Getting ready for the Restaurant Run. In two years the Restaurant Run on Half Marathon day has become an institution. What was an innovative idea last year was taken for granted by runners and spectators this year. Last year it was innovative. This year it was expected and nearly perfect. ...read more

I am delighted to have this opportunity to pay my first visit to New Bedford and I want to thank the President of the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick, Chris Donnelly, and the officers of the Society for inviting me to join you this evening on the occasion of your Annual Dinner Dance. I would also like to acknowledge the other honoured guests here this evening including the Mayor of New Bedford, Scott Lang, and I would like to congratulate the honorees who are to be recognised here tonight. ...read more

Flag Raising Ceremony – Members of the local delegation, city officials and members of the Irish-American community will participate in a ceremony to raise the Irish flag at New Bedford City Hall. The flag raising ceremony is in recognition of the many achievements, contributions, and successes of Americans of Irish decent as well as the Irish in America. ...read more

The second in the series of Irish-themed lectures at the Whaling Museum is scheduled for February 11 at 8 p.m. as part of AHA night – Don Cuddy,  a native of Dublin and a staff writer at the Standard-Times in New Bedford will be this month’s guest speaker. ...read more

The turkeys were generously donated by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick – Operation Turkey 2009, spearheaded by New Bedford’s Veteran’s Agent Donat “Dan” Le Blanc in collaboration with the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Chapter 499, The Veterans Transition House and students of the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School provided over 350 Thanksgiving meals to area veterans and their families. ...read more

Dan McCarthy, 32, lives in New Bedford and works in financial services. But as one of the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick, he is also co-chairman — along with Steve Beauregard — of the 2009 New Bedford Half Marathon race committee. ...read more

Runners and their supporters of this year’s New Bedford Half Marathon can expect some guest appearances from some national and local celebrities beginning with pre-registration at the YMCA on Saturday afternoon, the day before the March 15th race. Rick and Dick Hoyt of Team Hoyt and Biggest Loser celebrities Marc and Jay Kruger will be running the 13.1 mile race. They will also meet and greet runners and their families at pre-registration at the YMCA on Saturday afternoon. And, two-time Boston Marathon winner and current New Bedford Half Marathon record holder Geoff Smith will also be playing a role in the 32nd running of the Half Marathon. ...read more

NEW BEDFORD — The future of the New Bedford Half Marathon, one of the city’s signature events, is now in the hands of the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick. “We know we can do it,” Friendly Sons president Chris Donnelly said. “We have the people and we have the contacts. Now we will sit down with them to work out a strategy for next year. This race has been run so well for so long we felt it would be a shame just to let it go.” ...read more

Buncrana Mayor Paul Bradley, who took part in an historic cross-border trade delegation to New Bedford, Massachusetts on St Patrick’s weekend, says the trip was “an education to us all” and a great success. Firstly, he explained the many similarities between New Bedford and Derry/Buncrana. ...read more

With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, one would expect our local Friendly Sons of St. Patrick to throw open the doors for a true Irish celebration.  For sixty-seven years, the Friendly Sons have done just that with their annual dinner-dance as their way of celebrating the Feast of St. Patrick. ...read more