Mr. William "Billy" Hamann passed away last week in Atlanta, GA while evacuating for Hurricane Gustav. Mr. Billy was one of the original members of the Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day Club, Inc. He worked in the 4th Municipal District Assessor's Office for the City of New Orleans for over 50 years. He started working for Assessor Richard W. Burke and continued under Assessor Richard F. Burke, Sr. until his death in 1977. Mr. Billy served as Interim Assessor in 1977 when his good friend's son, Ronnie Burke, was elected Assessor. Mr. Billy retired while working for Assessor Ronnie Burke. Mr. Billy leaves behind a son Glenn Hamann and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a great friend to the Burke Family and to the Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day Club. He never missed a parade. He will be greatly missed. Rest in Peace Mr. Billy. The services will be held this Friday September 12, 2008 with Visitation from 7pm - 10pm at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home on Veterans Blvd. The funeral will be Saturday September 13, 2008 at 2pm at Leitz-Eagan on Veterans Blvd. and Visitation will be from 11am - 2pm.

The medallion for 2009 will honor Our Lady of Knock Shrine in Ireland. Our Lady of Knock Shrine is a major pilgrimage site in the village of Knock in County Mayo, Ireland. On August 21, 1879 Ms. Mary McLoughlin, 45, housekeeper to Archdeacon Cavanagh, went to the nearby cottage of Mrs. Mary Byrne around 7pm and on her way she passed by the south gable of Knock Parish Church. There she saw an apparition of Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, an altar with a cross and a lamb (a traditional image of Jesus). Adorning angels surrounded the altar. The apparition was witnessed by 15 people whose ages ranged from five years to seventy-five years and they stood in the pouring rain for two hours reciting the Rosary.
Our Lady of Knock Shrine established itself as a world religious site due to the work of its longtime pastor, James Horan. Horan presided over a major rebuilding of the site, with the provision of a new large Knock Basilica (the first in Ireland) alongside the old church. Pope John Paul II visited Our Lady of Knock Shrine on the centenary of the apparition in 1979 and stated it was the goal of his Irish visit.

The Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day Club will hold its 62nd Annual Mass and Parade celebration on Saturday, March 14th, 12:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Assumption Church (corner of Constance and Josephine Streets) followed by the parade (corner of Felicity and Magazine) at 1:00 p.m. The benefit block party will take place on Tuesday, March 17, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Annunciation Square Playground, directly in front of St. Michael's Special School; to whom the proceeds of the block will be donated.

The Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day Club's President, Dick Burke said, "We are looking forward to celebrating another year of New Orleans Irish heritage with the friends and neighbors of the Irish Channel. It is our pleasure to contribute to the selfless mission of St. Michael's led by Ms. Jane Silva."

The Irish Channel St. Patrick's Day Club was organized in the Channel in 1947 and has remained in the area with its annual mass and parade for 60 years. The club's 1,400 members are ethnically diverse, all claiming strong ties to the Irish Channel neighborhood.

In recent years, the organization's activities have expanded to include Special Olympics, the Crohn's Benefit Golf Tournament for Crohn's Research, distribution of Thanksgiving baskets and active support for the Friends of St. Alphonsus Art and Cultural Center.