Perhaps the most well-known Fairfield Irishman was the beloved First Selectman John J. Sullivan. He was a newcomer to town in 1936 when he opened Sullivan’s Flower Shop. Farnham relates a story in his book about a woman who saw Sullivan’s sign going up. “She spoke precisely, but her meaning was initially unclear to Sullivan. ‘That is a hard name. A business with that name has little chance of success in Fairfield.’  Sullivan realized that her reference was to his Irish name. ‘Would some other name do better?’ she asked. ‘I have no other name,’ he replied, ‘and that one has served both me and my family well. In fact, ‘ he continued, ‘I would rather boil in oil than change it.’”

Sullivan became the First Selectman in 1958. A few years ago, Independence Hall, which was built during his years running the town, was renamed John J. Sullivan Independence Hall.

the gaelic american club
By the 1940s, the Irish needed a place to get together. Enter Jimmy Corcoran. He arrived in Bridgeport in 1947 and immediately met a number of other Irishmen and women. He decided they needed a place to party and founded the Gaelic American Club. The first meeting was held in a rented room at the American Legion Hall on Golden Hill with 41 members. Corcoran was elected president, Peter Bellew became treasurer and Maureen (“Peggy”) Doonan (who ended up marrying Mr. Corcoran), was elected Secretary. Bellew and Peggy Corcoran are still members.

After 48 years in Bridgeport, in 1993, the Irish moved their club to Fairfield at 74 Beach Road. They designed their first real home to resemble a traditional Irish cottage. There are color plaques showing the coat of arms of each of the four provinces and the 32 counties of Ireland. The stone walls of the walkway to the entrance form a Celtic cross. From those 41 dedicated men and women, today the club’s membership is 5,500, and that is a cap. It can never go any higher. There are several hundred on the waiting list. 

The club offers activities for everyone, every age. There is a glee club, a Pipe and Drum band, Irish Set and Step dancing, an Irish language class, genealogy sessions and an Irish pub.