Mayo Alive  February 1999

 

Chicago Calling

BALLINROBE MAN HOSTS 32nd YEAR OF "IRELAND ON PARADE"

"Ireland on Parade" kicks off its 32nd consecutive yearly celebration at
Chicago Gaelic Park at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10th, with its founder and master of ceremonies, Ballinrobe native Martin Fahey, hosting the festivities. Mr. Fahey, who is well-known among Chicagoland's Irish from the weekly Irish radio broadcast he has produced for many years and his tireless efforts for the Irish community's charitable and cultural events, originated this celebration of the music, song and dance of Ireland in 1967, at Chicago's Ford City shopping mall. Chicagoland's premiere Irish center, Gaelic Park in Oak Forest, is now the site of the nightly program, which runs through St. Patrick's Day.

This year's week-long celebration of Ireland's Patron Saint will include a
musical salute to the men and women of Chicago Gaelic Park for their success in contributing to the preservation and promotion of Irish heritage and culture in the Chicago area.

Various Irish stepdancing schools from around Chicagoland will perform
nightly. The Irish Musicians of Chicago will provide the accompaniment for the stepdancers, ceili and set dances and many other entertainers from the US and Ireland will be on hand as well. Neal O'Connor's Band, Mac & O, Cahil Dunne, Noel Healy and Catherine Coates and Aranmore will be appearing.

Gaffney Travel of Oak Lawn has donated two round trip tickets to Ireland which will be raffled off. Proceeds of the raffle go to the Erin Home for Special Needs People.

"Ireland on Parade" runs nightly from March 10th through March 17th.
For more information, telephone Chicago Gaelic Park at 708-687-9323.

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32nd Year of "IRELAND ON PARADE" in County Mayo, Ireland