Main Street Goes Green

Early March in Belmar brings a familiar sight with a long line of green jackets moving down Main Street, Irish music in the air, and the community ready to celebrate the first sign that spring is coming. The Belmar/Lake Como Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, which takes place on the first Sunday in March, is one of New Jersey’s most beloved Irish celebrations for the aptly dubbed “Irish Riviera.”

The “Irish Riviera” name grew out of a very strong Irish-American presence along the Monmouth County coast. It was likely popularized by Irish immigrant Martin Maloney in the early 20th-century to describe the area’s unique seaside charm and its cultural ties to Ireland. Spring Lake has long had one of the highest percentages of residents with Irish ancestry in the United States, and at times ranking near the top of all U.S. municipalities. This prominent Irish heritage gave the community an identity distinct from other Jersey Shore towns, where Irish customs, social life, and community organizations flourish in the area.

Celebrating Heritage

One such organization is the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh of the Jersey Shore, an Irish heritage organization whose members have become synonymous with the Belmar Parade. The group was founded in Belmar in 1991 as an extension of the original Old Bridge chapter, and the club has grown into one of the largest and most active Irish-American organizations in the state, with nearly 1,500 members who share a passion for tradition, community, and service.

“The parade is a fantastic outward display of Irish pride, which our members get to take part in each year,” says Ryan Lavender, vice president of the Belmar chapter. For decades, the Friendly Sons have been woven into the parade’s story, long before the Belmar group was formed, with the Old Bridge chapter marching every year and Belmar members joining in since the chapter’s inception. “Many past Grand Marshals have come from our membership, and several club members are also on the Belmar/Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Committee.”

Their involvement has helped shape the parade’s identity with more than 800 green-jacketed Sons now making the march down Main Street during a celebration that attracts families, neighbors, and friends from across the region.

For Mike Drury, Sea Girt resident and FSOS member, the parade holds a very special place in his heart. “I have many heartwarming pictures of grandchildren running to greet me. This is a Drury tradition. My father was a member of the West Orange FSOS, marched every March in the West Orange parade, and I remember my children running to greet him.”

For the members themselves, the parade holds a special meaning. Beyond the pageantry, it’s a day when the club’s mission, which is celebrating heritage while strengthening community bonds, comes alive in the streets.

“So many community members come out to support the parade that you will recognize friends and neighbors all along the parade route,” Lavender reflects. And for many, the festivities don’t end with the march. “Back at the clubhouse, members are joined by their families to celebrate the rest of the day,” he says.

That sense of community is a cornerstone of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh of the Jersey Shore. Membership spans generations and professions, from young men in their twenties to members over 100, and includes tradesmen, small-business owners, judges, doctors, and elected officials. While the club is a men’s organization, it enjoys tremendous support from the women in our lives and from the members of the Women of Irish Heritage of the Jersey Shore who are also actively involved in volunteering and running our events. “Inside the clubhouse, we are all equals, bound together by friendship and respect,” says Lavender.

A Cultural Hub

That clubhouse, located at 815 16 Ave. in Belmar, serves as a hub for cultural activities and charitable outreach throughout the year. The club raises funds for various charities and sponsors a wide range of events and community programs, including the Polar Plunge. During Thanksgiving, there is a food drive that provides over 300 families with a bountiful feast, and during Christmas, there is a toy drive that collects tens of thousands of toys. According to Sea Girt resident and FSOS member Mike Drury, “Those within the club responsible for the drive are not bashful in haranguing members to contribute.” They are all part of their mission to “honor our heritage while making a positive impact in the lives of our members and our community.”

For Lavender, personal involvement began in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, when he first encountered the Friendly Sons at an event thanking Belmar’s first responders. “I was impressed by their level of support for the community,” he recalls, and when a friend offered him an application, “I joined as soon as I could.” He now describes membership as a rich blend of social connection and meaningful service. “The camaraderie and friendships I’ve made as a result of my involvement will stay with me for a lifetime.”

As the parade winds down each year, a quiet tradition caps the celebration. The pipe band separates and plays “Amazing Grace,” and the membership walks the final steps of the route together. It’s a moment that is a reminder that behind the color and fanfare is a group bound by shared history and community pride.

Portrait photography by Christina Lilly; Parade photography by Dave Matteo

Danielle Kutcher is a retired elementary teacher and mom of three. She loves to read, walk on the beach, and go on adventures with her family.