HR0389LRB101 12436 MST 60559 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Since the beginning of the settlement and 
3development of Illinois in the early
nineteenth century, 
4Illinois has been a destination and haven for immigrants from 
5around the globe; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is grateful for all of the 
7hardworking people who have come to
settle in this State from 
8nearly every nation on earth; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois appreciates the 
10contributions of immigrants toward its historic
rise as one of 
11the great states of the Union and the home of over twelve 
12million people; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has always taken pause to 
14honor individual communities that
have contributed to its 
15greatness; and
 
16    WHEREAS, One of the distinct communities that has 
17historically provided
great contributions to the State 
18throughout its history is the Irish-American community, which 
19is comprised of
over one and a half million Illinois residents; 
20and
 
 
 
HR0389- 2 -LRB101 12436 MST 60559 r

1    WHEREAS, Hundreds of Illinois Irish-Americans trace their 
2ancestry, if not their birth, to the
Town of Swinford, County 
3Mayo, Ireland, which is a rural market town of approximately 
42,000 people; and
 
5    WHEREAS, In this year, 2019, the Town of Swinford, County 
6Mayo, is celebrating and
commemorating the 250th anniversary of 
7its founding as a chartered town in 1769; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Among the many people of Illinois who trace their 
9ancestry to the Town of Swinford
are nineteen public officials, 
10now serving or retired, who serve or have served the northern 
11Illinois and
Chicago metropolitan area; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The remarkable number of northern Illinois and 
13Chicago area public officials for
whom the Town of Swinford is 
14their ancestral home include the following:
15        Hon. Michael J. Brennan, former Orland Township 
16    Supervisor;
17        Hon. Daniel P. Brennan, Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of 
18    Cook County;
19        Hon. John T. Carr, Associate Judge, Circuit Court of 
20    Cook County;
21        Hon. Alison C. Conlon, Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of 
22    Cook County;
23        Hon. Michael G. Connelly, former Illinois State 
 
 
HR0389- 3 -LRB101 12436 MST 60559 r

1    Senator, 21st District;
2        Hon. John J. Curry, Jr., Circuit Judge, Circuit Court 
3    of Cook County;
4        Sheila O'Grady Duffy, former Chief of Staff to Mayor 
5    Richard M. Daley of Chicago;
6        Hon. James B. Durkin, Illinois State Representative, 
7    82nd District and House Minority Leader;
8        Hon. Melissa A. Durkin, Associate Judge, Circuit Court 
9    of Cook County;
10        Hon. Thomas M. Durkin, United States District Judge, 
11    Northern District of Illinois;
12        Hon. Thomas P. Durkin, retired Circuit Judge, Circuit 
13    Court of Cook County;
14        Hon. James Henry, retired Circuit Judge, Circuit Court 
15    of Cook County;
16        Hon. Michael T. Mullen, Circuit Judge, Circuit Court of 
17    Cook County;
18        Hon. Sheila M. O'Brien, retired Justice of the Illinois 
19    Appellate Court, First District;
20        Hon. Paul A. O'Grady, Orland Township Supervisor;
21        Hon. Maureen Durkin Roy, retired Circuit Judge, 
22    Circuit Court of Cook County;
23        Hon. Martin T. Tully, Mayor, Village of Downers Grove;
24        Hon. Thomas M. Tully, former County Assessor of Cook 
25    County; and
26        Hon. Thomas M. Tunney, Alderman, 44th Ward, City of 
 
 
HR0389- 4 -LRB101 12436 MST 60559 r

1    Chicago; and be it further
 
2    WHEREAS, These officials will be honoring Swinford, County 
3Mayo, Ireland this year as it
commemorates its 250th 
4anniversary by their presentation of a group portrait to the 
5town on August 1,
2019, the day of its anniversary festival; 
6and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Many other descendants and emigres of the Town of 
8Swinford, Ireland have enriched
the State of Illinois by 
9serving in the medical and legal professions, in business and 
10commerce, in
the arts, in public service, and through community 
11involvement; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Through its hundreds of descendants and natives 
13living in Illinois, the residents of our
State are aware of the 
14charms of the 250 year old Town of Swinford, County Mayo, which 
15is known for
its recreational fishing, cycling, and hiking, its 
16annual August Siamsa Sraide Festival, its proximity to the

17natural beauty of Lough Conn, the River Moy, the Nephin 
18Mountain Range, and the scenic Atlantic coast
of Mayo, as well 
19as its significant and historic locales such as Bronze Age 
20archeological sites, medieval
round towers, ancient 
21monasteries, the religious pilgrimage site of Knock, and the 
22historic Mellett's Pub,
established 1797, the 12th oldest 
23business in Ireland, owned by cousins to the late Patrick 
 
 
HR0389- 5 -LRB101 12436 MST 60559 r

1Mellett of
Chicago, who owned Mellett's Tavern at 4728 West 
2Madison Street, Chicago, for over fifty-five years; therefore, 
3be it
  
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
5HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
6we hereby honor the proud natives and
descendants of the Town 
7of Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland, who are devoted citizens of 
8the State of
Illinois, including the nineteen public officials 
9among their number who have dutifully served in the State
of 
10Illinois, and further do hereby honor the Town of Swinford, 
11County Mayo, Ireland, and its citizens, as
they commemorate the 
12250th anniversary of its founding in this year, 2019; and be it 
13further
  
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
15presented to the Town of
Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland, as a 
16sign of our recognition of the 250th anniversary of its 
17founding.