COACHES: COACH IRISH
"There are two kinds of people: those who are Irish, and those who wish they were."
 Coach Irish used to smile jokingly when he said the saying above. We laugh when we look back, because we know that the true saying is this: The two types of people are those who were touched by Irish's generosity and love, and those who wish they were.
It is in Coach Irish's memory that we dedicate each and every season.
Roland Carl "Irish" Irwin was born on February 26, 1925 in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in the midst of the Great Depression in a family with little to eat and nothing to own, save the clothes on their backs. Throughout his life, he often reflected on the Irwin Family's nightly ritual of having to stand in a soup line at the fire station across from Most Holy Trinity Church for their only meal of the day. Eventually, the harsh hunger of the Depression would end up confining both Irish and his brother Gale as wards of the state, hospitalized due to their malnutrition.
 It is well known how few and far between jobs were during the Great Depression. Adding insult to injury, though, was the sad abundance of "No Irish Need Apply" signs in the storefronts and businesses of the day. Many a person went hungry because they weren't given the opportunity to work. These types of experiences helped to make Coach Irish greener and more Irish than any Irishman could ever be. He loved Ireland and took great pride in his Irish heritage; he could always count on this pride and strength to get him through the tough times.
These types of challenges, however, never dimmed Coach Irish's patriotism. He served proudly in World War II; however, it was during this service that he suffered injuries that would leave him partially disabled for the remainder of his life. Too proud to discuss such things, Irish's many friends would never know of the sacrifices he had made defending his country.
After World War II, Irish became employed by the McLouth Steel mill as a laborer. He worked there for over 25 years, rarely missing a day of work. He raised his family and lived confortably in southwest Detroit for the rest of his life. To everyone he met, he was the friendly smiling Irishman.
 Coach Irish began coaching Redeemer cross-country in the Fall of 1986 at the request of his sons, Patrick and Erin. Irish was a natural in his role of providing a fatherly influence to the Redeemer athletes. Many a runner found his way to and from practice in Coach Irish's ever reliable 4-door Chrysler K-car. Of course many of those same runners had to share the seat with the ever-excitable team mascot Sheiba-dog!
During practice each day, while cross-country members ran around Patton Park, Coach Irish and Sheiba-dog could often be seen walking through the park encouraging the runners to do their very best. At the end of the hot practices you always knew that Coach Irish had an ample supply of cold water close by. As any runner would attest, Coach Irish's generosity simply had no end, and many runners benefited from a meal, some ice cream, or some other form of affection at Coach Irish's home.
Coach Irish passed away on September 16, 1995 during the midst of the annual cross-country trip to Ludington MI. It was a tragic loss to all. Coach Irish had taught many lessons: love of family, love of faith, and love of people. Rather than turn bitter at the discrimination he faced while growing up, he became devoted to making things better for the youth of Holy Redeemer. Coach Irish always believed there wasn't a thing that love, prayer, and hard work could not accomplish. He had a great faith in everyone and everything. He often said, "the Heavens above give testimony to the living God."
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