A bit of perspective from across the pond: Every year in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania (about 2 hrs drive west from NY) near the small city of Scranton, the locals of Irish blood host the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner. Your man Bertie Ahern was the guest of honor this year; my father had the opportunity to go this year, said it was a pretty good time. He said of Ahern that he was quite well-spoken and that he "sounds like he's in a bit of hot water these days." The Scranton area is home to many people of Irish blood; my family is still based in the small town where my great-great-great grandfather settled in the 1840s. Article
The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick got a bit of media attention here last week due to there no woman policy,the feminists were up in arms that Mr Ahern was meeting with them because of this.
Yeah I'm kind of surprised that it still goes on like that, but I think this event goes back many many generations ... and if I'm not mistaken, I think there is a corresponding women-only group anyway. Eh, whatever. Haha.