I have been invited to attend the annual Saint Patrick's Day Breakfast as a guest of Massachusetts Senator Jack Hart. The event is more than a half-century old, and serves as a precursor to the annual South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade - which draws hundreds of thousands of spectators.Saint Patrick's Day is a huge event in my neighborhood in Boston because of the overwhelming Irish heritage of the residents. My maternal grandparents, John and Elizabeth (McCarthy) Cashman, came to South Boston from Cork, Ireland, in the 1920s. I still have a lot of family in Ireland today.
The Breakfast is located at the Boston Convention Center and is attended by top politicians in the city and the state. President Bush is very likely to call from the White House.
The Breakfast has grown from its humble beginnings at Dorgan’s Bayside, to the Ironworker’s Hall, and now the Convention Center. Last year at the Convention Center there were 700 attendees. The Breakfast began back in the days of State Senator Moakley, but Senate President William Bulger made it famous (or infamous...). He emceed the event for 30 years with eloquence and humor, permanently setting a high standard. Stephen Lynch followed as MC for seven years. Jack Hart has been doing the honors with great success since 2003!
The TV Breakfast can be seen in all of New England, New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. on Sunday, March 16 at 10 am - so be sure to tune in!
