Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh

[
Old Bridge, New Jersey] The Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh is an Irish-American fraternal organization founded in 1964 by Jack Dunphy and Harry Knox initially to get an Irish group from Old Bridge, New Jersey to march in the Newark, New Jersey Saint Patrick's Day parade.

Origin of the name and Jackie Gleason

(Note: The following is taken from the club's website, the original URL and complete story can be found at [http://www.fsos.com/jackie_gleason.htm this page] .)

Our club’s connection to Mr. Gleason goes back nearly 40 years. On March 15, 1964, our organization marched in their first parade in Newark, and thereafter, they met every month in the clubs and restaurants in Old Bridge (Madison Township). All the while, they dreamed of one day having their own place to meet. They kept the faith, and with great courage, the leaders bought property in Old Bridge, and supported by the members, were able to build a site.

Next, an official name, a title, for such a fine group that had formed was sought. Ideas were shared, and disagreements were many. Suddenly, as if sent down by Saint Patrick himself, there it was. A phrase spoken during a scene on the immensely popular Jackie Gleason show. It appeared during the "Joe the Bartender" skit. When Crazy Guggenheim asked "Joe The Bartender" where another regular character on the show was that evening, namely Mr. Dunnahey, "Joe The Bartender" answered, Oh, he’s down at the "Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh". And so it was.

Permission was sought to use the phrase, and was graciously granted, along with a personalized oil painting of himself, "The Great One". He gave us his blessing in using the infamous slogan from his show, and the rest is history.

Current functions

The FSOS currently counts several hundred members in its Old Bridge chapter alone. The club has since expanded to chapters in Belmar, New Jersey, West Orange, New Jersey, and northeastern Pennsylvania. Its pipe and drum band has competed internationally and has won awards in the United States, Ireland, and Scotland. The group also makes its largest showing at the Belmar, New Jersey Saint Patrick's Day parade every year.

External links

* [http://www.fsos.com/ The Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh home page]