Tinley Park parade offers Irish funeral for Teehan’s tavern

The last beer was spilled.

The final toasts were made.

The last laugh has been had.

And the last tears were shed.

Teehan’s, the long-running Irish bar in downtown Tinley Park, as it was known to those around it, had its last day on Sunday.

Accordingly, it is also the site of the 24th Tinley Park Irish Parade and where Teehan’s patrons are located at 17329 S. Oak Park Ave. It was the day they waved, booed and shouted from the establishment at.

171-year-old building will be demolished a close replica was erected As part of the village’s Harmony Square Plaza development.

But on Sunday, in the pub’s final hours, it was a chance for the public to get a little history and memories.

Joe Orozco of Tinley Park arrived 2.5 hours before the parade started to find a spot in the open field to watch the parade.

“I’ve been here defending this claim for almost 15 years,” Orozco said. “I always have good memories of this place and all my friends in the parade. “We are very sorry to see the change and hope it is for the best.”

Mike and Cindi Maus of Tinley Park have also staked their claim on the parade at Teehan’s in recent years.

“What could be better than watching an Irish parade in an Irish pub?” Cindi asked.

In addition to Sunday, Mike came to the tavern on Thursday and Friday afternoons to pay his respects.

Vernon Hills couple Nicole Seibt and Jeff Schmidt often watch the parade from another vantage point. But on Sunday, they wanted to be in Teehan to spend their last hurray.

Seibt grew up and lived in Tinley Park and enjoyed it over the years.

“I was able to walk here,” he said. “I used to come here on my days off and hang out with the shopkeepers.

“And of course, I loved music on the weekends and everyone in town would get together and you recognized familiar faces.”

Seibt said he was sorry to see him go.

“One million percent,” he said. “This is the heart of Tinley Park. Teehan’s has been here since 1917, and generations of people have come here.”

Seibt said he doesn’t think the new location will be exactly the same, but he’s happy to keep the name.

“I hope that name stays for however long Tinley Park is here, whether it’s another century or two,” he said. “Hopefully there will still be a building here that will be Teehan’s.”

Her husband came to appreciate Seibt over the 17 years he knew her.

“I loved the camaraderie,” Schmidt said. “People are great. It’s an old-school place to go out and hang out with people downtown.

Orozco is willing to give the new Teehan a chance after ownership passes from Regis Teehan to Durbin owner Tom McAuliffe.

“Regis is a great host and I hope for the best for him,” Orozco said. “I’ve seen some images and it looks like it could be close to that. They look like they’re going to have a roof.

“But if they tear this down, I’ll come back and buy a brick. “I’m not kidding, I’ve been standing in this spot for 15 years and I want a brick.”

Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz says he’s excited about the new Teehan

“It was amazing to see all the people who came were excited to see all the visuals,” Glotz said. “People are eagerly awaiting the new building and I hope it will be completed by February.”

He said the discounts would start in two weeks.

Teehan’s mourning began on Thursday with musical performances in the tavern and tent. Additionally, a funeral ceremony was held for the organization in Ireland on Saturday.

Thousands of people lined Oak Park Boulevard at the parade, and a warm and sunny (somewhat windy) day lifted many people’s spirits. Glotz said he hopes for a crowd of 20,000 people.

There were more than 80 vehicles along the route, including entries from community groups, area schools, dance groups and businesses.

Andrew High School’s Jeff Keane and John Tadia made the announcements downtown, and WGN-TV reporter Bronagh Tumulty was grand marshal.

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.