History

The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick - Cincinnati came into being in 1868, with its first banquet in 1869. The originators of the Society were both Protestants and Catholic and the Society has maintained a tradition of openness to Irish as well as non-Irish men of good will, without regard to ethnic or religious origins.

There were two predecessors to the Cincinnati Society - Philadelphia, founded in 1771 and New York, founded in 1784.

The First Banquet

The Cincinnati Enquirer of March 18, 1869 described the first banquet of The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick - Cincinnati held at the St. Nicholas Hotel. It described at length the opening remarks of Dr. George A. Doherty, the first president. After dinner there were a series of toasts by prominent dignitaries, including Judge Mallon, James W. Fitzgerald, Esq., U.S. Senator George H. Pendleton and Mayor Charles F. Wilstach. The final toast was presented by Society President, Dr. Doherty. Clearly our founders had a sense of history and have carried on many of the traditions of our predecessor's chapters. Throughout the years the Presidents of this Society have endeavored to maintain those traditions, including the annual elaborate formal banquet.