The 151-year-old shillelagh that was stolen from Society of Friends of St. Patrick President Mike McQuaid’s car in Queen Anne earlier this week has reportedly been found. I just spoke with Mike, who confirmed that an anonymous voicemail was left last night by someone who said they knew the whereabouts of the historic Irish artifact and would arrange for its return at 7 p.m. tonight, Friday, March 12 outside of the 4th Ave entrance to City Hall.
(Photo courtesy of Society of Friends of St. Patrick, via their Facebook page).
McQuaid can be seen holding the shillelagh, which is passed down to each society president every year, in the picture above. Although he says he didn’t speak to the anonymous tipster directly, he’s counting on them to show up.
“That’s where they’ve agreed to hand it off,” he said. “They said they would be there, so I’m just taking it on faith for now. Let’s see if they show up.”
The location was a strategic choice on the part of whoever will be returning the shillelagh, as it is the starting point for the Laying of the Green Stripe, the route for tomorrow’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.
McQuaid, along with the other green stripe layers, will be there to receive the shillelagh. “I’m on watch. I need it back,” Mike said. “I just want it back so I can pass it along to my successor.”
The shillelagh went missing sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning when it was taken out of his SUV, which was parked outside his Queen Anne home overnight. McQuaid still isn’t sure if the disappearance was a prank or the result of a car prowl.
“That’s what’s odd about this. The car was unlocked Wednesday morning,” he said. “The car was unlocked and there weren’t any broken windows; the glove box wasn’t in disarray…normally I lock the car with the electronic lock on my keyring, and I was in a hurry which leads me to believe that maybe I didn’t hit the thing just right. Anyways, the next morning is was gone.”
McQuaid said he hasn’t filed a police report and doesn’t plan on doing so. “I was on the verge of filing a police report and then I got the message Thursday night,” he said. “All we care about it that we get it back.”
In fact, McQuaid is so concerned with getting the priceless shillelagh back, that he said he’s ready to offer a substantial reward for its return. “It’s a 5,000 reward and I’m prepared to offer it.”
But most importantly, he said, “The parade will go on.”