I'm Irish by way of Counties Cork and Tyrone, on both
sides of my family. Bradley is the Anglicized version of O'Brollachain. My great grandfather Faye came here in 1900 from County Tyrone to work the coal mines, while on my mother's side, the Sullivans, hailed from Cork and worked the mills.
I’m a South Side
Chicago Irish woman, loud and proud. Being Chicago Irish is a far cry from
being Irish anywhere else. We are a rough and tumble lot who literally grew up
with our city. Chicago became a city in 1837 and we Irish arrived a scant
decade later. We built the Union Stockyards, worked the steel mills, and built the
Illinois and Michigan Canal. We had a hand in the building of the many bascule
and draw bridges along the city’s rivers. South Side Irish backs laid much of
the track for the railroads that helped make Chicago a commerce center. We were
many of Chicago’s first firemen and police officers, Barney Cloonan and Martin
Lahart were part of Elliott Ness’ Untouchables. We boast twelve mayors in our
crew, the Daleys being the most recent. Other colorful Irish politicians
include “Hinky Dink” Kenna, “Foxy Ed” Cullerton and “Bathhouse John” Coughlin. We had a big influence on the spiritual side of things as well, our numbers making the Archdiocese of Chicago one of the largest and most powerful in the United States.
Our grand accomplishments weren’t always on the right side
of the law, though. We made bathtub gin during Prohibition and ran speakeasies.
And getting back to Al Capone, we gave him plenty of trouble on the illegal side of
things as well. He tried to wipe out some of our North Side brethren in the infamous St.
Valentine’s Day Massacre.
Fun Fact: It takes 40 pounds of dye to get the river that green
Well, I'm off to eat, drink and be merry, sing a few pub songs and dirty ditties. I'll probably even wear one of those grotesque Kiss Me I'm Irish buttons. On second thought...
Monday I will be here with my Top Ten Movies post for Alex J. Cavanaugh's brilliant blogfest.
Have a great weekend and Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Another holiday not celebrated here. Have a great one!
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of dye!
ReplyDeleteSt. Patrick might not get your party, but my father's side of the family is from Chicago, so I get your party.
Now go drink some green beer. Well, later - it's still early.
Hey Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI lived in ChiTown in '98-'00 and worked at Fado across from Maggiano's on Grant... so if you went to "our" Paddy's Day parties during those couple of years, our paths *have* crossed:)
Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and yours :)
The Irish are really tough. I would love to see that green river. I've only seen Chicago from a distance. (Strange road trip and long story.)
ReplyDeleteSure and begorrah! Erin go bragh! It's a foine post ye be feisting upon on us this marnin! Sure and I be thanking ye for year kindness!
ReplyDeletelove the green river!Amazing! And love all our Irish brothers and sisters!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could be over near Chicago right now, to enjoy my brother's famous corned beef. :)
ReplyDeleteLove Chicago so much, I do want to spend St Patricks day there one of these years!
ReplyDeleteMy best friend in high school's father was South side of Chicago Irish. He was also the judge in the small town where I grew up. Lots of great stories about him.
ReplyDeleteNever been to Chicago, but sounds like a fun place to visit on St. Pat's Day! Top o the morning to you and Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI do have Irish in my family surprisingly enough. My Grandmother had red hair before it turned dark. Cool idea for a fest! BTW Melissa, there's no way I'm dipping in that green river. Just sayin'
ReplyDeleteMy sister went to University of Chicago and still lives there to this day. She said it's one huge party.
ReplyDeleteHappy St. Patty's!!!!
Yay beer! St. Paddy's day was my sister-in-law's bday. So I think of her every March 17th with a smile.
ReplyDeleteI love St. Patrick's Day and Jameson and Bushmill :) I'm Scotch-Irish which is about as close to Irish as you can get without actually being Irish, I guess. Happy St. Paddy's Day, Melissa!
ReplyDeleteWow. That's some interesting Irish history! I've learned a lot today about the Irish in different parts of the US. Beer is the common theme though.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Heather
40 Ibs? Holy moly. I've met a few of the Chicago Irish and they're proud of their city and their contributions to it. Fun fact about Eliot Ness and his untouchables.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the article, Melissa! Um, you can keep the green beer, tho. If I drink beer, I love a good dark beer.
Holy Guacamole dip...that is a lot of dye! I love all that you shared and now I am craving some Boardwalk Empire ;D
ReplyDeleteKeep those Irish eyes smiling!!!
Wow, that is a lot of dye! I've never been to Chicago, but I hear so many great things about that city, would love to visit it someday. Happy St. Paddy's Day! May your day be as green and merry as the Chicago river! (:
ReplyDelete40 lbs! Begorrah! I spent St. Paddy's Day Eve sick in bed with food poisoning - about 85% back to normal today - still don't need to wear any green today - I'm still a little green myself!
ReplyDeleteI know it's dye but I have an urge to take a drink of that river.
ReplyDelete