SARATOGA SPRINGS — Due to ongoing concerns regarding COVID-19, the Saratoga Springs chapter of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick will be canceling their annual dinner held on March 17. The group is a fraternal organization that meets once a year on St. Patrick’s Day to honor the patron saint of Ireland and raise money for local Catholic Charitable Organizations. The 2022 officers are: President Chris Spratt, Vice President Steve Sherwin, Treasurer Mike D’Arcy, Secretary Ryan Dennis, and Past President and Keeper of the Shillelagh Mark Philips.
The chapter’s 2022 goal is to make donations to their Charities through contributions from The Board of Governors and sponsored dinner guests.
Many cities throughout the country have chapters of the society, including Albany and Troy. One of the first chapters of the society was founded in post-revolutionary war New York City by Irish American Daniel McCormick. The purpose of the society was to help impoverished and displaced immigrants who had arrived in New York in the wake of the British evacuation. The first meeting of the New York City chapter was held in 1784 at
Cape’s Tavern.
The Philadelphia Friendly Sons of St. Patrick is believed to be the first chapter of the society and was founded in 1771. For more information visit friendlysons.com.
