Political Quotes

“Mr. President, when many people think of Chicago, they think of Irish culture. Chicago's Irish American community is a thriving, invaluable part of the city. And no person represented the rich marriage of cultures more than my friend Billy Lawless. So, it is with great sadness that I share the news of his passing. Though Billy's path would later take him to Illinois, much of his life was spent in Ireland. A native of Galway, Billy grew up in a family that owned pubs and a hotel, instilling in him a passion for the hospitality industry from a young age. He long harbored dreams of opening a restaurant in the United States, but it was not until 1998--on the heels of his daughter earning a rowing scholarship at Boston University--that Billy made this dream a reality. He and his family moved to Chicago, and Billy soon fell deeply in love with the city, a love affair that would last until his final days. In Chicago, Billy combined his love for the restaurant industry with his love for Ireland, opening the bar, the Irish Oak, in the Wrigleyville neighborhood. In the wake of the bar's success, he opened several other bars and restaurants across the city, establishing himself as a mainstay of Chicago culture and eventually creating the Gage Hospitality Group. But what made Billy special was that he channeled his business power into political power, using his growing success to give back to both Chicago and America's Irish communities.…”