Irish-American Heritage Month

Congress designated March as Irish-American Heritage Month in 1991 and the president issues a proclamation commemorating the occasion each year.

Irish Immigrants have a long history in the United States. Over 1 million residents of Illinois claim some Irish ancestry.

The Irish first came to the Illinois Territory during the late 18th and early 19th centuries in search of land, liberty, and opportunity. In 1816, prominent. Irish Americans in eastern cities petitioned Congress to create a federal colony for Irish immigrants. Congress rejected the idea, but by the time Illinois obtained statehood in 1818, word had gotten out:
The Prairie State would make a good home for the Irish. Like other white settler colonists, they settled the southern reaches of the state first and moved northward along the Mississippi. They helped wrest control of the land from indigenous tribes. They mined lead in Galena. But it was the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal during the 1830s that beckoned the first major wave of Catholic immigrants from Ireland. Many canallers eventually became farmers. Most, however, settled in the state's northern cities, notably Chicago. Industrial growth, economic opportunities, and family connections brought further waves of Irish men and women to all the state's major cities. That pattern
continued well into the 20th century.

Lake County's oldest notable Irish settlers, William and Bridget Collins Logue, brought their young family to Lake County, Illinois in 1844. Their home was one of the longest inhabited log structures in the county and came to represent a romantic ideal of the county's settlement and the American frontier.

St. Patrick's Day

Originally a religious holiday to honor St. Patrick, who
introduced Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century, St.
Patrick's Day has evolved into a celebration of all things
Irish. The world's first St. Patrick's Day parade occurred on
March 17, 1762, in New York City, featuring Irish soldiers who served in the English military. This parade became an annual event, with President Truman attending in 1948.

Celebration Traditions

Leprechauns

Leprechauns are actually one reason you're supposed to
wear green on St. Patrick's Day - or risk getting pinched! The
tradition is tied to folklore that says wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns, which like to pinch anyone they can see.

Foods

Each year, thousands of Irish Americans gather with their
loved ones on St. Patrick's Day to share a “traditional” meal
of corned beef and cabbage. Though cabbage has long
been an Irish food, corned beef only began to be associated
with St. Patrick's Day at the turn of the 20th century. Irish
immigrants living on New York City's Lower East Side
substituted corned beef for their traditional dish of Irish
bacon to save money.

Irish Music

Music is often associated with St. Patrick's Day- and Irish
culture in general. From ancient days of the Celts, music has
always been an important part of Irish life. The Celts had an
oral culture, where religion, legend, and history were passed
from one generation to the next by way of stories and songs.

Dying Chicago River Green

In 1961, Stephen Bailey, the Business Manager of Chicago
Plumbers Local 130, noticed the bright green stain covering
one plumber's overalls. The culprit was a dye that plumbers
used to detect leaks in pipes. It turned water the perfect
color of green associated with the Emerald Isle of Ireland.

Source: lakecountyhistory.blogspot.com

Celebrate!

Green Up Your St. Patrick's Day
Wednesday, March 12, 7:00pm
Fremont Public Library - Events Room, 2nd floor
Joan Davis will share the benefits of green, healthy foods, followed by a tasting of a nutritious Shamrock Shake! (In person)

St. Patrick’s Day and the Luck of the Chicagoland Irish
Monday, March 17, 7:00pm
Fremont Public Library - Events Room, 2nd floor
Jim Gibbons will show how St. Patrick’s Day themed parades and food, and Irish settlers themselves, were established in Chicago and the surrounding areas! (In person/online)

St. Patrick's Day Celebration and Parade
Saturday, March 15, 1:00-4:00 PM
Grayslake Library's Second Floor
Historic Downtown Grayslake Village Center
Whitney and Center Streets, Grayslake, IL
Parade begins at 1:00pm

St. Patrick's Fest 2025
Saturday, March 15, 1:00-11:00pm
Irish American Heritage Center
4626 N Knox Avenue, Chicago, IL 60630
BANDS: Shannon Rovers· Fiddle in the Middle· Whiskey Mick· The Tim O'Shea Group • One of the Girls • The Joyce Boys