Once a Dream, now a Reality

CHICAGO GAELIC PARK, Inc., a Not-For-Profit-Organization chartered with the State of Illinois, was officially opened in 1985. Grounds and Buildings are located at 6119 W. 147th St. in Oak Forest, IL. Aims are the promotion and fostering of Irish Culture, Music and Sports of Irish Heritage. The organization is strictly non-political. With tremendous grassroots interest and support, CGP is vibrant and continues to grow. The fifty acre Irish cultural, heritage and athletic facility, was once a dream and is now a reality. The sprawling complex contains sports playing fields, locker rooms, a lounge bar, meeting rooms and banquet halls. Virtually all of the labor to build Chicago Gaelic Park was donated by Irish workers. The materials were donated or sold at cost by local suppliers. Today Chicago Gaelic Park is home field for the local Chicago Gaelic Athletic Association kids, ladies and men's hurling and football  teams.
The center is also used to bring Irish entertainment to the area and is available for use by Irish organizations and community groups. Chicago Gaelic Park is well known for the beautiful weddings and dinner dances held there. A Ladies Auxiliary and a Youth Group are vibrant elements of our organization. Step dancing classes are held weekly, and an annual Feis is held at Chicago Gaelic Park. The Feis features competitive dancing from areas throughout the U.S. and Canada and is now the largest Feis in North America. A monthly Mass and Irish breakfast are held the second Sunday of each month, October through May. A weekly radio show airs on Sunday evening. Our Irish Festival is held each Memorial Day weekend for four days.

The adopted emblem of CGP was designed to remind us of the traditions of the Irish people with particular emphasis of the Irish contribution, work ethic, education and the significant part played by the Irish in the civilian development of the United States of America. Carved Irish Oak plaques in the Carraig Lounge hallway feature the emblems of the thirty two Irish counties with place of honor given to the "thirty third county" plaque of Cook Co. IL (site of Chicago). Photos of modern Irish sport stars are also on display. The massive emblems of the four Provinces of Ireland...Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster... are readily visible on the front wall of the building after you enter the main gate on 147th street. To the left on the south-east corner of the building is the magnificent bronze memorial of the "Irish Famine". Gorta Mor of the 1845 - 1850 tragic era in Ireland's history.
In Spring of 2002 a Memorial Garden will be added. Near the southwest corner by the main playing field, three magnificent donated statues of St. Patrick, St.Brigid and of the Blessed Mother Mary are enshrined in a quiet landscaped grotto.

Chicago Gaelic Park offers activities throughout the year under the supervision and hands-on assistance of the voluntary thirty person CGP Board of Directors (ten stand for election each February)