Celtic pride is alive at New Point Comfort FD

Caption: Sister of Mercy from St. Ann's Parish with Chief of Police Raymond O'Hare at the Irish Celebration held at New Point Comfort Fire Dept., in Keansburg, on Monday night.

A CLAMDIGGER SPECIAL/KEANSBURG (MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ) -- The Irish Celebration took on the appearance of a family celebration as hundreds of borough residents came out to New Point Comfort Fire Dept., on Carr Avenue, to eat, catch up on neighborhood news and watch the Irish singing group The Wolfe Tones.

The event was coordinated by Chief of Police Raymond O'Hare and Deputy Chief of Police Jim Piggott.

Residents and friends of the borough from all walks of life came to take part in the event. Some of the dignitaries in attendance included: Bayshore Senior Health, Education and Recreation Executive Director Sister Elizabeth Garvey; Borough Attorney John O. Bennett III.; Assemblyman Samuel Thompson, R-Monmouth/Middlesex; Mayor George Hoff; former Mayor Patrick Antonacci; former Councilman Thomas "Tommy" Keelen; and former Councilman John "Jack" Early, among others.

"It's great to see everyone coming out," O'Hare said. "This is a great town and the people here are what makes it that way."

The evening was also a chance for residents to get a chance to celebrate St. Patrick's Day a bit early also, as the wearing of green was visible throughout the fire department's main hall.

Borough restaurant entrepreneur Anthony DePompa, who is a candidate in the borough's upcoming election for council in a few months, helped to prepare the corned beef that was well-received during the night. "It wouldn't be St. Pat's without great corned beef," Keelen noted jokingly.

At the event, Thompson brought a Joint Legislative Resolution, on behalf of himself; Senator Joseph Kyrillos, R-Monmouth/Middlesex; and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, R-Monmouth/Middlesex, memorializing the musical excellence of the Wolfe Tones.

"There's no place like Keansburg when St. Patrick's gets close," Thompson said.