Irish Marching Society
IMS History
The Irish Marching Society (IMS) started in 1978 by five proud Irishmen who came together to celebrate their heritage. These founding fathers, Tom Lorden, Tom Cave, Ed Ziener, Vince McGuire and Bob McGraw, met, as you can imagine, in a local pub. The first party was originally planned for a small Faust Hotel meeting room, but as word spread of the celebration, the party was moved to the Junior Ballroom.
By 1984, the party had outgrown the Faust Hotel, and it was held in the Forest Hills Lodge. The party then moved to the Armory on North Main where it continued to grow in popularity. The largest estimated attendance was in 1991 when over 7,500 members, non-members and their kids had a grand time. With the closing of the Armory, the party has moved around the downtown area - the Ing Skating Palace in 2002 and the Lyran Singing Society in 2003.
The first parade was held in 1980 in downtown Rockford and the tradition has continued along various routes over the years. The parade includes not only members and their families, but bag pipe bands, high school bands, floats, a U.S. vice president, Illinois governors, an elephant, color guards, Miss Rockford, birds of prey and, of course, clowns.
The IMS was founded to help preserve and celebrate the Irish heritage. All event proceeds are contributed back to the community to various charities, with a total over $40,000 so far.
All the parade and party organizing, planning and executing is performed by volunteers dedicated to preserving the proud, giving spirit of the Irish people. The IMS has grown to over 300 dues paying members from the merry band of five who met in a pub.