Terry Griffin Wins First Place in Reilly's Daughter's Irish Soda Bread Contest

Photos: St. Patrick's Day Parade Queen Erin Mulcahy with Irish soda bread contest winner Terry Griffin, and Brendon O'Brien, owner of Reilly's Daughter.

Irish eyes were smiling down on South Side native Terry Griffin, took top honors at Reilly’s Daughter’s Original South Side Irish Soda Bread contest on Saturday afternoon.

After a 12-year absence from 111th Street and Pulaski, Reilly’s Daughter’s venerable contest roared back in a big way with 116 entries.

Griffin has entered the contest three times over past 27 years, but had placed second and third in years before. This is her first time winning the grand prize -- a trip for two to Ireland.

Reilly’s Daughter was packed as it kicked off a week of St. Patrick’s Day events. Some of the local luminaries serving as judges in the contest included former Reilly’s Daughter bartender Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th), Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Rep. Kelly Burke, Skinny Sheehan, Sen. Bill Cunningham and downtown Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Queen Erin Mulcahy.

For the week’s full lineup of St. Patrick’s Day events, visit Reilly’s Daughter Oak Lawn’s Facebook page.