South Side Irish

After 1945, a large-scale movement to the suburbs occurred because of white flight and the steady upward social mobility of the Irish.

[1] Although their population has spread out, Irish Americans continue to make up the majority of the ethnic white American population on the south side of Chicago, especially in Beverly, Canaryville, Bridgeport, Scottsdale, Mount Greenwood, Morgan Park, Garfield Ridge, Clearing, Evergreen Park, and Oak Lawn.

By the mid-20th century, the Irish had largely assimilated into American society, with many abandoning their Catholic faith, though many also maintaining it.

Movement of the South Side Irish to the suburbs became pronounced in the 1940s and 50s due to white flight, highway construction, and governmental policies that encouraged suburbanization.

On Saturday, March 17, 1979, best friends and original creators George Hendry and Pat Coakley, along with their wives, assembled 17 children (known in parade lore as the "Wee Folks of Washtenaw and Talman") from the West Morgan Park area.

The theme created by Hendry and Coakley was their way of wanting to bring back the South Side parade that they had enjoyed as children.

Popularity continued to grow, and in 1980 it was moved to Kennedy Park with an increased 300 participants, including children, dogs, and a bag piper.

However the South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee outlined a security plan, saying they "feel will bring this great neighborhood tradition back as the family friendly event it was meant to be".