Irish Fellowship Club St. Patrick's Day Dinner and Parade Events Set for Weekend of March 12-13

Chicago’s Irish Fellowship Club will commence the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day on Friday evening, March 12th with its 109th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner. The dinner will be held at the Chicago Hilton and Towers Hotel beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a reception followed by the dinner.Honorable Terry O’Brien will serve as chairperson of the dinner. Terry has planned a special evening of Irish music, step dancing, excellent food and good fellowship for a night to remember. After dinner there will be no need to find another party. There will be an evening of dancing to the music of the famous City Lights Orchestra. Tickets are $150.00 per person which includes reception open bar, dinner and dancing. Please contact Kathy Taylor at 312-676-4120 for tickets.On Saturday March 13th a number of Irish Fellowship Club activities are planned for the day and all IFC members and their families are extended a hearty Irish welcome to join in the festivities.The day will begin with an Irish Mass at Old St. Patrick’s Church at 9:00 a.m.

Fr. Tom Hurley, Chaplain of the Irish Fellowship Club, will celebrate the Mass in the famed Celtic liturgical surroundings. After Mass, an Irish breakfast will be served in the Old St. Patrick’s Hall. Having been spiritually and physically nourished, it’s off to the parade.Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade will step off at 12:00 noon from Balbo and Columbus Drive and proceed north on Columbus drive to Monroe Street.

The usual delegation of politicians and dignitaries will lead the walk up O’Columbus Drive. Bob Ryan, IFC Director, and retired Director of the Chicagoland Plumbing Council will lead the way as the Grand Marshal of the parade. Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern University Football Coach, will serve as the Guest of Honor.The Irish Fellowship Club fl oat and marching group will follow immediately behind them. Fellowship members and their families are all invited to march with the club. Fellowship marchers are asked to assemble by 11:45 a.m. at the Irish Fellowship Club fl oat featuring a bigger than life statue of St. Patrick. The fl oat will be positioned near the corner of Balbo and Columbus Drive. IFC parade sashes will be provided to the fi rst few hundred marchers to assemble.IFC President Austin Kelly and IFC Chairman Tom Cashman, along with the offi cers and directors of the Irish Fellowship Club, extend their best wishes for a VERY HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY.