|  John
O 'Grady was born on December 6th in Kilgeever, County Mayo. He
first emigrated to Cleveland and moved to Chicago in 1967. He served
in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 - 1960 as an airplane mechanic.
He was one of the founding members of the Francis O'Neill CCÉ Branch
in Chicago and has held every office in the Branch.
The beginning days were the most difficult. Many nights John had only
two people show up for an evening of the ceili dance lessons. Often John
would have to leave the room and pull people standing in the hall to
fill in a set. John held in there and has seen his dream of a strong
branch come to fruition.
Francis O'Neill CCÉ branch has now grown to over 200 members
and hosts a weekly ceili at the Irish Heritage Center with 5-6 sets on
the floor! For his work in the Francis O'Neill branch and for being the
Irish Language teacher theses many years we now enter his name in our
Hall of Fame.
When we try and thank him for all his work in the Irish language and
dance, his reply is always "I never had a day I did not enjoy". John,
we, your students, thank you.
- Jack Denihan, Chair, CCÉ Francis O'Neill
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