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The Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Club
The Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Day Committee was organized in the Irish Channel in 1947. The current president of the organization is Richard (Dick) Burke, Jr. (son and nephew of two of the organizers; Dick and Paul Burke).
Despite the years of decline and change in the “Channel,” the organization has survived and this year, plans to parade with the largest membership ever (fourteen hundred plus). The organization credits its survival to their deep, strong roots. While the top root is Irish Heritage, many of it’s members feel an even stronger bond, just being from or associated with, the Irish Channel.
Most people are aware of the pre-parade mass, followed by the parade up Magazine Street with hundreds of men in formal attire.
This year the parade will be held on March 15, 2025, the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day.
In recent years, the organization’s activities have greatly expanded to include supporting such fund-raisers as Special Olympics; the Chrones Benefit Golf Tournament for Chrones Research; The Chefs’ Charity of St. Michael’s Special School; distribution of Thanksgiving food baskets and active support of The Friends of St. Alphonsus; a dedicated group that has transformed the former church into a vital cultural center while in the progress of restoring the art, stained glass windows and physical premises to its original magnificence.
Since 1978 the members have worn with great pride, commemorative medallions honoring Father Seelos, St. Alphonsus Church, St. Patrick’s Church and St. Michael’s Special School, and the Irish Harp.
Photo Gallery
2025 Anciently, it was part of the Kingdom of Ui Failghe from which it gets its present name. The British began occupation in the thirteen century, but did not gain control until the sixteen century when it was named King’s County in 1547 in honor of King Philip II of Spain. Its name was changed to Offaly in 1920 and it became part of the Republic of Ireland on its formation in 1921.
Tullamore, the largest town in Offaly is the 30th largest in Ireland is a market town, urban district, and the seat of County Offaly, Ireland, situated on the River Tullamore. The High Cross is all that remains of Durrow Abbey, which once stood to the north of Tullamore.
The Book of Durrow, an illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels in Irish script, was written there about 700 and is now in Trinity College, Dublin. One of the earliest known settlements in County Offaly is at Boora Bog which dates to the Mesolithic era.
