Currently there are chapters in Milwaukee, Fox Cities (Appleton and Oshkosh), Green Bay and Northeast Wisconsin [1] (Green Bay, Wisconsin), South Central (Baraboo), Dane County, (Madison), New London, La Crosse, and Lafayette County, (Darlington).
Helped by the International Institute of Wisconsin, the Club met to organize on March 17, 1960, St Patrick's Day.
Changes in the federal laws would take the Shamrock Club out of the charter business, as more commercial airlines saw the growing interest in Ireland to be a viable money making option for them.
[2] The Milwaukee Chapter meets the first Thursday of each month at the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center, 2133 West Wisconsin Avenue.
Milwaukee Saint Patrick's Day activities throughout the year include: The 2023-24 board of directors for the Milwaukee chapter are as follows: Past President; Brian Witt; Joseph Hughes, President; J Patrick Farley, Parliamentarian; Lisa Rott-Bartelt, treasurer; Terese Dineen, membership; vacant, sergeant at arms; Ashling Ivers; Adam Bartlett, Vice President; Mike Malloy , Senior Trustee; Molly Carroll, Trustee; Michael Hart, junior Trustee.
They have marched in Dublin, Ireland, San Antonio, Texas, Savannah, Georgia, New Orleans, Louisiana, and New York City.
The Shamrock Club also administered the Milwaukee Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians scholarship for a number of years.
Starting in 2022, the scholarship was renamed for Irish bornl UWM professors John Gleeson and James Liddy.
In 2024, UWM Celtic Studies student Leah Mauldin, and Marquette University Englush major Katie Fograc were awarded $1000 each.
Scholarships in the past have been awarded to students who went to the Craobh Curtin Conrad Na Gaeilge Language Immersion School, held each year in Milwaukee.
O'Donoghue, a native of County Cork, was one of the driving forces of the Irish community in Milwaukee and Wisconsin for decades.
During its run in downtown Milwaukee, the Shamrock Club has had Dan Malloy, Mike O'Leary and Kristine Pluskota all as parade directors.
In 2007, the New York City Police Department debuted in the Milwaukee St. Patrick's Day Parade, bringing a contingent of 95 officers to march.
They returned in 2008, with over 100 of NYPD's finest helping Milwaukee celebrate, as well as many members of the New York City Fire Department.22 The 2019 Parade was the 53rd annual, and was held on Saturday, March 9, 2019.
Now mainly a Hispanic parish, it is decorated in Celtic knots and has a statue in honor of St Patrick and its heritage as an Irish immigrant church.
The combination of pipes, choir and Gaelic liturgy have made it one of the highlights of the Irish community each St Patrick's Day.
Each year the Shamrock Club of New Dublin hosts Wisconsin's largest St. Patrick's Day parade with an Irish Fest in New London.
The parade typically features multiple bagpipe & marching bands, clown performers, specialty, clan, and business floats.
Irish Fest is held in a heated big top tent with several Celtic style bands, food, beverage, and market booths.
It started years ago as a 'lark' when locals in mourning paraded down the main street with a mannequin (Finnegan) in a wicker casket.
In addition, the La Crosse Chapter also has a number of activities during the week before St Patrick's Day, including caroling at nursing homes.
The parade began at the Kerry Group headquarters, a prominent food producer having originated in Ireland, and finished in Beloit's Central Park (Horace White).