighborhood.
Still, those partaking in past parade-day imbibing before noon should look out for the small band of marchers who plan to make their way south along Western Avenue. I'm told that they plan to march on the east side, which has always been the dry side and makes sense so as not to attract attention of the potentially hundreds of pub crawlers who plan to continue the other parade-day tradition: drinking heavily.

Mary Mitchell is an Idiot and Craig Wall is a Punk - Let's Dialog about Race . Oh, Let's Do.

If it bleeds it Ledes( leads) -if it ain't bleeding help it do so. Mary Mitchell and Craig Wall

Some guy in West Beverly put racially charged block letters all over his garage. Mary Mitchell wrote that the guy is an "idiot pure and simple." Not a racist, but an idiot pure and simple.

Could be.

Craig Wall, Fox WFLD investigative reporter boldly put his microphone in the confronted guy's face and demanded to know "Are you a racist?. . .Are YOU a Racist?" Craig Wall repeatedly asked that.

Here let me try - "Are you an A$$hole, Craig?"

Begs the question.

The goof with the yard art might be an idiot and might be a racist.

However, whatever this guy's real or demanded civic crimes might be he takes a far back seat to Fox's Craig Wall and the always reactionary Mary Mitchell. One is a punk and the other an idiot.

Only a punk or an idiot, or both would want to make a very publicly announced,planned and inevitable booze stroll in this neighborhood become a race issue bloodbath.

Thousands of booze fueled idiots ( Bucktown, Ukranian Village, Logan Square, Lakeview and Lincoln Park and suburban Facebook ChiRish - Miller Brewing's Rainbow of Idiots) intend to get their Irish Freak on, despite the fact that no parade is scheduled. Thousands of the past years inebriated guests who took Metra south or boarded Booze Cruise Buses from fern bars will weave up and down Western Ave. in the Facebook inspired Parade of Dopes. Queen Sister of It Takes a Village ( who promptly responded to Craig Wall's clarion call) might join them for Cokes and Jokes. Booze and stupidity shaken up with a pretty lame race story like this will make an obnoxious event a good blood lede for Monday's papers.

This Sunday, thousands of nitwits will converge upon this neighborhood of mine. The Parade is canceled, nitwits. This same quiet and very livable neighborhood has seen too many racially charged and motivated crimes in the last few years. Interestingly, they have been black on white crimes and not t'other way around. Old people beaten to death in their homes and PC dictums require that no Hate Crime be attached - as it was merely a property crime. B.S.!

Only a few years ago, three black kids beat s sickly white boy (heart condition) nearly to death and with much huffing and puffing and crocodile tears columnists like Mary Mitchell insisted no racist motivations whatsoever on the part of the pipe-wielding trio, even after they admitted that they chose the boy because he was a goofy looking white kid.

There was no backlash. Blacks and whites continue to live in the neighborhood. No white on black crime. No lynchings, bull whipping, taunts or teases. Nothing. Black people want to buy homes here and live with people Chicago's Media demand at every possible opportunity to be racist thugs. Ironically, my black neighbors want no part of the thug-life they left behind in Grand Crossing, Gresham, Englewood and Roseland.

Yet, Mary Mitchell and anal apertures like Craig Wall need blood ledes - even when the truth is pretty anemic.

Mary Mitchell is an idiot and a very well-documented one at that. Craig Wall is a Punk.

I used to love the south side parade. I will go to Mass and pray for peace and then keep an eye on kids and home.

*

More than 13,000 people have pledged to show up and another 7,600 responded as a "maybe". Kelleher says he posted the event on a whim and was just curious to see what people would say.

Now the "event" could turn into the world's largest pub crawl. A St. Patrick's Day celebration in New York City set that record last year with 3,163 participants.

Kelleher says there is no official starting place or itinerary for the day. Residents of Beverly are concerned that if thousands of people show up, the crowd would get out of hand.

Alderman Virginia Rugai says she has made the Chicago Police aware of the Facebook posting, but as of now, the police do not plan to add patrols that day.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/mitchell/2096447,CST-NWS-mitch11.article

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/20100310-racially-charged-display

The South Side St. Paddy Parade With No Parade but A Parade of Idiots!

With the cancelation of the south side Parade, young festive Bucktown/Wicker Park/Lincoln Square/Lincoln Park swells and maids by the bus load from Fern adorned saloons, will be seen going east and west on Western Ave. this Sunday.

It is always heart-warming when a bullet proof, fully Kreuzaned, soul patched young buck manages to slur out a demand for the non-existent south side taxi cab -"Ehh, OhFuggah. Wherez a Cabs at? Maaaan Do'od yoo Suck!" Followed by a sharp moistening of his chinos and an acrobatic weave backward, onto my lawn. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

While we regret the need to alter such a fine tradition, the Committee feels that suspending the South Side Irish Parade in its present form is the just and responsible thing to do.”

The decision has since created uproar on Facebook. Over 30 groups and events were created, some comprised of around 10,000 members. After numerous posts of pointing fingers and expressing grievances, the groups now talk about turning the weekend in Beverly into the world’s largest pub crawl. “I say everyone just shows up and has a good time,” said Anthony Palaggi on one of the group sites. “Viva la Resistance!” said Mike Benninghoff on another site.

Click my Post Title about the Facebook Parade of Drunks

Dem Bridgeport Boids Are in Beverly Well, Morgan Park Anyway

The Starling Flock has swarmed "from Bridgeport to Beverly" . . . like the song* says . . . . in search of perches for the South Side Irish Parade. These birds did not get the word - The Parade's Cancelled.

Me and my Police Detective neighbor just shoo-ed a couple of hundred off the cars, decks, bikes, baby-buggies and trees here on 108th Street. The place is lousy with winged warblers.

Which posed a head-scratcher - why they visiting in this time of Global Warming? Al?

I'll ask Mrs. Fields at the Department of Energy! Thus!

Question - Why do starlings flock in such large numbers in the
winter? Flocks never seem that big in the summer .
---------------------------------------
While some starlings do not migrate, many of them migrate from north to
south and back. This normally occurs in large numbers. When you see big
flocks of birds in colder weather, they are probably heading south (late
fall) or north(early spring). Once they reach a warm area they tend to
spread out into smaller groups. If the entire group stayed together it would
be difficult for them to find enough food, water, and shelter for each bird.
If small groups break off and spread out, then food, water, and shelter will
be available to each bird in the small flock. Flocks also help with safety,
as there are many eyes to be watching and with larger groups it provides
heat when they are all together. My guess is that the reason you see such
large flocks in winter compared to summer is that in the summer the smaller
groups have already dispersed.

Grace Fields

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/zoo00/zoo00763.htm

*

South Side Irish Song ( Click my post title for the sweet sounds of Terry McEldowney!)

Written by Tom Walsh, Tom Black and Terry McEldowney

We're the Windy City Irish-where the craic is always best
Where every day is Paddy's Day and everyone's a guest
If you're Irish on the North Side or Irish on the West
Welcome to the South Side come join our Irish Fest!

(Chorus) We're the South Side Irish as our fathers were before
We come from the Windy City and we're Irish to the core
From Bridgeport to Beverly from Midway to South Shore
We're the South Side Irish-Let's sing it out once more!
Our parents came from Mayo, from Cork and Donegal.
We come from Sabina, St. Kilian's and St. Gall
St. Leo, Visitation, Little Flower and the rest.
The South Side parishes are mighty-they're the best!

Chorus

We live on the South Side-Mayor Daley lived here too
The Greatest Irish Leader that Chicago ever knew
he was always proud of his South Side Irish roots!
So here's to Hizzonor to his memory we'll be true.

We sing the songs our fathers sang when they were growing up
Rebel songs of Erin's Isle in South Side Irish Pubs
and when it comes to baseball-we have two favorite clubs
The Go-Go White Sox... and whoever plays the Cubs!

Catch "Kid Houlihan" Tonight! Jack Desmond's Pub 6 P.M. Sharp! Not 6:20 Get Me?

As a child he rarely washed his hands, but did exhibit an early interest in literature...His mother would replace the Playboy magazines she found under his mattress with holy cards...which resulted in a Pavlovian response whenever the lad opened a prayer book.

Chicago Renaissance Man Mike Houlihan brings his 2009 Stimulus Package to the South Side!

1. Mental Health Reform - A Serious Case Study

2. A Woman's Right to Choose - any number of gents with pints in their mitts and mortal sins the size of Wyoming

3. Energy Independence - depending upon how tired the start of the week made you feel

Join Houli this Thursday night (July 16) at

Jack Desmond's Irish Pub in Chicago Ridge at

6pm, 10339 South Ridgeland, for some stand-up comedy and more hooliganism!

Keep up with Mike writing for The Irish American News
http://irishamericannews.com/index.php/people/social-circle/733-hooliganism-july-2009

The bartender listened to the old carney all night complaining about his crappy job.
What line of work are you in, pal?
I follow the elephants in the parade with my shovel.
Ever think about quitting?
What? And give up show business!

Sun Times # 1. South Side Irish Hater - I Hope Every Business in Beverly, Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood Tosses This Rag!

Curious is a member of the Sun Times Staff( Financial).
Failure to rein in drunks killed more than parade That is the Sun Times' Headline on its Commentary.

Here is the opening sentence -The South Side Irish Parade is dead, but only because the adults in charge never did their job.

Bull$hit! The Sun Times makes a habit of calling everyone in these three neighborhoods racists, drunks and bigots. I have yet to see any person of color abused here in this neighborhood -terrorized, beaten, threatened, or even looked at cross-wise; I have yet to see drunks from the neighborhood reeling wildly down our streets; I have yet to encounter any member of the Aryan Nation/Hitler Youth/Klan/ or Weatherman Faction. Nevertheless, Your Rag took a very painful decision made in good faith between good people as an opportunity to pour out more hate.

The Sun Times and many of its personalities played overtime to get more idiots and weaklings to the Parade.

Several years ago at the South Side Parade while doing an article for GAR Media in New York, I personally witnessed a wildly drunken Sun Times Columnist avoid a well-deserved ass kicking from more than a few persons not delighted by his whimsy on the street outside of one the bars, due to the very careful ministrations of an off-duty CPD Detective.

Errare Est Human, Ignoscere est . . .not a chance. People make mistakes - newspapers smear. You smear the people of the Committee and hold them responsible for this mope: Sun Times News Group -

Speaking Thursday - as the commander in charge of policing 310,000 revelers at the parade detailed a nightmarishly "rough day" for his officers - 17-year-old Gonzalo Vasquez said he plans to attend whatever celebration South Side organizers have next year. "I was wasted," Vasquez said outside his home in the 14800 block of Lawndale Avenue on Thursday afternoon. "But I wasn't the only one. Everybody was drunk. You can't blame me for them canceling the parade."

Did the reporter pose Tough Questions on Gonzalo's Mom? She's an adult? Nope.

In The Same STNG edition, Bigot Kadner 'Found' a disgruntled City Worker who hates the Parade! Must have been like brain surgery that quest.

The South Side Irish Parade Committee made a tough decision and the Media Jackels jumped - Kadner of STNG, Trib's Eric Zorn and the Sun Times crew. This group of citizens, The South Side Irish Parade Committee, were they from any other race or ethnic group might just slap a Civil Rights Suit on the Sun Times. I wish they would. Actually, I would rather see members of Committee loosen a few of your collective teeth - that's just how this little Buttercup rolls.

The Committee made rules and the Chicago Sun Times and the Chicago Tribune and the other media outlets maintained a steady hate-crime against the Irish American Community by Harping on Booze as the Only True Association to this Parade. Maybe a real sharky Lawsuit Lawyer cares to dig up your history of stories and articles promoting the heavy drinking.

You hate Cops and you hate this part of Chicago where Cops, Firemen, School teachers, Tradesmen, and professionals live and celebrate their heritage and respect their neighbors in so doing. Some of you are former South Side Irish - stay that way. Shake the dust off of us.

The Chicago Sun Times is thoroughly hypocritical and wildly stupid.

The only persons who know exactly why this Parade was cancelled are the people who actually made that decision.

I honor their decision. So do my neighbors. I wish that they had waited a while and not give Haters like the Sun Times any opportunity to juice some Irish directed hockers.

The Committee spent the many hours making a great Parade. I hope the Sun Times is as much a memory as the South Side Irish Parade, by the time of the Easter Parade.

I will ask every one of my neighbors to not buy this rag or any STNG Rag. Time to close the Sun Times and the whole chain of rags.

We can always bring back the South Side Parade.

Can't say the same about you morons.

Phil Kadner Hates South Side Irish People? That's His Opinion.

This morning a goofball with a microphone from some moss-back Illinois radio station wanted reaction to the end of the south side parade.

He got 'Good idea, but too bad for the kids in the neighborhood.' and 'I wanted my children to bring their children to the Parade.'

FOX-TV was parked at Karim's Dunkin' Donuts at 6AM when I went in for coffee 'Extra Large Cream- Good Mornin'Boss!' That is morning ritual prayer that meets me from the lovely very Non-Irish ladies in brownish Orange DD t-shirts! 'No more coffee for Willie's Mass?' We'll see, Kids.

The loss of the parade is nothing compared to the unprovoked unreasonable nonsense and contempt that follows in its wake from some folks for the great people who live in this Irish-heavy trinity of neighborhoods.

I was kicked in the nuts by Phil Kadner's column. I don't get it. Of course 80 % of the poor souls who read my opinion here and on Chicago Daily Observer no doubt get the same.

Mr. Kadner goes beyond the boozing and infrastructure and suggests that the Parade itself was not developed as an ethnic family celebration but a racist political design.

According to neighborhood legend, the South Side Irish Parade was launched by two families that fondly recalled the original St. Patrick's Day Parade on 79th Street.

It seems to me it really grew in popularity about the time the Daley clan was out of power, Harold Washington was mayor, and the Irish of the 19th Ward decided to secede from Chicago.

Glad to have your opinion shared with one and all.

Legend Phil? Jesus! So, Phil works out new one. Irish bigots made the Parade.

However, that little nugget of thought happens to be your own pure, unadulterated and bigoted bullshit!

Common Progressive Doctrine holds that ethnic Catholics* must always be bigots and racists. Mr. Kadner took this opportunity to reinforce that nonsense and as Phil Kadner still works at STNG his Progressive credentials must be solid gold. Mr. Kadner, the above sentiments are genuine and I take them to heart.

Mr. Kadner, The Irish are never that united. Look at how long it took us to toss the Brits and that was a half-assed job at best.

However, thanks for letting all of us know how you really feel. Your Contempt, Mr. Kadner, is received and understood, but certainly not deserved.

* BTW - A prominent Jewish philanthropist and civic leader told me 'without Catholics, and particularly Irish Catholics, there would be no Charity work in Chicago. Look at all the civic and charitable contributor lists. In Fact my west Side Jewish Papa told me, 'This is a Catholic City. Without them, Chicago would be a smoking hole in the ground.'

'Chi-Rish' Not the South Side Irish Killed the Parade

Marketing idiocy and Media Drumbeats about 'rollicking, boozing 'Get Your Irish On!' Fun euthanized a community event.

There are home-grown nit-wits in the three neighborhoods comprising what is now Irish Chicago ( Beverly, Morgan Park, & Mount Greenwood) - don't get me wrong.

However, there are no where near 300,000 plus people living in these three neighborhoods.

Metra and Fern Bar Bus Deals also contributed handsomely to the demise of the South Side Irish Parade that began as a family affair - the Coakleys, the Hendrys, the Hennesey's & etc. began the tradition in the 1970's by pulling decorated wagons and carts filled with little guys and girls. Parade Chairman Mary Beth Sheehan did a wonderful job over the years trying to maintain that spirit.

The Chicago Police were wonderful! Always!

By 1979, it had become a very good sized event. It became so big that politicians elbowed one another for placement in the parade.

By the new Millennium, the South Side Irish Parade became Mardi Gras North.

One year while working at St. Cajetan's Party ( which was also ended when a drunk driver from the suburbs killed an elderly couple going home from the Party), I decided to walk home and check on the house. One of my kids had left the back door open.

I found five twenty somethings in my kitchen.

'What's happenin' Dude? Yo Irish!'

'What are you doing in here and who are you?'

'Chill. We took a bus down from Niles. We saw the door open and wanted to Pee - Better than your garage man.'

I employed a sexually-charged term of endearment and mustered enough of middle aged purple rage in eyes, brows and neck muscles to indicate a less than welcoming demeanor.

The Two males and three females departed with the customary grace and language of the Entitled Generation.

That was three years ago. It was time to call Last Call on America's Youth.

That is what killed the parade. Miller Advertising*, Media Harping on Booze and Entitled MTV suckled American Youth. No Consequences - No Celebration.

* Way to Go! You Sold Beers and helped Kill a Tradition! There are 1,397 entries for Chi-Rish on Google Led off by NBC.


Click my post title for the Par-Tay Propaganda from NBC e.g.!

http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&oe=utf8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=Chi-Rish&btnG=Search+Blogs

South Side Irish Parade Has Ended

From The South Side Irish Parade Committee
RE: SOUTH SIDE IRISH ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE PLANS FOR 2010

Let this release serve as notice that the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is not planning to stage a parade in its present form in March of 2010.

This decision was not arrived at lightly. For 31 years, this parade was a staple of the Beverly/Morgan Park and Mt. Greenwood communities – a celebration of faith, family and heritage that was cherished by thousands. Founded in 1979 by the Hendry and Coakley families, it was intended to instill in this community an appreciation for the Irish heritage that so many of its residents share.

This parade was an eagerly anticipated annual event which celebrated families, many of whom have created decades long traditions that we hope will endure. But what began as a neighborhood parade is now an event of international proportions. More than 300,000 people typically flock to the Beverly area each year, and the sheer volume has become more than the neighborhood can reasonably accommodate. With these numbers comes a collection of issues that strain both the host community and those individuals charged with effectively managing the crowds. Additionally, the amount of resources required to launch the event has become overwhelming to the community.

The Committee would like to thank the tens of thousands of parade faithful who supported this event for more than 30 years. The multigenerational families who turned out along Western Avenue each year, along with the fine organizations featured in the Line of March, were the essence of what made this parade so special. We would also like to thank the Chicago Police Department for the effort they put into managing the ever-growing crowd while working to maintain the dignity of the event.

While we regret the need to alter such a fine tradition, the Committee feels that suspending the South Side Irish Parade in its present form is the just and responsible thing to do. It is our hope, however, that this will not mean an end to the neighborhood’s annual celebration. The Committee will work to create a series of alternate events that will return us to what the parade’s founders had in mind – a neighborhood-friendly celebration of Irish heritage. Please look for news of our plans later this year.

Thank you for your support,

The South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee


Well Done Founders, Committee Members Past and Present, Participants, Chicago Police, Fire, Traffic, Streets and Santitation Departments!

The Taoiseach( P.M. Chief in Irish) and the Teleprompter- BIFFO Meets Barry

"I was reared in a pub – as a young fellow, serving in the pub I learnt far more there about human nature than I learnt in any university or school. I think it gave me a great insight into people." Taoiseach Brian Cowen

"Mr Obama joked about the free-flowing bar and warned his guests not to wear lampshades on their heads in front of the cameras." Sky News

Mr. President - The Irish Do Not Have a Tradition of Wearing Lampshades -sober or inebriated, but you'll get a pass from Tingle Thighs, OlberBloat and Butchie Maddow.

This Distraction . . . never mind.

One of the Irish 'Lampshade' Profiled by President TelePrompter is Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen.

Mr. Brian Cowen has a wonderful singing voice and has no need of a teleprompter. He is a great guy - glib and welcoming.

On St. Paddy's Day the Taoiseach or Prime Minister Brian Cowen, a great fellow from County Offaly was horsed around by a Teleprompter.. In Ireland, Counties take on the very nature of PC humor so forbidden by tiny-brained and thin-hearted people - Polish Jokes translate to Kerryman Jokes and people from Offaly seem to attract the same affection from neighboring Counties as Illinois residents manage to do from Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan. Missouri, and Iowa populations where we are known as F.I.P.s ( F#$%^ing Illinois P#$%ks) - Offaly folks are known as BIFFO - Big Ignorant F#$%^ers from Offaly.

The BIFFO and the FIP in Chief made the news because of President Obama's addiction to the teleprompter. Taoiseach Cowen read the remarks read by President Obama only moments before - Yuck, Yuck, Yuck! BIFFO!

The Media are going apey on Brian Cowen because The Teleprompter-In-Chief Barack Obama can not and will not communicate without his Plexi-glass/Tri-Pane Fort Apache set.

I sang with Taoiseach Brian Cowen at the Beverly Art Center, following the 2006 South Side Irish Parade. Cousin Willie was the Grand Marshall in his final role as Director of Beverly Area Planning Association and Brian Cowen was serving as Ireland's Minister of Finance. In 2006, Ireland was the marvel of the world of economics and known as the Celtic Tiger - due in no small part to Brian Cowen.

Willie got me to sing with him at the party and we covered Rocky Road to Dublin, Beggarman, Follow Me Up to Carlow and the Minstrel Boy. Years ago Willie and I played with Terry McEldowney as the Sons of Reilly's Daughter: I played 5-string banjo and Willie guitar and Terry played the crowd.

Brian Cowen then stood up and sang the Fields of Athenry a song set in Famine Ireland. No Teleprompter; no hitch, slip or sour note - this Minister had a set of Pipes on Him!

By a lonely prison wall,
I heard a young girl call:
"Michael, they have taken you away,
For you stole Trevelyn's corn,
So the young might see the morn.
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay."

Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.

By a lonely prison wall,
I heard a young man call
"Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free
Against the famine and the crown,
I rebelled, they cut me down.
Now you must raise our child with dignity."

Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.

By a lonely harbor wall,
She watched the last star fall
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky
For she lived to hope and pray
For her love in Botany Bay
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.

Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.


Brian Cowen is no empty suit.

Taoiseach Cowen, as a FIP, Chicagoan and American, I apologize for my President. He should have had more grace than he displayed. You were treated shabbily.

Chicago Cops - Heroes Every Day, but Especially on Parade Days

Outnumbered. Out- Idioted. Out-Lawyered. Out-Politicianed. Out There. Chicago Police Officers are the real heroes.

They helped me look for a lost 4 year old.

They were loudly abused by drunks from early Sunday morning and well into the night.

World Class Scum Bag - G. Flint Taylor appeared on a Cable TV show called the Professors ( I caught this at about 1PM yesterday) who said that systemic racism and brutality is what Chicago Police Officers are all about -'They wield nightsticks on the backs of blacks, shrilled G. Flint. They have not used nightsticks in YEARS! None of the 'Professors' picked up on that fact however and most talked liked they were using words they learned that morning -'The Conflagration of the community rubrics are Tantamounted to the Proliferation of Police Powers on the Community.'

Nope. Cops are heroes.

During the Parade which brought 325,000 people together on the pavement around Western Ave., Chicago Cops put down two good sized brawls - the biggest at 111th and Western in the CVS parking lot the home to the Coach/Bus tourist louts from the fern bars up North and from suburbs who got boiled on booze early in the day and stayed hard at it until dark and the Metra Mopes from down-town, lofting cases of cheap domestic ( CHI-RISH MILLERS primarily) beers and smoking Weed Dude! One at 105th and Talman was put down with less violence, from what I heard.

Most of the outside revellers were great and respectful people. However, the ones who got all geezed-up to get their Irish Freak On - the sloppy drunk girls were the most sad and obnoxious of this variety - should be ashamed. Shame comes from the recognition of consequences for actions. These mopes do not understand consequences - they file lawsuits when they fall on someone's driveway and bust out a few teeth that have just passed the contents of their stomachs. Nice. These are the clowns who Bus It Down to the Parade. The Cops deal with them.

Granted we have enough of our own home grown dummies, but the Exodus from Look Down On The South Side Land of Oafs is too much.

Chicago Police Officers handled the situation with good humor, common sense and, when that failed, muscular application of Professional Standards. G. Flint Taylor was no doubt skulking about the drunks and Weed Citizens trolling for a lawsuit.

Well done, Officers! Mary Beth Sheehan and The South Side Parade Committee did a wonderful job as always in organizing a magnificent parade.

However, it is to the credit of the Chicago Police Officers who stood good for the South Side neighborhoods of Beverly, Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood in interdicting the imbeciles - Homegrown and Imported.

Thank you, Officers!

St. Joseph - How to Man -Up!

Yesterday was the South Side St. Paddy's Day Parade, but my thoughts were turned to St. Joseph*. Here's the deal - every year my cousin Willie opens up his bungalow over on Bell to about 200 people - mostly cousins and relatives and neighbors, but also Willie's endless parade of friends. Willie is one of the most genuine human beings and Christian gentleman to the steely backbone ( the anti-Hickey so to speak). Willie and Kerry and Bart, Maggie and Liam host a great Party that is often guested by the Great. President Barack Obama, Paul Vallas, Alderman Rugai,Tom Dart, Judge Tom Murphy, members of the Irish Government have all attended the Mass and Irish Breakfast with Willie before the Parade.

My role was to help cook bacon and Irish Bangers, but since the growth of this event exceeded the time and material needed to feed the folks, Willie has contracted the work out to Calabria. My job now is to help with the coffee. Nephew Bart and myself had to get the filled urns and pitchers and plastic vessels from Karim at Dunkin Donuts on 104th and Western.

I got to Willie's with the coffee and set things up, but then had to leave and get my car locked into the driveway at home. Anyone and everyone decides to make parking a personal entitlement. 'Park Here! Open Driveway! We won't have to walk a block or so - What's he going to do Tow Us? Flatten our Tires?' Well, it is a thought, Jasper. The Parade route on Western gets locked at 10 A.M. and it becomes impossible to cross Western Ave.

I got my car back home and started to walk the eight long and short blocks back to Willie's. A frantic woman had lost her little boy between 108th and 107th on Artesian. I asked her where and she said , 'I stopped to talk to a friend here on Artesian and turned around and he was gone! He's wearing a lime green T-shirt with dragons and Cubs hat- He's four years old - Oh, My God!.' Knowing the greatness of my neighbors, no little guy would go unnoticed and I tried to reassure her. I told her I would walk south on Artesian. It was still early and the thick crowds had yet to smother Western Ave. Down Artesian I went with a purpose and eyes wide open. Look, I am a gold-plated jerk about many things, but kids are not one of them - especially lost kids. I cut East on 109th and made my way back North on the west side of Western Ave, keeping an eye peeled for a solitary, crying four year old boy with a Lime Green Dragon t-shirt and a Cubs hat.

Nothing. I was getting as frantic as the poor Mom back on Artesian. I walked through the parking lot at County Fair and talked to two cops and they said no dice on the little guy. I crossed the parking lot to DiCola's and walked through that area and in back of the Quaker Meeting House. Nothing. I had lost Conor, Nora, and Clare for moments of pure anguish and self-loathing at museums, malls and marathons ( which I watch, but choose not to Run). There is nothing more horrific to a parent.

At 107th and Campbell I found the woman - girl really - talking to a tall bruiser who had a lime-green Buckeen with a CUBS hat perched on his shoulders. 'Thank you so much! This is my boy friend, Joe Petraikus and he chased Larry back to me.'

It turns out that Larry (4) went to pet a puppy and had ducked out of sight and followed the puppy and its owners west on 107th Street. The woman's boyfriend Joe the Loogan, a sobriquet I kept to myself by the way given the size and sinews of the lad, saw the wandering Larry and scooped him up.

It was too late to head back to Willie's and so I returned home to write an article for Chicago Daily Observer. I started thinking about Joe the Loogan, Larry and I never got Mom's name.

Joe, like the Patron of the Catholic Church, the patron of Fathers, the patron of workers, the patron Saint of Italians and Sicilians, was man who cared for the child who belonged to another. Joe found a little boy who had wandered off and agonized his mother, just like St. Joseph, the blue collar tradesman of Royal Blood, found his wife's little boy in a Temple full of wise men. Joe the Loogan found a little boy in waves of green costumes pushing strollers and wagons.

St. Joseph is the best saint. He teaches us males what it means to be a man - how to love with unconditional courage and gentle toughness. Toughness means not what one can dish out - pain, abuse, terror - but how much one can endure - doubt,discomfort and sometimes disgrace. Italians and Poles celebrated the masculine St. Joseph who worked quietly with his hands and protected his wife and child from the idiot who governed them.

We Irish celebrate a loner who worked miracles with his words. We need to crowd in on St. Joseph more than we do - I know I could use some manning up,

St. Joseph teaches us to Man up. Celebrate St. Joseph - no goofy green hats, and Miller Brewing keeps their hands off him. March 19th - St. Joseph Watch Over Us Guys!



*Joseph was foster father to Jesus. There are many children separated from families and parents who need foster parents. Please consider contacting your local Catholic Charities or Division of Family Services about becoming a foster parent.

Prayer -Saint Joseph, patron of the universal Church, watch over the Church as carefully as you watched over Jesus, help protect it and guide it as you did with your adopted son. Amen