Couple Met At The South Side Irish Parade 30 Years Ago

CHICAGO - Remembering where, or when, you met your spouse is never difficult for the McSweeney couple in Beverly. And every year on the final Sunday before St. Patrick's Day they get to re-live the experience. Julia and Tim McSweeney met at the South Side Irish Parade some 30 years ago and are now heavily involved with the frenzied neighborhood tradition.

The McSweeneys are both members of the South Side Irish Parade Committee and are the primary organizers of the South Side Irish Film Fest that takes place two weekends before the parade at the Beverly Arts Center.

Julia McSweeney tells the story of how she met her husband, Tim.

"Thirty years ago my husband and I met at the parade. I’m from around here but I was living in the Ukrainian Village at the time. I was with some friends from Ireland enjoying the South Side Irish Parade when Tim and I met. Fast forward, we got married and settled in Beverly. When we celebrated our 10th anniversary of meeting on the parade day with a party with some of the same Irish friends that were with me when I met Tim. Tim’s brother met one of my friends from Ireland and subsequently they got married! They will be celebrating their 20th anniversary of meeting each other on parade day. We will all be together on parade day again this year celebrating our anniversaries hoping we bring together another couple to carry on the tradition."

It turns out Tim isn't the only one in his St. John Fisher parish family growing up to meet their spouse. And we're sure these are just a couple of examples of anniversaries that will be celebrated this Parade Day, March 17.

Did you and your spouse meet at the South Side Irish Parade? If you'd like me to share your story, send an email to tim.moran@patch.com