(L-R) Kim Elkins of Delta, Bob Clifford, First Officer, winner Gerri Munroe, Delta’s Charlie Schewe, winner Michael Duffy, and Senator Linda Dorcena Forry.

Senator Linda Dorcena Forry’s annual St. Patrick’s Day breakfast drew an historically large crowd to the Boston Convention Center on Sunday, March 19, 2017. Among the more than 750 guests were US Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Congressman Stephen Lynch.

A special guest was Ireland’s Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Dr. Katherine Zappone, who was visiting the city to mark the St Patrick’s holiday.

With roots back to the 1940's, this annual political breakfast is legendary in our city's history, and serves as the epicenter of politics and culture as both meet to celebrate Boston’s famed Irish history. Senator Forry produces the two hour spectacle with the help of the not-for-profit First Suffolk Partnership Inc. which solicits sponsors to defray the costs of the free breakfast. The St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast was telecast live and on demand to tens of thousands of viewers by NECN-NBC News/Boston, and was live streamed to a worldwide audience at NECN.com.

The event received an Upgrade to Business Class this year, thanks to presenting sponsor Delta Airlines, one of a number of local businesses to contribute to the annual celebration of Irish politics and culture. Beginning May 25, Delta will offer daily direct flights from Boston Logan to Dublin Airport, and to kick things off, Delta representatives gave away two pairs of round trip Business Class tickets, valued at $5000 per pair, to lucky guests in the breakfast audience.

“Business class- these seats are not in a cramped space,” Senator Forry quipped. “You will not be next to the bathrooms.”

“You’ll have a blanket, you’ll be lying down and everything,” added Charlie Schewe of Delta Airlines.

Names were drawn by Kim Elkins, Lead Pursor of Delta, and announced by Bob Clifford, First Officer. Gerri Munroe of Dorchester and Michael Duffy were the lucky winners.

The new Delta Service will leave Boston at 9:34 pm, arriving in Dublin before 9 am the next morning.

Schewe noted in addition to the Boston to Dublin flights, Delta also offers direct flights to such locations as Jamaica, St. Thomas and Punta Cana.