Chicago has many attractions that would appeal to Irish visitors, and holds events with an Irish flavour all year round

BIRMINGHAM'S booming Irish Quarter could benefit from a further tourism boost if a daily flight between Chicago and Birmingham International airport is re-introduced.
The service was initially launched in 1995 in a blaze of glory by American Airlines, providing a link between Birmingham and one of its twin cities.
It was later suspended as part of a package of cuts implemented by American Airlines in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks but in February 2002 the airline announced it was to re-introduce the service in April that year.
The optimism regarding its return was short-lived, however, and in July of the same year the service was axed.
The airline claimed the service, which also offered the possibility of onward connections within the United States, was under-used but its abolition was part of a swathe of cuts aimed at reducing the company's costs.
Since then a direct flight between Birmingham and Chicago has been launched by Pakistan International Airways but it operates only twice a week.
The leader of Birmingham City Council, Cllr Mike Whitby, has now been involved with talks with the Mayor of Chicago, Richard Daley, about the possibility of the flight being re-introduced.
It is understood a number of operators are interested in the route and negotiations about it are ongoing.
Cllr Whitby (Con, Harborne) said: "There are a range of partners we are talking to including one airline that is seriously considering starting a direct flight between Birmingham and Chicago. I can't guarantee that this will happen but there is certainly a lot of interest from operators."
Cllr Whitby added that Chicago boasted a growing market for short breaks to Britain and many people travelling to the region would be interested in taking in the Irish Quarter.
Chicago is one of America's largest cities and also boasts a large proportion of people who claim Irish descent.
Mayor Daley forebears originally emigrated to America from Ireland and many of the city's key figures also claim Irish ancestry.
It is thought the ever growing Birmingham St Patrick's Parade could prove popular with Irish Americans in Chicago and even those from further afield. Chicago is around three times the size of Birmingham with a population of almost three million people.
If a direct flight were re-introduced it would also increase the opportunities for first and second generation Irish people in the Midlands to visit relatives in the US or partake of cultural events being held there.
Chicago has many attractions that would appeal to Irish visitors, including Gaelic Park, a complex that is the home of Chicago GAA and which holds events with an Irish flavour all year round.
The city also holds an Irish American Heritage Festival in July each year.
A spokeswoman for Birmingham International Airport said representatives of the Birmingham business community have for some time been keen to see the re-introduction of the service, though as yet no operator has made any commitment to take it on.