[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18659]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   REMEMBERING MICHAEL JOSEPH O'SHEA

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, as I often point out, our country is a 
country of immigrants. And the City of Chicago, almost without rival, 
is a city of immigrants.
  Earlier this week, Chicago lost a wonderful adopted son.
  Michael Joseph O'Shea--``Joe,'' as his friends and family called 
him--was born in Ballynacally, County Clare, Ireland in 1937.
  He came to America in 1959, when he was just 18 years old, and like 
so many sons and daughters of Ireland before him, he quickly made 
Chicago his home.
  You knew Joe O'Shea was Irish before he ever opened his mouth. To 
borrow a phrase from Eugene O'Neill, he had the map of Ireland all over 
his face. And his face was rarely without a smile.
  There's an old Irish saying: ``Bricks and mortar make a house, but 
the laughter of children makes a home.'' Well, there was a lot of 
laughter in the home that Joe and his wife Mary made on the South Side 
of Chicago.
  Joe and Mary were blessed with four children: Michael, Daniel, 
Colleen, and my friend Sean, through whom I got to know Joe.
  In addition to the laughter of children--and later, grandchildren--
the O'Shea home was filled with something else almost as beautiful: the 
sounds of Irish music.
  Joe O'Shea was a past president of the Chicago Irish Music 
Association and he was one of the best Irish accordion players you have 
ever heard, or ever will hear.
  In 2000, Joe was honored to play for President and Mrs. Clinton at 
their annual St. Patrick's Day celebration at the White House. In the 
audience were many of the leaders of his adopted land as well as the 
Prime Minister and other visiting dignitaries from Ireland. It was a 
proud moment that Joe treasured.
  Joe's love of Irish music and dance and his masterful, joyful 
performances will help to keep that part of Chicago culture vibrant for 
many years to come.
  Like many Chicago families, the O'Shea family has split loyalties 
when it came to baseball. But they are united in love and support for 
each other.
  Loretta and I wish to express our deep condolences to Joe's wife, 
Mary, their children and their two beloved grandchildren, Declan and 
Delaney O'Shea, and to Joe's many friends in this Nation and in 
Ireland. May your cherished memories comfort you in this time of 
sorrow.

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