Citizens Report American Irish Culture

5th annual Hibernian Hooligan Ball Sunday to feature legendary Chicago comic Bill Brady, other surprises!

Until this Sunday’s 5th Annual Hibernian Hooligan Ball, the last time legendary Chicago comedian Bill Brady and Mike Houlihan shared a stage together was in the indie film, TAPIOCA.

The movie starred Ben Vereen, Tim Kazurinsky and a legion of Second City all-stars. Brady played himself in the off-beat comedy. Brady threw Houlihan off the stage and out into the alley behind a nightclub where Houli was beaten to a pulp by a pair of scurrilous fans whose dates had been insulted by Houli’s act.

This Sunday, Dec. 18, Brady returns to join Houli at the 5th Annual Hibernian Hooligan Ball. The fundraiser starts at 3 p.m. at Cork & Kerry Irish Pub, 10614 S. Western Ave., in Beverly.

Along with Brady and Houli, the holiday season fundraiser will feature the Larkin and Moran Brothers, the Bagpipes & Drums of the Emerald Society of the Chicago Police Department, All-Ireland Champion fiddler Lexia Kennedy and world champion Irish dancers Tadgh Spillane, Jack Bullington, Michalene Donnelly and Maggie Olk . The gathering promises to be a good old fashioned Irish party, a hooley.

Brady’s career as a comedian and actor goes back almost four decades. And for 33 years he owned Bill Brady’s Comedy Capers at Senese’s Barrel of Laughs in Oak Lawn.

At that legendary club, he introduced the likes of Drew Carey, Arsenio Hall and Tom Dreesen, to name just a few, to Chicago fans when they got their start. Bill continues to entertain groups globally.

Brady and Houli go way back to their days as classmates at Christ the King Catholic School. So look for some tales to be told out of school at the Hibernian Ball this Sunday.

In addition to the great music and great craic that day, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey is hosting a raffle for free whiskey, Chicago sports memorabilia and other promotional prizes and gifts!

Suggested tax-deductible donations for this annual fundraiser for Hibernian Media are $50, but we’ll take whatever we can get! 🙂

All proceeds to benefit Hibernian Media, our tiny public charity dedicated to Irish and Irish American culture since 2013.

So please join us for our 5th Annual Hibernian Hooligan Ball  Sunday, Dec. 18, starting at 3 p.m. at Cork & Kerry Irish Pub, 10614 S. Western Ave., in Beverly.

Tix are available at the door.

See you there!

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