Live blog of St. Patrick's breakfast and roast

Glen Johnson/Globe Staff

Senator Jack Hart this morning at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center for the 2011 South Boston St. Patrick's Day breakfast and political roast.

By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff

12:33 p.m. - Senator Jack Hart closed by recognizing family members, as well as friends who organized the breakfast.

He also asked that guests keep the family of the late Middlesex Sheriff James DiPaola, who committed suicide in November, in their prayers.

Then Irish tenor Ronan Tynan closed with, "God Bless America."

He said it took on special meaning for him not as he sang it at Yankee Stadium, as he famously did for years, but when he did so for U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan.

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12:22 p.m. - Following a tradition from the Roman Catholic Mass, host Senator Jack Hart read a long list of those who are sick or recently died, asking that they be remembered.

The finale will be Irish tenor Ronan Tynan singing, "God Bless America."

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12:16 p.m. - The step dancers, who include Senator Jack Hart's three daughters as well as his sister's triplets, are on stage as we near the even finale.

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12:09 p.m. - The newly elected local state representative, Nick Collins, noted during his debut appearance at the roast that he was single and Senator Scott Brown's elder daughter, Ayla, was, too.

He asked Brown, who had already left for another St. Patrick's event, if Ayla was available — for singing lessons.

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12:05 p.m. - The first person to bring up Auditor Suzanne Bump's decision to claim a tax break on two residences simultaneously — was Bump herself.

She said despite having a home in South Boston for the past eight years, her neighbors woke in October to read a story revealing they were her "principal" friends, not her "primary" ones.

That was the distinction Bump, an attorney, tried to make as she claimed the two breaks.

The rest of her routine suffered, as she held up posters too small for the audience to see, but Senator Jack Hart, the host, threw her a lifeline by crediting her effort.

"That's the first time out. I thought she was excellent," Hart said, urging applause from the crowd.

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11:59 p.m. - The show is running through the scheduled ending time, but Treasurer Steve Grossman is now at the microphone.

His wife, Barbara, is joining him for a song. It's "There's Nothing Like a Dem," to the tune of, "There's Nothing Like a Dame,'' from the musical, "South Pacific."

Somewhere this show has turned into a local version of "American Idol."

Auditor Suzanne Bump also has her turn, and Irish step-dancers are making their way to the side stage.

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11:48 a.m. - Irish tenor Ronan Tynan called Boston "truly a piece of Ireland," marking the end of the first year he's been in the city since decamping New York.

For his second song, he sung, "Grace," in honor of Grace Gifford, an Irish artist and cartoonist active in the movement to create an independent Irish republic.

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11:42 a.m. - Irish tenor Ronan Tynan is absolutely rocking the house from the side stage with a rendition of, "The Fields of Athenry."

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11:34 a.m. - Much to Governor Deval Patrick's chagrin, House Speaker Robert DeLeo just revealed he's taking another international trip next month: to Italy, to meet the parents of the man who married one of his daughters.

Patrick, who has been pummeled with criticism for spending time out of state, was surprised by such a public declaration and tried to say that nothing had been confirmed.

DeLeo didn't back off, but dug the hole deeper, telling the governor that first lady Diane Patrick had told DeLeo herself they were making the trip.

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House Speaker Robert DeLeo took the stage. Technical difficulties digested my recap of his remarks.

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11:23 a.m. - Auditor Suzanne Bump is in her "principal" residence this morning.

Or is it "primary?"

Whatever, the newly elected auditor is in South Boston for the breakfast. Clad in a solid green dress, she joined state Representative Michael Moran at the microphone to sing, "The Wild Rover."

Surprisingly, Bump has escaped criticism so far over claiming two tax breaks for her eastern and western Massachusetts residences.

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11:21 a.m. - The Tommy Butler tribute is ending with the singing of, "The Wild Rover."

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11:16 a.m. - They're playing a video tribute to Southie's own Tommy Butler, a former Massport executive who died earlier this month.

He's also being remembered with mentions on lanyards distributed at the breakfast, and with a photo page on the inside cover of the program.

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11:12 a.m. - Former host and current US Representative Stephen Lynch is at the microphone.

He joked that MIT scientists decided to test the Jeopardy-winning IBM supercomputer "Watson" against the math whiz in Massachusetts, Secretary of State William Galvin.

Lynch joked that Galvin, who is famously droll, tied with Watson, but the computer won "based on personality."

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11:09 a.m. - Senate President Therese Murray proves that with the great success of oversized photos of Scott Brown in Cosmopolitan magazine last year, no turn on stage is complete without some blown-up prop.

She had mock posters for movies supposedly made in Massachusetts, including, "Home Alone," featuring Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray.

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11:06 a.m. - Senator Jack Hart introduces Senate President Therese Murray.

Murray says that while House Speaker Robert DeLeo slipped on ice and broke his ankle, "There's no truth to rumors I was out in front of his house that morning with a hose."

She quickly turns on Governor Deval Patrick, saying, "How can we miss you when you won't stay away."

She also gave him a traveling kit, with books by Senator Scott Brown, former Governor Mitt Romney and their fellow Republican, former President George W. Bush, "when you're just looking for an easy read."

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11 a.m. - Add to Governor Deval Patrick's many talents: He can actually sing, hitting all the high notes in his song.

The governor made a point of getting on and off of the stage, even saying at several times that he was almost done.

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10:54 a.m. - Governor Deval Patrick is introduced and joked, "Good to be back with all my cousins this morning."

Patrick himself made light of the reaction to his recent travels, saying Republicans criticize him for not being here to hear their criticisms, Democrats for not being here to distract from their own inaction, and Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray — for not staying away for longer.

"Seriously, I missed you when I was away," the governor told the crowd, before saying he had sung himself to sleep with a rendition of "Oh Danny Boy" he wanted to repeat despite it being a Scottish tune.

"Oh, Bobby Boy, the slots, the slots are calling," he started, targeting House Speaker Robert DeLeo, an advocate of slot machines at the state's four racetracks. "From Wonderland to down by Raynham way. Those racinos in love with which you're falling, while I am gov, won't see the light of day."

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10:49 a.m. - Senator Scott Brown spreads his hits around, saying of his senior colleague, Senator John Kerry, "I don't think he's elitist — and neither do his butlers."

Brown then hit House Speaker Robert DeLeo, who recently broke his ankle, and who also follows three speakers who, to put it kindly, had legal problems.

He joked that in riding in a car for the Southie St. Patrick's Day parade, DeLeo would have the unique of experience being in a vehicle where one of his predecessors actually made the license plates.

Brown concluded with a quip that he was having a book signing at the Kennedy library, "or as I like to call it, 'the people's library.'"

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10:45 a.m. - Senator Scott Brown, who went to Tufts University with host Senator Jack Hart, takes the stage.

He starts with appreciation to veterans and those still serving everywhere, as well as the Japanese earthquake victims.

Brown jokes that Hart tricked him into coming by telling him the breakfast was a book-signing.

The senator said to Governor Deval Patrick, "Thanks for visiting. Are you here long?"

Brown also gave Patrick a cellphone pre-programmed with phone number of Fidelity Investments, including the U.S. country code for his next foreign trip.

Obviously, it was a jab at the company's decision to ship 1,100 jobs out of Massachusetts while Patrick was on his trade mission.

The governor said he was blind-sided by the announcement.

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10:42 a.m. - The band just finished a rendition of "Charlie on the MTA" reworded as a tribute to Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the city's longest-serving leader.

"The Mayor Who Would Never Retire" was the key verse.

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10:35 a.m. - Mayor Thomas M. Menino jokes about autobiographies by Senator Scott Brown and Governor Deval Patrick with a three-page book of his own: he was born (complete with a photo of Menino as an infant), became mayor, the end.

Menino also hit Patrick over his trade mission to the Middle East and the United Kingdom, asking to the effect of, "Whoever thought it was possible to bring pork back from Israel?"

The mayor sounded very raspy.

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10:33 a.m. - Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino taking stage as video plays recalling his many injuries this year and to images of Lee Majors turning from astronaut to the "Six Million Dollar Man" in the famed 1970s show about a bionic man.

Rocky theme also played.

"The rumors of my ultimate demise have been greatly exaggerated," Menino says. "Sorry, all you wannabes."

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10:32 a.m. - Senator Jack Hart starts with bad-winter jokes, saying it was so cold, "I saw a picture of Senator Scott Brown in Cosmopolitan — with his clothes on."

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10:19 a.m. - Commanding officer of the USS Ross, a Navy guided missile cruiser that came into Boston for parade weekend, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and now they're commemorating the 30th anniversary of construction of South Boston's Vietnam War memorial.

There were 25 from the neighborhood who died in the war.

Tom Lyons, who led the remembrance, left with six friends. Three died.

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10:15 a.m. - The priest, the Rev. Joe White, just announced that Mary Fitzgerald Finneran, the mother of former House Speaker Thomas Finneran, died last night, as he recalled Tommy Butler and others who have recently passed away.

The news sent a murmur through the crowd.

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10:14 a.m. - Even the priest, in his invocation, hits Governor Deval Patrick for his recent travels.

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10:07 a.m. - Senator Jack Hart, the host, delivers first tweak to Governor Deval Patrick, welcoming him "home" from his "spring break" and "sporting a new tan."

Surely more travel jokes to follow.

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10:04 a.m. - Senator Jack Hart takes the stage to, "If your Irish, Come into the Parlor."

Quick segue to, "Southie is my Hometown."

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10:00 a.m. - The background music and clapping kick up as NECN goes on the air...

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9:58 a.m. - The remembrance of Tommy Butler extends to the lanyards all breakfast officials are wearing. They read, "In memory of Tom Butler," with a heart symbolizing love.

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9:52 a.m. - Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo are seated side-by-side three and four seats to the right of the podium.

Newly elected City Councilor Tito Jackson has also qualified for stage treatment.

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9:47 a.m. - Advance word that Governor Deval Patrick will sing, "Oh Danny Boy" during his turn at the microphone, while Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray will do, "On the Road Again."

A reference to the governor's many travels?

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9:43 a.m. - Breakfast is down: scrambled eggs, two sausage links, and corned beef hash. Coffee, orange juice, and soda bread on the table.

Treasurer Steve Grossman just walked across the stage and boasted he can sing.

Somehow, he feels like a prime candidate for a good roasting.

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9:28 a.m. - Guests are asked to take their seats before any remainders are filled.

The type of event this is?

Even the two fire marshals and two nurses on hand to take care of everyone get introduced — and are greeted with knowing applause from the crowd.

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9:15 a.m. - Senator Scott Brown arrived about a half-hour ago and told the Globe and WBZ Radio he supports the US air strikes against Libya.

"Obviously, it gets to a point where you have to draw a line in the sand, and when innocent civilians are being killed, it's important for the world community to step forward, and we're doing it in a coalition manner, and I'm supportive of that," the Massachusetts Republican said.

See the full story here.

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8:39 a.m. - Nice touch by Senator Jack Hart and other event organizers: Inside the cover of the program is a photo and tribute to Southie's own Thomas Butler, a Massport executive who died March 4.

"Never to be forgotten," it reads. "Rest in Peace, Tom."

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8:25 a.m. - After organizers cleared the room for a photo of the set-up, the doors have opened and the guests are rushing for prime seats.

Those with yellow bracelets get to sit and enjoy corned beef and eggs; those with orange will have to stand and watch.

And, yes, the bar is open.

Outside the ballroom, in a quiet hallway, twin 19-year-old sisters Dylan and Olivia Mullen are warming up for their rendition of the National Anthem. They toured last year with tenor Ronan Tynan.

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I'm live-blogging today from the annual South Boston St. Patrick's Day breakfast and political roast.

It's being held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, and formally begins at 10 a.m.

NECN is providing exclusive television coverage starting at that time. It will also stream a tape of the event at 1 p.m.

Glen Johnson can be reached at johnson@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globeglen.