When Kathy O’Shea passed about three and a half years ago, she left behind her husband Kevin, five kids and ten grandkids and an empty house full of memories.
Kevin was bereft, the kids were all grown and had homes of their own.
He had started a great career as a venture capitalist, but without Kathy he was lonely…well he tells me. “I was just sitting at home one day, kind of coming back from work, making dinner, going to bed, and I said ‘this is no way to live your life. I got to do something different, and I thought about, well what do I like to do? I like to sit in the bar and listen to Irish music, have a drink, you know? And so I had to figure out how I could do that as like a hobby.”
Kevin O'Shea and entourage
No greater hobby!
Up in heaven Kathy smiled. She knew Kevin well enough to know his new “hobby” would burn bright for him, his family and many Irish musicians across the pond over the years.
“And now it’s turned into…I call it my second shift.”
It’s also called Ceol & Craic Trasna na dTonnta - Music and Fun Over the Waves, created as a non-profit entity by Kevin to bring musicians over from Ireland to perform in Chicago. He puts them up at his five-bedroom home in Elmhurst, gets them Chicago gigs, and the parties they have are legendary!
Kevin and drinking partner Bradin
The first musician Kevin met was Balladeer Kieran Bryne from Limerick, who tells me, “He'd come to the gigs and with his passion for the Irish music and for the Irish culture. He wanted to, you know, invest in that in some way or have a part to play in that in some way. So he's brought Irish musicians over from Mayo. He's hosted some great events with Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones and he's been very, very generous with his time, always, his passion for the Irish culture and for the Irish music and for trying to bring some of that back to Chicago.”
Opening his home to Irish musicians has paid off for Kevin because they all invite him back to stay with them. “Mi Casa Su Casa”!
Kevin continues his quest, spreading Irish culture and music wherever he goes. With St. Patrick’s Day in the near future he has another project up his sleeve, scheduled for Saturday March 15th.
It's called The Irish Village Market and will take place at the Chicago epicenter of St. Patrick’s Day festivities where they dye the Chicago River green to kick off the holiday weekend right before the annual parade downtown, all to benefit Gaelic Park Charities.
The First Annual Irish Village market takes place on Pioneer Court at 401 North Michigan Avenue providing an opportunity for the public to enjoy and experience authentic Irish food, beverage, culture, and entertainment, showcasing the very best of Ireland on this global day of Irish cultural celebrations.
Kevin is calling the Irish Village celebration a “family friendly event” featuring Irish soda bread, tea and other delicacies, with music from The Dirty Wellies, Rachel Walsh & Tom Mulvey, Padraic McNeela, and more! Hopefully McNeela will perform one of his signature favorites, “She Broke My Heart and I Broke Her Jaw”!
Kevin with son Mike, and wife Lauren and grand kids
Look for our pal Kevin O’Shea at this hooley on Saturday March 15th, along with his 85-year-old mom Sheila Coyle from the village of Tipp in Belmullet, County Mayo, his five kids and many of his ten grand-children will be there as well.
Not bad for a South Side kid from 63rd and Western, oldest of 7, whose mother emigrated from Mayo. Last August, Kevin hiked across Ireland by himself, strapped with backpack and tent, with no reservations or plans, was embraced all along the way with places to kip from folks in pubs he met on his quest. “And I probably met like five or six musicians and always give them my card, ‘If you want to come to Chicago gimme a call. We’ll take care of you.'”
For those of you in Chicago on Saturday March 15th drop by The Irish Village Market, watch the guys from the Plumbers Union dying the river green below, and take in some of the great craic, music and food from 10 to 4 p.m.
You’ll find Kevin O’Shea working his booth, selling t-shirts and greeting folks from all over. You might even see an old writer from the South Side hawking his books alongside him. And the late Kathy O’Shea smiling down from heaven above.
