FAIRFIELD – The annual St. Patrick’s Day party at Morrissey Law Offices in Fairfield is one of the oldest traditions in town, dating back to the mid-1970s.

The law firm held its St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Friday, March 15, and just like it has for several decades, it attracted a large crowd to the law firm’s lower level. Guests were treated to a smorgasbord of free food and drinks, with an emphasis on Irish whiskeys, creams, coffee and beer.

John Morrissey, who has practiced law for more than 50 years, said the law firm’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities started out as a small gathering, but today the party can attract hundreds of friends and acquaintances.

Morrissey moved to Fairfield in 1973 to become assistant county attorney and work in private practice with Ed Kelly, one of his good friends from law school at the University of Iowa. Shortly thereafter, Morrissey and Kelly invited friends to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, and it snowballed into an annual tradition the law firm has done ever since.

“At first, it was for lawyers and courthouse people who just got together for a few hours after work for some St. Pat’s beverages,” Morrissey recalled.

In 1992, then Chamber of Commerce and FEDA Director Mike Brouwer suggested turning the party into a chamber-sanctioned event and expanding the number of invitees. Current Chamber Director Mendy McAdams said Morrissey’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration is now the longest running chamber event.

Morrissey said he always invites members of the Chamber and FEDA boards to the event, as well as anyone who belongs to groups like the Greater Jefferson County Foundation, Park and Rec Board, and a host of other nonprofit groups that he works with. One of his favorite things about the event is getting to meet new people.

“I like the mixed generations who get together, and I’m probably the oldest one at the party anymore,” he joked. “I enjoy seeing young faces. A group moved into the Fairfield CoLab a couple of years ago, and a bunch of them came over and we got acquainted. I was happy to see that.”

One of the staple treats at every Morrissey St. Patrick’s Day party is the lamb stew, and this year they made 20 quarts of it. By the end of the night, it was nearly gone.

“We just had one small plate left that I ate the next day,” Morrissey said.

Local dignitaries have made a habit of stopping by. U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks was at last Friday’s party, and Morrissey said guests have included other members of Congress such as Dave Loebsack and Jim Leach.

Morrissey’s ancestors came from Ireland, and he still gets together with his extended family for a “big Irish reunion” every four or five years. He and his wife Nancy have been to Ireland a couple of times. His former business partner Ed Kelly owns a yacht, and the two couples went on eight adventures together, including two visits to Ireland and two to England. While in Dublin, they visited a pub called Morrissey’s Tavern.

Morrissey celebrated 50 years of practicing law in 2021, and he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

“As far as I can see, this [event] will go on a few more years as long as I’m lucky with my health, and I’ve got good friends who pitch in,” he said. “We got everything organized in the last two days, and had a good crew stick around to clean up so there were no messy areas in the office. We’ll keep doing this as long as people show up.”