HR0617 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0617 LRB100 14422 MST 29552 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Billy Lawless, a native of Galway, the unofficial capital of western Ireland, has always been interested in politics, and ran as a Fine Gael candidate for the Galway City Council in 1991; after being defeated by the future President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, he moved from Galway to Chicago in 1998 to continue his successful career as a hospitality proprietor; and

WHEREAS, Billy Lawless is now the owner of numerous dining places in the Chicago area; in this capacity he began his service in 2010 as a member of the Executive Committee of the Illinois Restaurant Association Board of Directors; his fourth place of hospitality, Chicago's Beacon Tavern, opened in May of 2016; and

WHEREAS, Continuing his interest in political action, Billy Lawless has become a leading voice in Illinois for Irish-American relations and for the well-being of Irish men and women living in the United States; and

WHEREAS, During the course of this advocacy, Billy Lawless was honored by Chicago Irish Immigrant Support in April of 2011; and

WHEREAS, In honor of his continued support for closer relations between Illinois and Ireland, and particularly between the sister cities of Chicago and the City of Galway, Billy Lawless was granted the status of Honorary Freeman of the City of Galway in December of 2014; he was awarded an honorary doctorate in June of 2015 by the National University of Ireland at Galway; and

WHEREAS, On May 11, 2016, Taoiseach Enda Kenny honored Billy Lawless with the unprecedented status of overseas member of the "Seanad Eireann", the Irish Senate in Dublin; and

WHEREAS, In his joint capacity as a successful business person and an advocate for the immigrant community, Billy Lawless has served as co-founder and chairman of the Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform, as vice president of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and as a founding board member and leader of the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition; and

WHEREAS, Billy Lawless and his wife, Anne Lawless, became United States citizens in July of 2014; and

WHEREAS, As a citizen, Billy Lawless continues to advocate for continued U.S. residency for many hard-working people who are performing essential tasks here in America; and

WHEREAS, The natives of Galway have substantial reason to feel the ties between Ireland and the United States; the western Irish city was at the epicenter of the Great Hunger of 1845-1849, an event that led to the decision of more than one million Irish men, women, and children to seek new lives in North America; many of the boats that carried these people left Galway's harbor, westward-bound as part of a movement of peoples that helped make Chicago and the United States what they are today; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Billy Lawless, a citizen of the United States of America, for his decision to come to Illinois, make it his home, and employ many of his fellow Illinoisans; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend Billy Lawless for his work of advocacy for Irish-American relations, and for his advocacy for the welfare of many people who, like his Irish-American predecessors and like him, have come from around the world to make America an even greater country; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copy of this resolution be presented to Billy Lawless as a symbol of our respect and esteem.