RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF MARCH 6, 2025
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing the 70th Anniversary of the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Shannon Rovers Irish Bagpipe Band
Body
WHEREAS, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which will be held this year on March 15th, is an annual commemoration of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. While St. Patrick was not born in Ireland, he was a missionary that traveled throughout Ireland spreading Christianity. It is believed that St. Patrick passed away on March 17, 461; and
WHEREAS, for thousands of years, St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated exclusively as a religious holiday in Ireland. However, in 1845, when Ireland became plagued by famine, over 1 million Irish citizens migrated to the United States, bringing with them the tradition of St. Patrick’s Day. In the United States, St. Patrick’s Day evolved into a celebration of Irish culture and tradition observed by parades and other festivities; and
WHEREAS, the earliest recognized celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in the United States was on March 17, 1601 in modern day St. Augustine, Florida. The festivities were organized by Irish vicar Ricardo Artur. While paling in comparison to the celebrations held today, this initial recognition of Irish heritage paved the way for acceptance of this Irish holiday in the United States; and
WHEREAS, since 1955, it has been a Chicago tradition to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a large parade and the dyeing of the Chicago River, proudly sponsored by the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 UA. Generations of Chicagoans have grown up enjoying the parade, proudly wearing their green and joining in the festivities; and
WHEREAS, another icon of the parade is the Shannon Rovers Irish Bagpipe Band, cultural icons in the Chicagoland area for almost 100 years. The Shannon Rovers were formed in 1926 by Tommie Ryan and a group of Irishmen, many of which were immigrants that had recently arrived in Chicago. The Shannon Rovers were organized to promote Irish music and to raise money for members that were experiencing financial hardships; and
WHEREAS, this year, the parade will include Mark McManus, General President of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada as the Grand Marshal and Dr. Mary Ellen Caron, CEO of After School Matters, as the Guest of Honor. The theme of this year’s parade is “Trades, Technology and Education”. Cara Walsh has been selected as the Parade Queen; and
WHEREAS, St. Patrick’s Day is a time for paying homage to Ireland and the history, customs, and traditions of the Irish people that immigrated here hundreds of years ago. While many components of St. Patrick’s Day have been modified in the United States, one thing has remained constant - the pride displayed by people of Irish descent; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and our staff, do hereby recognize the 70th Anniversary of the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Shannon Rovers Irish Bagpipe Band; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
Dated: March 6, 2025