Chicago Irish community split over St. Patrick’s parade

Families at odds over whether it should return or not

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Chicago's South Side Irish parade, which was scrapped three years ago because of alcohol abuse and arrests, is set to return.

Photo by Google Images

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Efforts have been made to address safety concerns. The parade committee has reportedly hired a security firm to man more than 40 checkpoints with mostly off-duty cops to reinforce a "zero-tolerance" stance on public drinking, especially by minors.

Organizers have also asked surrounding suburbs, metro and bus companies to help deter drinkers with open alcohol containers from making it to the parade route.

But O’Shea is not reassured. The plan is incomplete, the alderman told the Sun Times.

"At the end of the day, hope isn’t a strategy, You can’t just hope it won’t happen again," he said.

Meanwhile, Sheahan is pressing on regardless. 

"We think this parade can be done and get back to the basic things the parade is about — families and children and the Irish," he said.

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