Robert Shanley
I have to tell you I did a double take with the following headline from the New Haven Register. ‘New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee to roast Orange man’.

Now I know many in the parade committee do not exactly embrace their Protestant brethren, but roasting an Orange man sounds a bit extreme!

Fortunately there is a rational explanation.

St. Patricks Day Committee Chairman Robert Shanley, who live in Orange, Connecticut will be roasted at a buffet on January 19th.

Not roasted as put on a spit and turned but rather taken to task in a gentle Irish fashion by his peers who like nothing more than some Irish humor.

Despite being from Orange, Robert Shanley is actually an outstanding Irishman.

As the New Haven Register notes he served as president of the Knights of St. Patrick; President of the Irish Immigration Reform Movement, New Haven Chapter, and served on its National Executive Committee helping more than 48,000 Irish immigrants in a three year period to legally enter this country via the Morrison Visa Program, many settling in the New Haven area, the release said.

He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, West Haven Irish American Club, Knights of St. Patrick, American Legion Post #88 (Hamden), and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.”

Quite a resume.