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For Irish People and the People Who Like Them

Our events are designed to connect, engage and inspire our members and strengthen their participation in the broader Chicago business and cultural communities. All are invited! If you're visiting Chicago, please drop into our free First Fridays. Not a member yet? Join today and save!

Upcoming Events

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IN Conversation

Join Ireland Network Chicago for a IN Conversation with Bobby Kennedy, Director of Artistic Development before seeing Writer's Theatre production of Brian Friel's Translations. Read the show's synopsis here.

Tickets available now to IN Members for a special rate of $40. Use code SHAMROCK for special rate and IN ticket block.
 
Date:
Friday, April 25
 
Time:
6:00 p.m. Pre-Show Conversation with Bobby Kennedy, Director of Artistic Development
7:30 p.m. Brian Friel's Translations

Location: 
Enter promo code to access the special block of seats with the special pricing.
Tickets
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Volunteer Event

Get Your Green On! Join Ireland Network Chicago for Earth Day Clean-up! Join Ireland Network for our Spring Community Engagement Event as we participate in Chicago's 40th Annual Parks Earth Day Clean-up and Celebration!
 
Date:
Saturday, April 26
 
Time:
9:00am - 12pm

Location: 
3945 N Springfield Ave, Chicago
Easily accessible via public transportation (Blue Line, Metra) and offers both a parking lot and ample street parking.
 
Sign up today for a fun morning of tidying up, getting our hands dirty with some planting and mulching, and enjoying the company of fellow members and making new Chicago connections. There’s even an opportunity for a tree walk with our park captain and local resident arborist! 
More details regarding what to wear, our meeting point within the park, contact information, and other essential details will follow upon registration.
 
Park District Registration
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Annual General Meeting / First Friday

Date:
Friday, May 2

Time:
6-7pm Annual General Meeting (Members-only | Sign up to become an IN Member)
7-8pm First Friday*

Location
Chief O’Neill’s
3471 N Elston, Chicago

Details:
Ireland Network will be hosting a combination event of our Annual General Meeting and First Friday!  Our annual meeting of membership is a time for us share this past year's successes, discuss goals for the upcoming year, and vote in 2025-26 committee. The AGM will include food and beer+wine for members only. The First Friday will bring together our members and non-members for our monthly happy hour, and includes 2 tickets for beer+wine for members from 7-8pm! Enjoy the benefits of membership, and sign up today!

6-7pm: Members-only AGM (food & beer + wine)
7-8pm: Members + Non-members First Friday* (2 tickets/member for beer + wine only)

*Members receive 2 free drink tickets
Sign up to become an IN Member
Register
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Chicago Hounds Rugby Match

Ireland Network Chicago will be back in the VIP suite to cheer on the Chicago Hounds in their match against NOLA Gold.
 
Check out photos from last year's Chicago Hounds event!
 
Date:
Saturday, May 31
 
Time:
Pre-game tailgate (Time TBD)
7:00 p.m. Kick-off

Location: 
SeatGeek Stadium
7000 South Harlem Avenue
Bridgeview, IL 60455

Details to follow.

Past Events

April 4, 2025 | First Friday @ The Wolfhound
March 7, 2025| First Friday @ Galway Arms
February 7, 2025 | First Friday @ Celtic Crossing
January 3, 2025 | First Friday @ The Kerryman
December 6, 2024 | First Friday @ Emerald Loop
November 19, 2024 | IN Conversation: The Future of Agritech and Foodtech
November 1, 2024 | First Friday @ LG's Bar
October 4, 2024 | First Friday @ Mrs. Murphy's Irish Bistro
September 17, 2024 | IN Conversation with Irish American Partnership: Featuring  Minister Conor Murphy and Joseph Kennedy III
September 6, 2024 | First Friday @ Corcoran's
August 11, 2024 | VIP Experience for Air & Water Show at B. Coleman Aviation Hangar
August 2, 2024 | First Friday @ Kaiser Tiger
July 12, 2024 | First Friday @ Chief O'Neill's
June 12, 2024 | Annual Boat Cruise
June 7, 2024 | First Friday @ D4 Irish Pub
June 6, 2024 | IN Conversation: Exploring the African American Irish Diaspora
May 3, 2024 | First Friday @ The Wolfhound
April 14, 2024 | Chicago Hounds Rugby Match
April 5, 2024 | First Friday @ The Embassy
March 18, 2024 | IN Conversation: Doing Business In Chicago @ The Gage
March 16–18, 2024 | Ireland Network Women in Business Forum
March 1, 2024 | First Friday @ Fádo
February 9, 2024 | First Friday @ Celtic Crossing
January 3, 2024 | First Friday @ The Kerryman
December 1, 2023 | First Friday @ Emerald Loop
November 3, 2023 | First Friday @ LG's Bar
October 6, 2023 | First Friday @ Galway Arms
September 21, 2023 | Annual Boat Cruise
September 8, 2023 | 4th Annual Golf Outing @ Harborside
September 1, 2023 | First Friday @ Corcoran's
July 7, 2023 | First Friday @ Lizzie McNeill's
June 2, 2023 | First Friday @ Afterbar (The Green at 320)
May 25, 2023 | Annual General Meeting @ Galway Arms
May 5, 2023 | First Friday @ The Wolfhound
April 23, 2023 | Chicago Hounds Rugby Match
April 13, 2023 | Whiskey Tasting @ The Drake Hotel 
April 7, 2023 | First Friday @ Celtic Crossing
April 15, 2023 | IN Conversation | Writer's Theatre Glencoe
March 3, 2023 | First Friday @ The Embassy
February 26, 2023 | Community Outreach - Sarah's Circle Walk
February 18, 2023 | Volunteer Outing @ Greater Chicago Food Depository
February 11, 2023 | Ireland Network Annual Ball | Drake Hotel
February 3, 2023 | First Friday @ The Kerryman
January 26, 2023 | IN Conversation - Irish Sport in Chicago @ The Gage
January 6, 2023 | First Friday @ Fadó
December 2, 2022 | First Friday @ Emerald Loop
November 4, 2022 | First Friday @ The Gage
October 29, 2022 | Halloween Hooley @ Chief O'Neill's
October 7, 2022 | First Friday @ Galway Arms
October 1, 2022 | Volunteer Outing @ Feed My Starving Children
September 7, 2022 | First Friday @ Corcoran's
September 29 2022 | Annual Boat Cruise 
September 16, 2022 | Annual Golf at Ruffled Feathers Golf Club
August 22, 2022 | Roundtable discussion with Minister Martin Heydon T.D.
August 5, 2022 | First Friday @ Kaiser Tiger
July 24, 2022 | GAA Semi-Finals @Gaelic Park
July 1, 2022 | First Friday @ Chicago Brewhouse
June 2023 | Family Event - Ice Cream Social and reading of Our American Dream with Fiona McEntee at Cone Ice Cream
June 3, 2022 | First Friday @ Celtic Crossing
May 18, 2022 | Annual General Meeting @ Chicago Cut

Event Descriptions

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First Fridays

These informal gatherings are typically held on the first Friday of each month at Irish-owned or managed establishments around Chicagoland. Entry is free and includes complimentary drinks and appetizers. All are invited!

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IN Conversations

Quarterly speaker series on topics of relevance and interest to the membership. Speakers have included former Taoiseachs, current U.S. and Irish Senators, corporate, community and industry leaders, authors, artists and many more.

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Signature Events

Annual Ball – Our black-tie gala in February features a champagne reception followed by a three-course meal, open bar, live music and dancing until late into the night, as well as the presentation of the IN Spirit Award and a raffle benefiting our chosen charities.

Annual General Meeting – Our formal meeting of membership in May reviews past activities, provides an outlook for the year ahead, installs our new Executive Committee and Advisory Board, and welcomes feedback directly from members.

Summer Boat Cruise - We celebrate the end of summer each September with a boat trip along the Chicago River and on Lake Michigan; past guests include former Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Golf Outing – A beautiful 18-hole golf outing held in late summer features prizes, a post-game ceremony, and raffle fundraiser supporting our chosen charity.

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Volunteer Outings

A group representing INC donates their time and energy to a different non-profit organization once a quarter. Please reach out to us at irelandnetworkchicago@gmail.com if you'd like to organize an INC volunteer outing to your charity of choice!

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Partner Events

As a strategic partner (and a perk of membership!), INC often takes tables at our partners' events and provides an opportunities for INC members to attend on behalf of INC. 2022 Partner Events included:

  • Chicago Irish Film Festival
  • Irish American Partnership St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast
  • Irish Fellowship Club St. Patrick’s Day Dinner
  • iBAM Gala Awards Dinner at Irish American Heritage Center
  • Mayo Association Dinner at Gaelic Park
  • Galway Fellowship Club Dinner at Gaelic Park
  • The Ireland Funds Annual Chicago Dinner
  • Padraig Pearse GAA Club 30th Anniversary Dinner
  • Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago Christmas Luncheon

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