- Mission
To educate and preserve the history of the pioneers of our country and the part that the people of Irish descent have contributed to the development of the United States, Canada and Ireland

- History
The Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick originated as the Robert Emmet Club. The club was formed in 1941 and founded in the name of the Irish Nationalist who was hanged for treason in 1803 after inspiring the ill-fated rising against British rule in Ireland. It is believed that the Club was primarily a social club to bring men with a common heritage together.

In 1955 the name of the club was changed to its present form; the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. In 1956 the club held its first function, a St. Patrick's Day dinner dance. Today, although the dinner dance remains one of the main events, the club hosts many similar functions throughout the year. Members meet monthly, except in the summer, to coordinate the business of the club, much of which is focused on charitable purposes.

- Irish Monument
The lives and contributions of the Irish in the City of New Bedford are marked by the imposing and symbolic monument of a Celtic Cross by the water’s edge at the mouth of the New Bedford Harbor. The monument, dedicated on 24 June 2005, is designed and located quite intentionally. Although a Celtic stone cross predates Christianity, this particular memorial represents our deeply-seated faith and beliefs that root our culture and our hearts while the symbology and pictorials intrinsic to the Cross, itself, represents the history of the Irish people in this City and within the Friendly Sons. The symbolism extends also to the location of this monument. It’s placement at the water’s edge signifies the emotional, cultural and economic journeys our forbearers took as they arrived on these shores as well as the livelihood many enjoyed as they plied their trade on these very waters.

- Past Presidents
1941-42 Atty. Joseph C. Duggan*
1942-43 Atty. Joseph C. Duggan 
1943-44 Daniel J. Sullivan
1944-45 Thomas A. Murphy
1945-46 Joseph Walsh
1946-47 Patrick J. Muldoon
1947-48 Joseph Walsh 
1948-49 Patrick J. Moore 
1949-50 Harold E. Hunt
1950-51 Harold E. Hunt
1951-52 Patrick J. Moore
1952-53 Patrick J. Moore
1953-54 Patrick J. Moore 
1954-55 Joseph T. McCawley
1955-56 Joseph T. McCawley **
1956-57 Patrick J. Moore
1957-58 Harold E. Hunt
1958-59 Oliver Fitzgerald
1959-60 Oliver Fitzgerald
1960-61 Edward L.Manley,Jr.
1961-62 Edward L. Manley, Jr
1962-63 Thomas Quinn
1963-64 Thomas Quinn
1964-65 Thomas Quinn
1965-66 Thomas Quinn
1966-67 Atty. Joseph C. Duggan
1967-68 Atty. Joseph C. Duggan
1968-69 James Henry
1969-70 Patrick E. Coyne 
1970-71 Robert E. O'Grady
1971-72 Robert E. O'Grady
1972-73 Robert E. O'Grady
1973-74 Robert E. O'Grady
1974-75 Albert Porter
1975-76 Oliver Fitzgerald ***
1976-77 Francis E. Harrington
1977-78 Francis E. Harrington
1978-79 J. Mark Treadup
1979-80 Paul P. Swain
1980-81 Paul P. Swain
1981-82 John E. Macedo
1982-83 Ronald J. Walsh
1983-84 Frederick J. Toomey
1984-85 Frederick J. Toomey
1985-86 William O'Brien
1986-87 William O'Brien
1987-88 Thomas P. Walsh
1988-89 Thomas P. Walsh
1989-90 Clement E. Daley
1990-91 Clement E.Daley
1991-92 Richard T. Molleo
1992-93 Richard T. Molleo
1993-94 James E. Sullivan, Jr.
1994-95 James E. Sullivan, Jr.
1995-96 Richard T. Molleo
1996-97 Richard T. Molleo
1997-98 James F. Costa
1998-99 Mark P. Sullivan
1999-00 Mark P. Sullivan
2000-01 David A. Duggan
2001-02 David A. Duggan
2002-03 Michael G. Sullivan
2003-04 Michael G. Sullivan
2004-05 Steven Beauregard
2005-06 Steven Beauregard
2006-07 Sean Toomey

* - Robert Emmet Club Founded
** - Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Founded
*** - Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Incorporated