RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING MARCH 16, 2023
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing St. Patrick’s Day and honoring Chicago Gaelic Park and the Irish American Heritage Center (As Revised)
Body
WHEREAS, St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, was a missionary that traveled throughout Ireland spreading Christianity. It is believed that St. Patrick passed away on March 17, 461. Therefore, in honor of his memory, March 17th became known as St. Patrick’s Day; and
WHEREAS, in 1845, Ireland became plagued by famine resulting in the immigration of over 1 million Irish people to the United States, bringing with them the tradition of St. Patrick’s Day. While St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated exclusively as a religious holiday in Ireland, 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, according to the 2019 census estimates, Cook County is home to more than 438,350 Irish Americans, the largest of any county in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the mission of Chicago Gaelic Park is to perpetuate and promote Irish culture through sport, music, dance and theater. Traditional Irish sporting events hosted at Chicago Gaelic Park attracts visitors from all over the world. Chicago Gaelic Park sits on approximately 53 acres of land, making it the largest Irish center in North America. Chicago Gaelic Park houses a banquet facility and an outdoor entertainment compound, as well as the Carraig Pub, a traditional Irish pub that has a local reputation for having the best Guinness outside of Dublin, Ireland. The facility is also home to the Gaelic Park Players, a renowned traveling theater group; and
WHEREAS, the Irish American Heritage Center was established in the building of what used to be a school, and with the help of tradesmen and women was transformed into the facility it is today, utilizing an entire city block. In 1991, Mary Robinson, then President of Ireland, opened the Museum of the Irish American Heritage Center and later founded the Irish American Heritage Center Art Gallery in 1992. In 2003, Mary McAleese, then President of Ireland, opened the Library of the Irish American Heritage Center; and
WHEREAS, both Chicago Gaelic Park and the Irish American Heritage Center achieve their mission to serve Chicagoland’s Irish community through the stewardship of their volunteer boards led by Chicago Gaelic Park President Bill O’Sullivan and Irish American Heritage Center President Tony McHale and Executive Director Meg Buchanan; 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 St. Patrick’s Day and honor Chicago Gaelic Park and the Irish American Heritage Center; 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 and that a copy of same, suitably engrossed, be presented to Chicago Gaelic Park and the Irish American Heritage Center.
Dated: March 16, 2023