{"id":138480,"date":"2026-03-14T20:28:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T20:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/138480\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T20:28:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T20:28:11","slug":"friendly-sons-mark-120-years-in-scranton-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/138480\/","title":{"rendered":"Friendly Sons mark 120 years in Scranton"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the region\u2019s oldest and most well-known annual traditions continued Friday night as the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Lackawanna County celebrated its 120th anniversary dinner at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple.<\/p>\n

The event featured U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle as the keynote speaker. Scranton police Detective Kyle Gilmartin, who was shot in the head on duty in 2024, was presented with the President\u2019s Award, and Friendly Sons President Michael Brown passed the torch to his successor, Terrence R. Nealon Jr.<\/p>\n

Other prominent guests who gave brief remarks included U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan, Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti \u2014 who aims to unseat Bresnahan in the 8th Congressional District \u2014 and Bishop of Scranton Joseph Bambera.<\/p>\n

Irish roots<\/p>\n

Boyle, 49, who was born in Philadelphia and is the son of an Irish immigrant, touched on the history of the dinner and the prominent keynote speakers who have appeared in previous years.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis event truly has a proud history that is second to none. It was here Robert F. Kennedy delivered his first address after his brother President Kennedy\u2019s assassination. Other speakers have included Presidents Clinton and Biden, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and so many other prominent figures,\u201d Boyle said.<\/p>\n

Boyle graduated from Notre Dame University and received a master\u2019s degree in public policy from Harvard. He was elected to the House in 2014 and serves on the House Budget Committee and Ways and Means Committee. His 2nd District includes parts of Philadelphia and stretches out into areas of Montgomery County.<\/p>\n

Boyle reflected on how his speaking at the dinner was a full-circle moment for him and his family.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, tonight is obviously a special occasion for me, but it also happens to mark a wonderful coincidence, perhaps divine providence, because this date, March 13, has always been special in our family, for it was 56 years ago tonight that my father left County Donegal for the last time to come to America,\u201d Boyle said. \u201cMy dad immigrated to America when he was just 19 years old. Over the next half century, he worked in all sorts of tough, blue-collar jobs in order to provide for our family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boyle made the connection between his family\u2019s experience and the experiences of other Irish immigrants.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father\u2019s Irish immigrant journey, like that of my mother\u2019s parents, was both simultaneously remarkable and not unique, because my family story is your family story,\u201d Boyle said. \u201cIt is the story of so many Irish men and Irish women who came to our state and to our country. They worked in the factories, built the railroads, policed the streets and did so much more. They came here to build a life, and in doing so, they built a nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Boyle also spoke on the contributions the Irish made to the American Revolution, the historical struggles of famine and poverty among Irish immigrants, and the cultural pride that has been passed down from generations of Irish Americans in Pennsylvania and across the country.<\/p>\n

He concluded with another full-circle family story.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of my vivid, vivid memories from childhood was my parents writing letters to my grandfather in Donegal, telling him that in two weeks\u2019 time, on a certain day at a certain time, we would call him on one of the few phones that existed in the village so that he would be there waiting for the call,\u201d Boyle said. \u201cWell, today, my father sits at home watching Gaelic football games on an app on his cellphone while simultaneously texting with his sisters in County Mayo.\u201d<\/p>\n

Local hero honored<\/p>\n

Michael Brown, president of the Friendly Sons and owner of Andrew Brown\u2019s Drug Store and Home Health Care Center on Pittston Avenue in Scranton, honored Gilmartin with the President\u2019s Award. Gilmartin was shot twice at point-blank range on Jan. 11, 2024. Although he has had to relearn how to do specific tasks and still deals with daily pain, he was able last month in court to face and address his shooter, Aiden Deininger, and another man who had a role in the attack, Jeremiah Cleveland; they were sentenced to 25-83 years and 20-36 years in prison, respectively.<\/p>\n

Gilmartin\u2019s introduction was one of the most notable events of the evening, as he received a thunderous standing ovation from the crowd that lasted about 30 seconds, followed by a few seconds of silence and then another 15 seconds of applause.<\/p>\n

Gilmartin walked to the stage and addressed the crowd. He spoke only briefly but talked about how thankful he is for the love and support that he has received from the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, we\u2019re afloat because of this community, and that\u2019s what\u2019s most important,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I learned that this community supports its police officers, and wants the police here, and they have our back. \u2026 I can\u2019t thank this community enough, and \u2026 I\u2019m forever in your debt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gilmartin ended his remarks with an allusion to the importance of his faith, which he summed up with one of his favorite quotes, from the late basketball star Kobe Bryant.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said, \u2018Until you have to pick up that cross that you can\u2019t carry, and he picks it up for you and carries you on the cross, then you know.\u2019 And my faith has never been more pure or stronger in my life. God bless everybody. Thank you,\u201d Gilmartin said.<\/p>\n

Historical Significance<\/p>\n

A mainstay of local St. Patrick\u2019s Day celebrations, the Friendly Sons dinner has featured many high-profile speakers over the years:<\/p>\n

\u2022\u2002Native son and former President Joe Biden, as a senator in 1973 and as vice president in 2015.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u2002Robert F. Kennedy in 1964, following the assassination of his brother, President John F. Kennedy.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u2002John Mitchell, legendary union leader, in 1909.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u2002Former President Harry S. Truman, in 1956, 13 years after his first appearance at the dinner when he was still a U.S. senator from Missouri.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u2002Vice President Hubert Humphrey in 1968.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u2002Former President Bill Clinton in 2024.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u2002Various members of Congress, governors, leaders of Ireland, military leaders, church leaders and celebrities.<\/p>\n

Founded in 1906, the dinner had been held in downtown Scranton into the early 1980s, first at the Hotel Jermyn (1906-1910), then at the Hotel Casey (1911-1974), and then at St. Mary\u2019s Center (1975-1983). Its growth over the years prompted a move from St. Mary\u2019s to the Midvalley at Genetti Manor in Dickson City, where the annual dinner took place from 1984 until 2022.<\/p>\n

After Genetti Manor closed, the Friendly Sons held the 2023 dinner for the first time outside of Lackawanna County, at Mohegan Pennsylvania in Plains Twp., Luzerne County. In 2024, the dinner came home to Scranton, held for the first time at the landmark Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple, where it has been since.<\/p>\n

\"AttendeesAttendees to the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner mingle before the event at the Scranton Cultural Center in Scranton on Friday, March 13, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
\n\"AttendeesAttendees to the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner mingle before the event at the Scranton Cultural Center in Scranton on Friday, March 13, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
\n\"FriendlyFriendly Sons of St. Patrick President Michael Brown introduces speakers during the organization\u2019s dinner at the Scranton Cultural Center in Scranton on Friday, March 13, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
\n\"MayorMayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti speaks during the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner at the Scranton Cultural Center in Scranton on Friday, March 13, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
\n\"StateState Rep. Rob Bresnahan closes a binder labeled \u201cFriendly Sons Speech\u201d after finishing his remarks during the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner at the Scranton Cultural Center in Scranton on Friday, March 13, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
\n\"StateState Sen. Marty Flynn speaks during the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner at the Scranton Cultural Center in Scranton on Friday, March 13, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
\n\"U.S.U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle serves as the keynote speaker for the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner at the Scranton Cultural Center in Scranton on Friday, March 13, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
\n\"U.S.U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle speaks during the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner at the Scranton Cultural Center in Scranton on Friday, March 13, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA\/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"One of the region\u2019s oldest and most well-known annual traditions continued Friday night as the Friendly Sons of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":138380,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[201,182,803,139,28,29,50,178,180,179],"class_list":["post-138480","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-scranton","tag-lackawanna-county","tag-local-news","tag-luzerne-county","tag-news","tag-pennsylvania","tag-pennsylvania-news","tag-politics","tag-scranton","tag-scranton-headlines","tag-scranton-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138480"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138480\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/138380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138480"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}