These are exciting times for the Padraig Pearse GAA Club as they face into the forthcoming season as reigning Chicago Senior Football Champions.

Last year was a momentous one for the club, one which began with a dinner dance honouring the men and women who had founded the club just over 2 decades previously and ended with the club clinching their first ever Senior football title on the same day they also claimed the Junior B crown. This success came on the back of winning the Chicago Junior A title the year previous after a title drought of a number of years. The club is a tight knit progressive unit comprised of a diverse range people from the length and breadth Ireland as well as many American born members who work tirelessly together to advance the aims and objects of the club and of its supporters.

This year the club intends to consolidate and build on the success of the previous two years by defending their Senior title while also contesting the Junior championship. The club's recent accomplishments have been aided in no small measure by the bolstering of the clubs ranks with new members from Ireland who have availed of the new US government graduate visa. These new additions to the club's membership have contributed both on and off the pitch with many taking on administrative as well as playing roles within the club assisting established club members in driving the club forward. This influx of new recruits has resulted in the club executive committee being made up entirely of officers under the age of 40, 50% of whom are less than 30 years of age.

The club is ideally located for new Irish residents of Chicago, being one of a minority of clubs actually based in the city itself with many members living in the bustling Lakeview neighbourhood within which Wrigleyville is situated. Its location also makes Padraig Pearses an attractive option for J1 students who visit the city each summer and wish to continue to play Gaelic Football throughout their stay. Training takes place in the city beside Lake Michigan and is easily accessed via the CTA Red Line, while matches take place on weekends in Gaelic Park outside the city.

As well as being fiercely competitive on the football field the club is well known for its social activities in a city renowned for its nightlife with numerous events taking place throughout the summer not least their legendary annual softball tournament. The Pearses have a proud tradition of assisting their members, be they permanent or seasonal in securing jobs, accommodation or in networking with others in their particular field of work and actively strive to retain contact and follow the fortunes of players after they have returned home.

If you wish to join this ambitious and vibrant GAA club based in the city of Chicago or just to find out a bit more information about them you can contact the Padraig Pearse GAA Club via e-mail: [email protected], Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Padraig-Pearse-GAA-Club-Chicago/326394434528 or Twitter: www.twitter.com/PearsesChicago Tweet

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