Beverly Man Pops The Question During South Side Irish Parade

CHICAGO, IL — Love was in the air at the South Side Irish Parade on Sunday. Jim Trolia Jr. popped the question to Amanda Gardner on the sidelines, with the help of some wee folk from Ireland.

Amanda got the surprise of her life when father-and-son leprechauns Dennis and Ryan Dooley, sought out her 5-year-old daughter Molly on the parade sidelines. Thinking the leprechauns were there for her daughter, Amanda urged Molly to pose for a picture with the wee folk.

Then the leprechauns asked for "Jimmy," informing him they had found his pot of gold. Handing Jim a green felt ring box, he promptly got down on one knee and proposed to Amanda, who looked pleasantly shocked. She said yes.

Jim Trolia Sr. was in on the planning, with a little help from an Italian leprechaun, Crestwood Mayor Lou Presta.

“I had to meet the leprechauns,” Jim Sr. said. “Lou told me Dennis might be hard to get hold of. They like to drink a wee bit.”

Jim and Amanda are planning a romantic beach wedding this June in Sanibel Island, Florida. The couple plans to honeymoon in Ireland.

“She’s a really nice girl,” Jim Sr. said.

The Trolias own and operate Beverly Ridge Funeral Home. Patch editor Tim Moran caught the other parade proposal on the Beverly-MtGreenwood Patch Facebook live stream.