SOUTH FLORIDA EMERALD SOCIETY

It started in 1949! On March 17, 1949, ten local businessmen of Irish ancestry got together to honor the Patron Saint of Ireland. This American Irish group formed a Charter: “To establish an organization composed of true Sons of Erin in whom would burn the flame of a genuine love for the Emerald Isle.” And so, the seed for the Emerald Society was planted.

That famous group of ten were Joseph M. Fitzgerald, Edward M. and Anthony A. Fleming, W.C. Callahan, E.V. Duffy, John J. Dunne, D.J. Shanahan, F. J. Rooney, A.P. MacVeaney and J. G. Flynn. These fine gentlemen were business and professional men, many of them prime movers of the growth of Miami into a thriving metropolis of the South in the 1950s and years forward.

Membership requirements were specific in: “Gentlemen of a minimum age of 21 years, citizens of the United States of America, natives or descendants of natives of Ireland and of good moral character.” Gentlemen meeting these requirements would be eligible for admission by invitation.

The long-established existence of Emerald Societies from northern climes were happy to assist with general guidelines and our pattern of growth and aims of the preamble of charters. They all agreed to the Mission Statement proudly displayed above.

The organization grew and prospered primarily as a social organization of comparatively low profile, emerging to hold a St. Patrick’s Day Ball, during which the incoming officers and directors were introduced, to promote Irish interests or to donate funds, Irish or other Irish artifacts to Biscayne College or other deserving institutions. The Emeralds fostered a benevolent atmosphere in which members assisted one another.

In 1952 the first official/elected Executive Board and Directors were voted in under the new Charter. That first Executive Board included Frank J. Rooney as President, John J. Dunne as VP, Ed Duffy as Secretary/Treasurer and Joseph M. Fitzgerald as Historian. Ed Duffy later became the 4th elected President and Joseph Fitzgerald the 6th. Over the next years, like Miami, our numbers ebbed and flowed, but the brotherhood and friendships never diminished.

In 1978, under the Presidency of Frank J. Slattery, Miami saw the first presentation of our very own St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival, which had been in the planning stage for over a year. John Shields and Jack Casey became the first Parade/Festival Chairs, with Dr. James McCormick as the principal motivator. Orange Bowl Parade Chairman, Dan McNamara, stepped up to the plate and guided the Emeralds in all aspects of parades and festivals. Unlike the Orange Bowl, we had no funds or funding and the Emeralds did a lot of praying, raffling, 50/50s, begging and promising and raised the thousands of dollars necessary to get us on the street! That parade started just north of the Everglades Hotel went south on Biscayne Boulevard and turned west on Flagler Street to proceed to the reviewing stand located directly in front of the Metro Dade Courthouse. The second parade, chaired by Dr. Jim McCormick, saw the institution of Miss Miami Colleen and we welcomed the Boston Police Emerald Society, whose members marched with us in the sun!

Subsequent parades encountered varying degrees of support and discouragement. One of our most enthusiastic supporters was Emerald Member the Hon. Mayor of Metro Dade County, Steve Clark, who, along with the Tourist Development Council, contributed substantial funds to offset our expenses and Governor Bob Graham signed our first St. Patrick’s Day Proclamation.

In 1981, Parade Chair, Jim Keavney, invited Ireland’s Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism, the Hon. Desmond O’Malley, who happily accepted as International Grand Marshal, and another invitation went out and was accepted by the former song and dance film star Sen. George Murphy to join us a Grand Marshal. We again welcomed the Boston Police Emerald Society.

In 1982, Chairs Dan Brennan and John Shields invited the Hon. Hugh Coveney, TD, the Lord Mayor of Cork to Miami to serve as International Grand Marshall. Mayor Coveney was delighted to accept and accompanying him on this trip were 50 members of the Cork Garda Choir. Additionally, the world famous New York Police Department Emerald Society Pipe Band put in the first of many appearances. Our much beloved Dan Brennan passed away the morning of the Festival and there were many tears of farewell shed and many glasses raised in tribute.

A few years later, we inaugurated the St. Patrick’s Day Festival, being held the day after the Parade at the beautiful Bayfront Park. For several years this was the official “home” of the Festival until the specter of development reared its ugly head and we were forced to find a new Festival venue. We moved to the newly constructed Wolfson Campus in Miami and moved back to a one day event. We were at Wolfson for a several years and then moved south to the Riverwalk behind the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Again, downtown Miami was experiencing growing pains and so was the Parade and Festival. In 1990 we left Miami and moved to glorious Miami Beach. We paraded down Ocean Drive and held our festival at South Pointe Park. After three wonderful years on the Beach, the business leaders decided our family oriented Parade and Festival did not fit the image they were looking for, so again, the hunt was on for another new home. Our image coincided with that of Miami Springs and we had a great turnout all along the parade route and then following at the Miami Springs Country Club for our Festival.

Sadly, Miami Springs city leaders could not offer the monetary assistance to the Parade and Festival and, after many years, and with heavy hearts it was decided to not only leave Miami Springs, but to discontinue the Parade and concentrate on presenting a day of family fun at our Irish Festival. In 1999, at the insistence of former Mayor of Coral Gables, Emerald Member and Honorary Grand Marshal of the Parade we were graciously invited to move our Festival to Coral Gables, The City Beautiful. We have been in residence there, one day a year, for 21 years. Come join us at the Fred B. Hartnett Park for our Annual Irish Festival the Saturday BEFORE St. Patrick’s Day.

The famous ten originators of the Emerald Society are long gone, but through their efforts and family members, the organization continues to this day. The names have changed over the years, yet many are the same. The original ten left a legacy of determination, dignity, love, laughter and family in true Irish tradition. With those building blocks, the South Florida Emerald Society and the St. Patrick’s Day Committee, Inc., continue to honor those who came before us, and those who will come after us.