Actor Aidan Quinn calls Beverly "a stronghold of Irish-American heritage" in a new documentary that debuted last night on WTTW - Channel 11.

The North Side has the Irish-American Heritage Center, but the South Side has enclaves of generations of proud Irish natives, some of the best pubs in the city, including Cork & Kerry and Gilhooley's - both of which are featured in the program - and the better of the city’s two St. Patrick's Day parades.

Sister Susan Sanders, R.S.M., vice president for University Mission and Heritage at Saint Xavier, talks about the roots of her family in Chicago. She relates the story of her parents leaving their adopted neighborhood of Bridgeport after the Polish moved in, telling her story in detail at – where else? – Gilhooley’s.

Irish-born Chicago cop and collector of traditional Irish music Francis O’Neill is buried right here at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, and the documentary doesn’t lack for detail in preserving his memory as it features tour guide John McLaughlin hosting a bike tour through Beverly and Morgan Park.

Not to play up the North Side-South Side thing too much, but we have to mention it: One of the hosts last night said the following that ticked me off (and rightfully so):

“Maybe you were raised on the South Side of Chicago – Beverly – and learned something tonight you didn’t know.”

Come on.

So the myth persists: Like Mrs. O’Leary, we South Siders are ignorant and provincial. We lack any knowledge of the world north of 87th Street. I think it’s safe to say that most Chicago Irish know plenty of their place in the city’s history – no matter if they were raised in Beverly or Edison Park.

Either way, don’t forget to catch the repeat episode at 8 p.m. March 16.