The Order Of The Friendly Sons Of The Shillelagh

Congrats to all our members celebrating anniversaries... somebody deserves a beer.

30 Years with the FSOS

Smitty Tolan

20 Years with the FSOS

Marty Cameron

10 Years with the FSOS

Scott Howard

There is only one word to describe second annual great Guinness Toast, brilliant!

The turnout was fantastic as over 80 Guinness lovers joined toastmaster Joe Patterson to raise their pints in a simultaneous world wide toast. There was a toast every hour on the hour beginning at 9pm and ending with a “guest toast” by Mr. Jack “Tiny” Redden” at 1am. There were numerous prizes given away, with more than 80 winners going home with t-shirts, framed pictures, flags, Guinness and Harp beer glasses, and even a Guinness pocket watch!

And did I mention we had music? The music was continuous throughout the evening as the Bogside Rogues(unplugged) featuring Bob Hurst on accordion and Tim Murphy on guitar kept folks tapping their toes and singing along to traditional Irish songs with an upbeat twist on many old favorites and some new ones too. Many of those in attendance asked the question, “When are these guys coming back?”. All I can say is "Watch this space!"

Pouring the perfect pints this night were bartenders Mark McCarthy and Cary Windisch did a fine job as well, they kept the black stuff flowing and the thirsty crowd satisfied  as four kegs of the Guinness were consumed in four hours.... could be a record.

Article by Joe Patterson.... BRILLIANT!

Photos by Jackie Patterson

Born in New Brunswick, NJ on August 26, 1961, he is the second of seven children born to Vincent and Ann. He grew up on Gerard Avenue in Old Bridge, attended St. Ambrose School, Jonas Salk Middle School and graduated from Madison High School in 1979.

After leaving school, he joined the US Navy and served aboard the USS LY Spear. On his discharge from the Navy he returned to Old Bridge and started his own contracting business, KW Construction. In 1986, he married his lovely wife, Catherine Murphy. The family of two became a family of four with the birth of sons, Sean and Ryan.

In 1990 he joined the FSOS and since then has been involved in numerous club projects. The list of projects is endless but here are a few, The renovation of the bar, building of the storage shed, adding new siding to the building, renovation of the lounge, construction of the Pavilion. The project to repair both bathrooms had him working 10-12 hours a day at the club. Kevin was instrumental in re-roofing the building and installing the new A.C. System at substantial savings to our club. It was Kevin that started what has become known as the Annual Pig Roast, by staying overnight and cooking pigs in a barbecue pit.

Throughout all of this Kevin found time to serve on the FSOS Executive Board. He served first as a Keeper, then as Vice-President and eventually President for 2006 - 2007. Being an elected officer for most of his time with the FSOS he was ineligible for this prestigious award. In what is seen as an award that’s  long overdue to a man that has given so much of himself to our organization, I give you the FSOS Irishman Of The Year, Kevin Wyer.

Article by Larry McGrath

Congrats to all our members celebrating anniversaries... somebody deserves a beer.

10 Years with the FSOS

Paul Benoit
Michael Connolly
John Reinhardt

5 Years with the FSOS

Andrew Ahern
Chris Finnegan

From Bourbon St to Jackson Sq there was not an empty seat in the place as the third annual Mardi Gras Celebration got underway at the FSOS. What do you get when you mix 150 partygoers, cold beer, masks, beads, jambalaya, a very big spoon, flying bras and the hot hot hot VooDudes? You get a night to remember. 

While music and merriment ruled the night it was Chef DeMaio & Co that ruled the day. Yes ladies, he's quite something in an apron, top had and beads. And when he starts to wield that spatula... LOOK OUT. Crab cakes, roast pork, chicken alfredo were just some of the dishes seasoned to a high heat. There's nothing like a hot dish to warm the heart on a cold night and still other parts the day after.

Guest Chef Tom McGrath brought his own cast iron cauldron. I went to lift it. Then thought, "maybe not". With cauldron on stove he produced one of the dead sea scrolls. The one with the recipe for Jambalaya. You think I'm kidding. I'm not. Missing only his black cape he stepped up to the cauldron and did that voodoo that he do so well. Buffet complete.   

With appetites satisfied and tables cleared, the VooDudes took to the stage and proceeded to fill the hall with there own special brand of blues and rock. Tim Black was first on the floor determined to earn his beads, he wasn't alone for long. Rumour has it that Charlie Donnelly stepped out there to do some stompin' of his own and didn't even break a sweat... Kathleen, loooookout.

Joe Patterson, John Reilly & Jim Connor were a little dismayed to see the ladies abusing some of the decorations that they'd hung so carefully. I can't mention names but these girls had no shame. They spent much of the evening augmenting one of our wall hangings until it could easily have passed for a viagara commercial... they got beads... lots of beads.... and tinsel as well. While I can't say who they were, I can say that John Wagle, Dave Delaney and Denis Sullivan left early with them and gave me a $100 tip.

And then of course there was the incident with the spoon. What do you get when you put Tommy Keegan between two lovely ladies with a spoon and 80 feet of string? A memory that will take many years of therapy to erase. The ladies are still recovering, Barney Shannon has already sent flowers and the charges have been dropped.

Betsy Keubler was also busy that night taking photos while husband George was in the kitchen. She has set some of them to music in what can only be described as a gem. Disclaimer: We warn our viewers in advance that some of this content may be disturbing.

There is so much preparation that goes into making it happen. Some of the unsung heros who invested much of their time into producing this event are Scott Fitzgerald, Wayne Miller, Gary Murphy. All worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring about this great night and the many others we've put on over the past few years.

Once again the bar has been raised for parties at the FSOS. As for Mr Sheridan and his Irish Mafia, they are already planning the next... and still looking for that spoon.

More Photos

With a major snowfall predicted for the weekend it has  been decided to postpone Pub Nite until Friday, February 26.

Didn't think it was possible to go any greener... think again. Cutting back on our printing and mailing needs was just the first step. Now we've focused on our electrical consumption. Each night on leaving the club the last person exiting the facility must turn off lights, tvs and video games etc. More often than not this fails to be fully completed. With switches,outlets and remotes in various locations in the building,something is always left on. This means we are consuming electricity we do not need but will nonetheless see reflected in our electricity bill and bank account. It's a constant and pointless drain on the electric grid and our bank account.

Now we've found a way to reduce this needless waste with the installation of the GreenSwitch. This is a device that ties a designated set of appliances and outlets to a single switch, the GreenSwitch. So all we have to do is hit one switch to shut off all of these devices on exiting the building... of course, you do have to hit the switch.

So if you're the last man out.... HIT THE SWITCH... or Larry McGrath and Walter Farrell will find you... and I bet we could sell tickets to see what happens next.

For More informaton on the GreenSwitch at the club see a letter from Rob McKiernan

Congrats to Chad Hobbs and his lovely wife Jackie who gave birth to a baby boy yesterday. 

Roy Hobbs (attach lightning bolt if you like)
8 lbs. 6 ounces and 20.5 inches long

All are doing well.

Jets are in the playoffs so we've moved Saturday Night Live to the 23rd. This weekend is Jets Weekend. So put on your Jets gear and come on down... Chargers fans are welcome... grief councellors will be on hand all weekend. Yes, we are that warm and fuzzy at the FSOS. Nahhhh, we don't care about your pain.

GO JETS