WHEN you hear the name Ken Casey, almost unanimously, the first things to come to mind are: Boston Irish. Iconic anthems. Selfless philanthropy.
And it’s that last one that is most meaningful to Casey and the Dropkick Murphys.
“It’s never been just about waving the flag for Boston; it’s about being entrenched in the roots of the city and being involved in a lot of causes from the get-go,” Casey says. “The three things we were most often involved in were children’s charities, veterans’ charities, and substance abuse/alcoholism treatment.”
The Dropkick Murphy’s have always been synonymous with a host of philanthropic efforts, but it wasn’t until Casey had a conversation with a respected peer who suggested that — while it was great that the band was involved with many charities — raising money under the banner of the band would drive more synergy from its fanbase.
“They were absolutely right, because our fans are the best,” he says. “If we get behind something, they get behind it. Of course, we have some big players and corporate donations that really help, but we also get $5 from the kid who writes a letter saying he made it mowing the lawn.”
With that, The Claddagh Fund was founded in 2009 with a dedicated mission to “raise funds for and broaden our impact on worthy, underfunded non-profits that support the most vulnerable individuals in our communities.”
Casey says his background and upbringing weigh heavily on his purpose with the Claddagh Fund. “We weren’t those people who were born to say, ‘I’m going to be in a band.’ We had all worked in the real world,” he says. “When we got in a band, and it wasn’t a nine-to-five thing, part of me always felt like I was doing something wrong. The charity is what gave the band a purpose, and made me feel I’m living a life that’s worthy.”
Brian O’Donnell, Casey’s long-time friend, business partner and president of the Claddagh Fund speaks humbly of the impact the fund creates throughout the area:
“To be able to participate in this incredible organization that has raised close to six million dollars to support Boston based underfunded non- profits is humbling,” O’Donell says.
“I’ve been lucky enough to meet Boston individuals and groups that have benefitted directly and profoundly impacted by the funding the Claddagh Fund has been able to provide.”
ON Tuesday September 3rd, the Claddagh Fund’s largest annual extravaganza, The Celebrity Golf Tournament, tees off for its 15th year, at Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee, promising a fun day on the greens with “the Dropkick Murphy’s (and) tons of other celebrities.”
One of the most memorable events of the year annually in New England -both for the money and resources raised and the shenanigans that come with it- the Claddagh Fund has been a ‘hole in one’ since its first year in September, 2010.
Packed with a ‘who’s who’ among Boston’s favorite Bruins -among them, Ken Hodge, Tuukka Rask, Milan Lucic, Shawn Thornton, Andy Brickley, Jay Miller, Brian Leetch, and Nick Boynton- but there was one participant, besides maybe Casey himself, that stole the show more than anyone else.
“It was an honor and a privilege to be able to hang with everyone (at the first Celebrity Golf Tournament) but it was a lifelong dream come true to meet Bobby Orr,” Sully’s Brand founder Chris Wrenn says. “Everywhere Bobby goes people must hassle him for an autograph or a picture and he’s still the nicest guy.”
Did we mention there are also plenty of shenanigans?
While every story can’t be shared -some of those need to stay in the clubhouse- one of the more memorable transpired heading into the sixth annual installment on September 10th in 2015.
Hosting a meet-and-greet in Sandwich with Bobby Orr and the sponsors for that year’s Tournament, Casey found himself in a time crunch to make it to Gillette Stadium in time to perform ‘Ship it up to Boston’ for, you know, the opening night celebrations of the Patriots most recent Super Bowl.
Scheduled to perform at 8:20, Casey and the Dropkicks were still deep into their Claddagh Fund duties at 7pm on the Cape.
“We’re going like 110 miles per hour, we’re running late, and we haven’t even crossed the Bourne Bridge,” Casey admits.
Somehow, they made it in a nick of time, and under the scoreboard by the lighthouse, the Dropkicks rocked ‘The Boys Are Back’ and ‘Shipping up to Boston’ properly celebrating the kick-off to another NFL season, and another Patriots Lombardi trophy.
Getting from the Cape to Gillette was a mild challenge, however, compared to what the Claddagh Fund, and the Celebrity Golf Tournament, endured over the pandemic.
In 2020, Casey had to pivot the tournament to a virtual fundraiser, significantly cutting into the cause’s biggest annual revenue driver.
Still, Casey and the Claddagh Fund made the most of the hand dealt, with valuable resources -and money- continued to be raised.
“We encouraged everyone to go play a round with their friends and keep score,” Casey explains. “Then we held a blind draw, putting every score in a hat and made a team. We ended up having some really good prizes for that.”
Casey says that sometimes charities can get too narrowly focused, which is why they teamed with different groups for that year’s livestreams.
“Habitat for Humanity, Boston Resiliency Fund, Feeding America: they all helped in a broader scope than we really could,” Casey says.
Some of the issues the pandemic caused, he points out, touched deeply on the Claddagh Fund’s mission.
“Sober housing and treatment for substance abuse — that’s something we’re always helping with,” Casey says. “Those times (the pandemic) caused a higher rate of relapse and heavier use of drugs. Our actual need was going up, while our fundraising at that time was going down.”
Which is why maximizing this year’s Celebrity Golf Tournament remains critically important.
“The support is so desperately needed to support our constituencies, that are still suffering from lasting effects caused in part by the pandemic.”
While the annual Celebrity Golf Tournament garners the largest portion of the Claddagh Fund’s efforts each year, Casey is quick to touch upon many other worthy causes the group participates in.
A 2018 raffle that the Claddagh Fund did in conjunction with Devin and Jason McCourty’s Tackle Sickle Cell campaign, is one that will always remain close to him, with the grand prize being a trip to Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis.
“If I remember, we raised somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000,” he says. “I love how those two carry themselves. I love when the Boston athletes that you watch and revere are as good of people off the field as they are players on it.”
With all of these works, it’s no surprise that Casey earned the Robert F. Kennedy Children’s Action Corps’ Embracing the Legacy Award in 2016.
“Growing up in Boston as an Irish-Catholic Democrat, that’s like winning the Super Bowl,” Casey says. “It was a proud moment. I got to bring my entire family. Few things actually end up on the shelf. Most of the things I’ve acquired through the years end up in a box in a basement somehow. The Robert F. Kennedy Award is right beside my Emmy.”
WITH 2024 being a milestone anniversary for the Claddagh Fund, you can’t help but wonder what Ken Casey may have up his sleeve -or better yet, in his golf bag- for the 15th annual rendition of the Celebrity Golf Tournament. Whatever it is, you know it is going to be special. And you know it will honor -as everything they do does- the three attributes of the Claddagh Ring: Friendship, Love & Loyalty.
What more could you ask for to ship it out of Boston for a day and down to Cape Cod?
The 15th annual Celebrity Golf Tournament, is hosted by the Claddagh Fund on Tuesday September 3rd, 2024 at Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee. To register a team, sponsor, or make a donation, please visit claddaghfund.org
To read Thomas Haire and BostonMan Magazine’s original story on Ken Casey, ‘Hear the Crowd Roar to Your Sound’ please visit BostonManMagazine.com.
