Know Before You Go: Tinley Irish Parade To Turn Oak Park Ave. Green

TINLEY PARK, IL — Get your green ready—the 24th annual Tinley Park Irish parade will step off Sunday, March 3.

Set for 1 p.m. the parade features floats and displays from 85 community groups, local schools, businesses and performance groups, showing off their Irish spirit. The parade departs from 179th and Oak Park Avenue, traveling north to its end at 172nd Street.

WGN reporter Brónagh Tumulty was recently announced as parade's Grand Marshal. Brónagh is originally from Ireland, which is where she started her reporting career. She joined WGN in 2020, following roles at KUTV in Salt Lake City, Utah, News 12 Network in New York, and as a producer at KTVT in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Jeff Keane and John Tadla from Andrew High School return to announce the parade from the balcony of Primal Cut Steakhouse. A sensory-friendly quiet zone will be located at the start of the parade at 179th Street to White Egret Court for those who want to enjoy the parade with less noise.

As paradegoers splash Oak Park Avenue with green, Teehan's Tavern marks its last day of business in its current structure, which will soon be razed with a near-replica to be built in its place.

<< READ MORE: A Story's End: Final Sendoff Planned For Century-Old Teehan's Building >>

"Staff has worked closely with the site design team to emulate the building’s classic exterior as faithfully as possible out of respect for Teehan’s long and storied legacy in Tinley Park," Village officials said.

Staff at the beloved pub are making it a point to pour all they have into giving its fans a sense of closure at the end of this chapter. In the days leading up to its closing, the bar will feature live music, commemorative memorabilia, and time to celebrate the pub's history.

"This is about helping people feel at peace with the closing," said Shannon McAuliffe, who has been managing the bar since former owner and manager Regis Teehan's retirement in September.

Starting Thursday, Feb. 29 and dubbed Teehan's Tribute Fest, the bar will be abuzz with live music, ranging from acoustic performances inside to full bands outside in the tent over the weekend, McAuliffe said. Commemorative shot glasses will be handed out to the first 400 people, and T-shirts are available for purchase.

"I wanted people to be able to come, and really send it off," McAuliffe said.