The 36th annual men’s black-tie dinner of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Jersey Shore will be held March 13 at Doolan’s, Spring Lake Heights.
Proceeds from the event benefit educational grants for deserving college-bound high school seniors of Irish heritage.
The highlight of the dinner will be the presentation of the Irishman of the Year award, which goes to “men who by word and deed have shown outstanding devotion to the United States and great pride in their Irish heritage.”
This year’s Irishman of the Year is the Rev. Brian Thomas Butch.
A Bayonne native, Butch and his siblings, Susan, Kerry, Megan and Kevin, were raised on the Jersey Shore, residing in both Ocean and Monmouth counties. He is the second of five offspring born to Kathleen (nee Finnerty) Butch and the late Donald C. Butch. His ancestry hails from Galway City, Portumna, Ballyhaunis and Tipperary. A 1979 graduate of Toms River North High School, he matriculated at George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
The Commodore John Barry Award will be given to U.S. Army Lt. Brian Brennan of Howell.
Brennan was deployed to Afghanistan and suffered critical injuries when an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded. As a result of his determination, hard work and positive attitude, Brennan is now walking on his prosthetics and looks forward to accepting the award, according to a press release.

