Parade Crew Names the 2014 South Side Irish Parade Queen

South Side Irish Parade-goers, all hail your 2014 queen: Maeve McSweeney.

A St. Ignatius graduate and Marquette student McSweeney, 20, was chosen from 12 contestants and announced as the South Side Irish Parade Queen Feb. 22. Her coronation is especially poignant, as her parents met at the event 25 years ago, she told judges. Both parents are full-blooded Irish and have instilled their love of tradition in McSweeney.

"I've been attending the South Side Irish Parade since I was born, and it has been a huge part of my life" she wrote. "When I was a child, I always looked forward to the parade, as it was a time for family, friends and faith."

Her fondness for the parade has only grown throughout her life, with later involvement in Irish dancing, marshaling, and participation with her parish. She also expresses her cultural pride through singing and playing Irish ballads on the tin whistle and flute—and she's learning to speak Gaelic. 

As queen, McSweeney will be prominently featured during the South Side Irish Parade. She will also ride in the downtown Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade. A panel of judges interviewed contestants before the start of the pre-parade fundraiser Feb. 22 and announced their choice at the party.

The South Side Irish Parade Queen will also receive sponsorship from the South Side Irish Parade Committee to go on to compete in the Chicago Rose of Tralee contest as the South Side Irish Rose. The Chicago Rose of Tralee contest will be held at the Irish American Heritage Center on March 29, 2014. The Winner of the Chicago Rose of Tralee will receive an all-expense paid trip to Ireland for an experience of a lifetime. The mission of the Chicago Rose of Tralee is to provide enrichment opportunities that will encourage young women of Irish descent to be exemplary role models for tomorrow’s youth and to make a positive difference in the world.