A Salute to the Parkchester Bronx Irish Catholics

They called themselves "BICs" - Bronx Irish Catholics, obviously. Once a major social group within that borough, by the Seventies the Bronx Irish were rapidly disappearing, although there were still quite a few in Saint Raymond's Parish. (Ask an Irish Catholic where he's from and he'll almost always respond first with the name of his parish) - near the Parkchester housing development on the #6 line.

The BICs were a fun lot, whom I had the privilege of hanging around with during the mid-Seventies when I worked for a large Catholic organization. I've partied with a lot of different crowds, but these guys knew how to do it right! Some folks partied by getting drink or stoned and sitting there. Others danced to one type of music. BICs did everything. They were also down on pretense. It didn't matter how you dressed, or if you could afford the expensive stuff. Schaeffer beer was good enough for them. They were also about the most open crowd I've met. Forget the stereotype of the blue-collar white Archie Bunker; the BICs were quick to make friends with everyone.

How Irish were the BICs? I know, some folks from across the pond would laugh at them, calling such people "Plastic Paddies." A surprising number did have parents from Ireland, however, and it was amongst these folks that I actually first heard real Irish Republicanism. Some read a paper called The Irish People, which featured poems about young boys shot down by "drunk Saxon fiends."

And how Catholic were they? Well, the present Pontiff might not consider the BICs terribly observant of rigid doctrine, but most did go to Mass regularly, and were proud of their heritage. Before John Paul II, believe it or not, there was a brief period of Glastnost in the Church. Not only that, but going to Mass with a bunch of BICs was kind of fun. First, let me explain for the benefit of non-Catholic friends that there is a part of the Mass in which the priest asks the congregation to exchange with each other "the Sign of Peace." Most folks shake hands or give a light hug. Well, BICs showed much more enthusiasm, especially in mixed-gender groups! In addition, BIC priests gave short sermons that tended to avoid topics like birth control, and lots of the congregants headed for a drink afterwards. If more houses of worship ran their services like the BICs did, they would not have attendance problems.

The BICs are largely gone now. But the next time you have a pint of Harp, drink a toast to one of the Seventies' most fun-loving people.