See gala photos here.
October 30, 2009
See iBAM! Chicago Saturday Photos here. (Anyone who took pictures at iBAM is welcome to send theirs in to us. Just send to
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.
See iBAM! Chicago Sunday Photos here.
See video author, Heather Vallance made at iBAM!
The Irish American Heritage Center hosted iBAM's gala dinner honoring Irish in several important categories. Justice Anne Burke of the Illinois Supreme Court was honored as "Irish Person of the Year." Frank McCourt was honored for his contribution to Irish literature, and his brothers, Alphie, and Malachy accepted on his behalf. Kevin Henry was honored for his years of mentoring, playing, and preserving of Irish music. Brad Armacost accepted the award for Performing Arts, on behalf of Steppenwolf Theater, and all the excellent plays of Irish origin that they have put on. And, last but not least, Ed Cox was honored for his 20 years of painting Celtic art throughout the Irish American Heritage Center. His work can be found in the halls, the Fifth Province, the library, and just about every corner of the building.
Irish from all walks of life, and from all corners of Chicagoland came.
The idea:
July, 24th, August through September, October 30th through November 1, 2009.
Those are the dates that iBAM! Chicago was formulated, anticipated, and orchestrated.
In less than 100 days the Irish American Heritage Center - led by it's cultural board - planned, and executed the largest three day event ever to be held indoors at the Center.
Beginning with a core group of twelve people the idea was pitched to the Center in late July by Cliff Carlson and Cathy Curry. Before that first meeting was over, the event was embraced and named.
Vastly different from a festival, the concept of the event was to highlight all that is wonderful about Irish writers, art, and music.
Intimate meet and greets with authors, artists, and musicians from Canada, Ireland, and the U.S.A., made this an unprecedented cultural event. Over one hundred enthusiastic people agreed, and volunteered their support to this action-packed weekend.
The event sparked the imagination of the media in all its forms. Media coverage included the Tribune, Pioneer Press, The Chicago Sun-Times, Irish American News, The Reader, Time Out Chicago, and more. TV coverage included CBS 2 Chicago, ABC Channel 7 news, and Fox News. Rick Kogan's "Sunday Papers," Larry Kirwan's national show on Sirius Radio, Celtic Crush, and Irish radio shows hosted by The Hagerty's, The O'Connor's, Sean Ginneally, Maureen O'Looney, Harry Costello, Shay Clarke, and Bill Margeson, all got behind the events and spoke about them for weeks on air.