Our History

The Club was formed in March 1971 by Rosemary and Eric Raine, Colleen and George Murray, and Lydia and Jack Maher. The club’s objective was to provide a social and cultural organization to serve the interests of Irish-American citizens of the Town of Tonawanda and adjacent communities. Jack Mahar served as the founding, and first, president. The club was incorporated on June 15, 1972. The First regular meeting was held in Fitzgerald’s Restaurant on the corner of Colvin & Sheridan on March 24, 1971 for the purpose of organizing the club and inviting prospective members to join. Twenty-five Charter members were installed at that meeting. The club met at Fitzgerald’s for about a year, moving after the death of Jack Fitzgerald. Subsequent meeting places included the likes of Eggert’s (Strinka’s now Cameo’s) Restaurant on Niagara Falls Boulevard. For the past 30 years, the Brounschidle Post Memorial Hall on Delaware Avenue has served as the club’s meeting place. Over the past 53 years, the club has presented a positive Irish-American Identity to the local community through its annual participation in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Buffalo, the Memorial Day Parade in the Town of Tonawanda, and has had its Color Guard participate in civic ceremonies and festivals throughout the Niagara Frontier. We are one of the few Irish organizations in WNY to have a color guard and they have served us well since they were formed in 1976. We salute them each and every day for their efforts and dedication. The club has always been a source of leaders for other Irish-American organizations in Western New York; even nationally. Our past officers have subsequently served as officers of: The Knights of Equity, Daughters of Erin, Buffalo Irish-Genealogical Society, Belfast Summer Relief Program, Amherst Gaelic League, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Many have also served as officers of local civic organizations, adding value to our community. Over the past 53 years the club has maintained the presence of the Town of Tonawanda in the forefront of the Irish-American community of the Western New York. The club is now; and has always been , one of the few family oriented, Irish-American organizations. Our children are regularly included in our program of activities and over the years this has been the secret of our success as they return as adults, anxious to have their own children share in our Irish Heritage.

Background

In early March 1971 three couples decided that it would be appropriate to have an Irish-American organization in the Township of Tonawanda. At that time, there were no Irish-American clubs in the area and most of the Irish-American activity was centered on the newly formed Buffalo Irish Center in South Buffalo; almost 20 miles away.

Since there were a significant number of people of Irish descent in the area of North Buffalo, Kenmore and the Tonawanda’s, an Irish club in the area seemed feasible. The three couples decided that they would pursue the idea and spontaneously decided that they would march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade as a group of six persons representing Tonawanda. Jack and Lydia Mahar, Eric and Rosemary Raine, and George and Colleen Murray marched on that cold Sunday in March 1971 and established a presence that has now lasted over 50 years. The week before the parade they had an article placed in the paper announcing the formation of the club, and for any persons interested in joining, to meet at Fitzgerald’s Restaurant which was located at corner of Colvin and Sheridan Drive.

The Charter and First Officers

On the evening of March 24th, at Fitzgerald’s, a small crowd of interested Irish Americans gathered to share their Irish heritage and charter the Tonawanda Irish Club as it was initially called. Initiation dues of $10 were charged for each person joining and the first 25 members were defined as Charter Members. It was decided that the following Charter members would serves as interim officers for the remainder of 1971:

President – Jack Mahar
Vice-President – Eric Raine
Secretary: John Blest
Corresponding Secretary – Colleen Murray
Treasurer – Lydia Mahar
Membership – Hugh Flynn
Director – Rosemary Raine
Director – Eugene O’Connor (Legal Advisor)

Town O’ Tonawanda Irish-American Club Past Presidents

1971-72 John Mahar
1973 Eric Raine
1974 John Blest
1975 Richard O’Neill
1976-77 Josh Brennan
1977 Joseph Finn
1979-80 Patrich O’Hanrahan
1981 James Cavanaugh
1982-83 Dennis Lennon
1984-86 Patrick Gilmartin
1987-89 Kathleen Monaghan
1990-92 Kendall Davis

1993-95 Kevin Lyons
1996-97 John Rexinger
1998-99 Rosemary Raine Law
2000-01 Patricia Lynch
2002-03 James Horrigan
2004-06 Paul Overend
?-2022 Bill McGee
2023-24 Gary Holzerland

Eric Raine Memorial Award

Awarded first in 1980 honoring the late Eric Raine. Presented to a member for Outstanding Service to the Town O’ Tonawanda Irish-American Club and the Community.

Recipients:

1980 John Blest
1983 Patrick O’Hanrahan
1985 Joseph Finn
1986 Charles and Margaret Lennon
1987 Kathleen Monaghan
1988 Dennis Lennon
1989 Theresa Perrino
1990 Patrick Gilmartin
1991 Bill and Patricia Breen
1992 Marie Smith
1993 Charles McGillicuddy
1994 Richard Cronin
1995 Marilyn and Sally O’Brien
1996 Kendall Davis and Kevin Lyons
1997 Richard O’Neill
1998 Helen Jacob
1999 John and Judith Rexinger
2002 John Burns
2004 James Horrigan
2005 Patricia Sinott
2024 William (Bill) McGee