West Suburban Irish
Last Tuesday’s monthly Quiz Night is a recent memory at Quigley’s Irish Pub where members of the West Suburban Irish met Saturday morning to put the finishing touches on events leading up to St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.
At 7PM Wednesday evening the group known for celebrating true to its motto “Friendship, Fun and Service” will host its annual Irish Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, followed on Saturday by the 20th annual Naperville St. Patrick’s Parade.
2013 Edition Irish Coffee Contest at Quigley’s
The public is welcome to cheer on local restaurants as bartenders whip up their signature Irish coffee recipes with Jameson Irish Whiskey for the annual Quigley’s Irish Coffee Contest. The 2013 judges include Dan Casey, Ray Kinney, Anthony Losordo, Mike Hodges and Pat Carlin.
Join the festivities beginning at 7PM Mon., March 11, to watch the staged event in the front of the popular pub.
The impartial and experienced judges will sip and determine the best for 2013 as many of Naperville’s restaurant’s compete for prizes provided by Jameson’s Irish Whiskey. Owner Nancy Quigley will present the winner with a big trophy that comes with bragging rights for the entire year.
Quigley’s Irish Pub is located at 43 E. Jefferson Ave. in downtown Naperville.
For information about other live entertainment at Quigley’s, contact Andy Nosek or visit www.quigleysirishpub.com.
West Suburban Irish host Irish Mass
To honor the memory and good deeds of St. Patrick, the West Suburban Irish again will hold a Mass at 7PM Wed., March 13, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Naperville. A prelude of Irish harp and flute music begins at 6:30PM. Irish Mass chairman Mike Reilly and many volunteers will create a memorable evening of Irish hymns and instrumental music.
The public is welcome. After the Mass, guests are welcome to a reception with tea, Irish soda bread, and cookies. Irish dancers will perform. For more information, visit www.wsirish.org.
Rotary Club of Naperville/Sunrise St. Paddy’s Day 5K
The St. Paddy’s Day 5K will start at 8AM, allowing plenty of time to finish and watch the parade beginning at 10AM. Spectators along the parade route often arrive early to cheer on runners, as the run follows the same route. Every intersection along the parade route will be supervised by sets of parade marshals to ensure every one’s safety.
Registration for the 2013 St. Paddy’s Day 5K is now now closed at http://stpaddysday5k.org/
Early registration is recommended for this run/walk that kicks off the Chicago running season in downtown Naperville. (At 10:30 AM Feb. 24, 2013, only 195 registrations remained for limited spaces. Registration fee is $40. REGISTRATION CLOSED / MARCH 1.)
Cash awards will be presented to the overall top three runners. Awards also will go to the top three of each age group. Walkers will follow the runners across the start line, with their time being recorded from the passing of the start line to the finish line. Note that the overall three cash award winners are removed from the age categories.
The 3rd Annual St. Paddy’s Day run is set just prior to the 20th Annual West Suburban Irish St. Patrick’s Parade. Plan a whole morning in downtown Naperville and top it off with brunch or lunch at one of more than 40 eateries.
West Suburban Irish 20th Annual St. Patrick’s Parade
Join the fun of Naperville’s 20-year tradition when everybody’s Irish! The annual West Suburban Irish Parade will step off at 10AM Sat., March16, from Naperville North High School and find its way through downtown Naperville.
This year’s Parade Marshall is Kevin Dolan, founder of the Naperville St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1993. (Dolan is pictured below wearing a collectible WSI scarf from a previous year.) That first year, about 30 entries participated in the short march from Centennial Beach to the Park District headquarters on Jackson Avenue. Today, the parade features some 100 entries, said WSI President Chuck Corrigan, noting the West Suburban Irish nonprofit organization was started several years after the parade.
Under the leadership of Corrigan, far right in the green jacket, these members of the West Suburban Irish have been planning the parade and other festivities for 2013.
Interested organizations, politicians and marching bands registered by Feb. 25 to enter the 2013 St. Patrick’s Parade and help celebrate the West Suburban Irish. The popular parade is a spirited showcase of fun-loving frolic and colorful green; Irish songs, dance and heritage; as well as hopefuls who will be marching to show their community involvement as they’re running to serve local governing bodies in the Consolidated Election on April 9.
For more information, visit www.wsirish.org.
Slainte! Proceeds from West Suburban Irish events benefit St. Baldrick’s Foundation.
Always looking forward, the West Suburban Irish annual Scott’s Walk is slated for Sept. 22 at DuPage River Park.
Naperville loves a parade!
The WSI St. Patrick’s Parade, one of four annual parades in downtown Naperville, kicks off the season followed by the Memorial Day Parade in May, Last Fling Labor Day Parade in September and the Little Friends Parade of Lights in November or December.
In between parades, visit the Century Walk murals in Rubins Way, just off Main Street, across the street from Heaven on Seven, John Greene Realtor and Dean’s Fine Clothing. The two murals that grace the exterior walls along the alley depict Naperville’s parades and the tradition of folks who enjoy watching them.
Naperville loves all its events in March! Celebrate safely.