A sober St.Patrick’s Day party is goal of new Manhattan event

What a wonderful idea!!!! As a recovering alcoholic of Irish descent I am all for this....There is so much more to Irish culture than drinking.... Sooooo much more.....

Great Idea.... one Irish Americans should really support... look for the true beauty in our Irish culture and families not just an invented idea of what we are that includes a disgusting stereotype of alcohol use among Irish people

Top marks to all of 'em. Now that's the Irish spirit for ya. Would almost support the reintroduction of prohibition other than it might confer unintentional status on the demon brew. ALso must admit my admiration for Fr. Theobald Matthews, luminary of the Irish temperance movement.

ANNIVERSARY Good morning bright eyes, feeling pretty good today? No sight blurring headache or racing heart, or memory cobwebs to sweep away, No worrying about what happened last night, or wondering about the location of your car, No hoping you didn’t act like a fool, or how much money you blew at some bar, No anxiety about today or the burning desire for a calming breakfast beer, No waiting until afternoon, to have a thought that’s vaguely clear, No being locked up for vehicular manslaughter,for being the cause of some innocent’s doom, No never waking up at all, and lying in a hospital’s coldest room, No more ruining the lives and dreams, of the people that you love so dearly, You’ve found within yourself the resolve, to face life with a brain that now can think clearly, No more being a stumbling, bumbling, moronically inconsiderate, stupid, drunken S.O.B. What a great morning to thank God, for the precious gift of your sobriety, Congratulations on your anniversary, I know it was a sometimes impossible climb, Just remember how you got there……”ONE DAY AT A TIME”. ©May 20, 1988 Jerry O’Neill

A great idea, this should have happened long ago!

Mr. Really has a wonderful idea and I hope he will achive his very worthy goal.If he does, then the anti-Irish media will have fewer reasons to condemn, ridicule and demonize those who participate in the world's greatest parade. The NYC St. Parick's Day padare means diffent things to different people. But to me it is an ocassion for celebrating the patron saint of Ireland, who is also the patron of the New York Archdiocese, the saint who preached the Christian faith to the people of Ireland. In addition, it is an event whose participants represent all of Ireland (an tír uile agus gach roinn di), never a march for Partition. Therefore, we should all give Reilly our fullest support and make sobriety the order of the day. Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig ar gach éinne.

I think it's great! I'm not going to be able to go, but for sure, I'm telling everyone I know about it. Has it been advertised widely enough so that people on the parade route know where to go?

This is the type of article I would like to see more of in Irish Central. How about an article on the Pioneers next.

This is the BEST idea for celebrating St. Patrick's Day I've seen in years! Congrats to all who put it together! The many aspects of this special event (a goal of having fun while enjoying sobriety, an awareness of the disease of addiction, the great line-up of Irish arts performers, "reclaiming the true spirit of St. Patrick's Day", getting rid of the stereotypes that result from the association of the Irish with drinking, etc.) are enough to make many of us drive from far and wide to join you! As the mom of an addict, I'm thrilled to see the Irish undertaking these efforts to prevent alcoholism and the many deadly results that come from it. Thank you, thank you, thank you....

Good luck to them,it's better to see something done proactive rather than just folding up the tent like San Antonio did.All it takes is conviction and leadership!

What a great idea! More power to them.

Great! I went to Regis HS and my relatives in Ireland drink lightly and socially, and always have. And some own pubs! I hope Regis become too small a venue for this event. .. P.S. Regis has a great theater and an Irish play around St. Patrick's day would be a nice addition.

What a brilliant initiative. There is huge need for these sober events. Many thanks to all concerned. Another way to help loved ones in the grips of addiction is through membership of a truly Irish society - The Pioneers - but it's not for the faint hearted.

Sounds like a great event with an impressive line-up of guests!