Initially instated in December of 1993 by former founding club members John Connolly, Phillip Eaton and Colleen LaPlante, the club flourished until 2008 when it suffered some losses and had to be put on hold. In 2017, Club President, Kelly Zawierucha, reinstated the 501(c)3 and the club has been making a strong comeback holding quite a few events in the community.
The Toledo Irish American Club’s mission statement ran as follow:
1. To form a social club for persons of Irish birth or ancestry and all others who are interested in the promotion and study of the history and culture of Ireland.
2. To foster the love and appreciation of Irish music, literature, dancing and sports.
3. To provide clubrooms where the members may enjoy the society of each other and their families.
4. To provide a St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
5. To impress fully upon the members loyalty to the United States, the State of Ohio and they City of their residence.
While the club did not do parade’s, what primarily did evolve and what they become known for, was an annual Irish Summer Festival in Toledo. The club ran consecutively until 2008 in which then the club suffered financial losses due to inclement weather at their festival. Honoring the debts the club went on hiatus for awhile but in the Fall of 2017, Club President, Kelly Zawierucha, reinstated the 501(c)3 and the club has been making a strong comeback holding quite a few events in the community.
