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St. Patrick’s Day Road Race – a Southie Tradition

• Foot Race origins are with the South Boston Boys Club (as it was then known).
• The first race corresponded with the opening of the new Clubhouse on
  W. 6th Street in 1940.
• The Linehan Twins were the Race Directors in the early days.
• In the late '70s the South Boston Rotary managed the race for a while. 
• In the early '80s Old Harbor AC took it over re-instituted it, built it up and passed in on to the South Boston Boys & Girls Club as a fundraiser, returning it to its original owner. 
• City Councilor Bill Linehan was the race director for OHAC, and then as a Club Advisory Board member, merged the two.
• In the '80s the race started and finished at Broadway Station.
• In 1992 Boston hosted the IAAF World Cross Country Championships at Franklin Park and the New Zealand team had an impressive showing at the St. Patrick’s Day Race. Or was it the Canadians?  Not sure, but they sure were fast.
• In March 1994 the Race moved to its current location at the South Boston Boys & Girls Club.
• In 2008 the Race honored Club Alumnus Father Lane who had recently passed away. 
• 2010 was the Big Rain Race, with a Nor’easter throwing over three inches of rain and 30 MPH winds in South Boston.  Undeterred, 805 hardy souls completed the race.
• 2011 – a record 1,730 finishers blessed us with their presence.  The Race honored Club Alumnus Tommy Butler who passed away 16 days earlier.

    

The Connolly Medal is given to the first South Boston resident to finish the St. Patrick’s Day Road Race. It is named for James Brendan Connolly, a son of South Boston, who medaled in the 1896 Olympics in Athens and is considered the first modern Olympic champion. Clifford Jewelers kindly donates the medal each year. This statue of him is at Moakley Park in South Boston.

The Father Lane Medal is awarded each year to the first place South Boston Boys & Girls Club Kid Finisher.

Modern Era Records

Male              14:54              Tim Gannon              Brighton MA              1997

Female          17:46              Allison McCabe         Cambridge MA           2008

 

About Us

The South Boston Boys & Girl Club, founded in 1938, has been serving the community in our current location on the corner of F and West 6th Streets since 1940. We are proud members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston family.  Our proven youth development approach helps kids experience academic success, healthy lifestyles and good character. We serve over 900 youth ages 6-18 annually, with over 220 attending daily.

Most of our members come from disadvantaged and even harsh circumstances.  Growing up in these dangerous conditions leave many kids at-risk to engage in unhealthy actions and destructive futures. The Club helps provide the protective factors that counter the risk factors that confront them.  At the South Boston Club, members build relationships with caring and talented adult staff members.  All day, everyday, formally and informally, we help to build a positive self-identity with the kids and teens we serve. We help them build resiliency, spirit, character and confidence. We help build respect, for themselves and for others. We help them build wise decision-making skills; knowing right from wrong. On top of this critical positive self-identity, we add layer upon layer of skill and leadership development.

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