Man uses Facebook for effort to show up for 'parade'

by Patrick Thomas

George Kelleher could go down in history decades from now as a cult hero for starting an annual pub crawl, or then again he could attract a crowd that many Beverly/ Morgan Park residents fear.

The accountant from Evergreen Park in early January posted a message on his Facebook page, “I say we show up at the Southside Irish Parade anyways.” He invited 200 friends to show some support, and by the end of January more than 13,000 parade fans had signed up to show up on Western Avenue. Kelleher said in all likelihood the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade is over, but if his newfound friends on Facebook put their heads together in an orderly way, they could rival a Guinness Book of World Records spot for holding the world’s largest pub crawl to Western Avenue taverns on March 14.

“It was not my intention to get underage drinkers out there to make a fool of themselves. I’m hoping whoever shows up is responsible,” Kelleher said. “I think it would be awesome if it was an annual thing.”

But many neighbors and members of the South Side Irish Parade Committee might not be as excited. They believed that many in the crowd of 300,000 at last year’s parade had too much to drink and cancelled the parade due to unruly behavior.

Kelleher is a Bridgeport native and father of three. He’s lived in Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park, and he also lived with his wife and oldest child for two years at 109th Street and Artesian Avenue, giving him a second-row seat to the madness that can take place at the parade.

“I remember there were people coming into my apartment. I had no idea who they were; and they were using my bathroom, and I didn’t have a problem with it,” Kelleher said. “I would agree with residents who were upset with people urinating on lawns, but I don’t think anyone has the right to say ‘He lives in Evergreen Park; he should shut his mouth.’ I lived there [in Beverly/Morgan Park]. I experienced it.”

Whatever reaction the Facebook crowd generates, there will still be a crowd brewing on what would have been parade day, as neighborhood residents are already planning various celebrations. Several neighbors have already requested block party permits, while others plan to have parades for children on their block. Many will start the day of March 14 at church services and then meet at the Beverly Arts Center (BAC) for a blessing and reception to conclude the 10 days of Irish heritage celebration of the new South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Family Fest. The committee for the fest is encouraging community residents to continue annual traditions as in years past on that day, especially family reunions and parties at home.

This is part of the February 3, 2010 online edition of The Beverly Review.

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