Thousands turn out for return of South Side Irish Parade

Make no mistake about it, the Dever family of Evergreen Park enjoys its family meals at home.

But on March 15, 2020, and March 14, 2021, low-key days eating corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and carrots at home wasn’t what they had in mind.

Bill and Angel plus their children, Matthew and Bella, made the most of those two dates because the South Side Irish Parade was canceled due to the the pandemic.

But Sunday, the parade was back. The Devers and thousands of others enjoyed seeing Bozo, bagpipes, bands, White Sox mascot Southpaw and assorted other sights along the Western Avenue parade route.

The Dever family was so anxious for the return, they scouted and secured a spot on the coveted corner of 103rd Street and Western Avenue more than an hour before the noon kickoff.

“We’re Irish-American and we’re celebrating our heritage,” Angel Dever said. “Two years ago, everything was just starting to happen and everyone was really down. We didn’t have the opportunity to come and celebrate and be together.”

They have attended the parade for at least 10 years before COVID-19 hit and hope that the two years off was just a hiccup.

Lynette McCullough of the Beverly neighborhood was also an early arrival. She said she was there to watch her son, Calvin, playing the cymbals for Marist’s band. It was a double treat for her over the weekend because he and the RedHawks also played at Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in the city.

“He’s a sophomore, and this is the first time I’ve been able to see him in his first official parade,” Lynette said.

This year, the parade paid homage to area Catholic elementary school teachers as they were collectively named the grand marshals of the parade. Like the announcement about the parade’s queen, Bailey McConnell, the announcement of the teachers being the

grand marshals came in 2020 and they all had to wait until Sunday for it to finally happen.

Teachers from Christ the King, Holy Redeemer, Queen of Martyrs, St. Barnabas, St. Cajetan, St Gerald, St. Germaine, St. John Fisher, St. Linus and St. Walter/St. Benedict

SOUTHTOWN PHOTOS JEFF VORVA/FOR THE DAILY Members of the Chicago Stockyard Kilty Band play their bagpipes during the South Side Irish Parade on Sunday.

Mount Greenwood’s Bailey O’Connell waves to the crowd during the South Side Irish Parade on Sunday. Because of COVID-19, the South Side Irish Parade was canceled in 2020 and 2021, so O’Connell was the parade queen for three years and finally got to participate Sunday.