[Editor's Note: Pardon our mulligan, if you will. Due to an editorial error, Mayor Ted Bettencourt's ethnic heritage was incorrectly stated -- he is in fact half-Irish and proud of it. And thanks to that family member who, partaking in some early light-hearted ribbing, called him up concerned he had denied his Irish roots upon seeing our initial report. "I told her I never would do that," he told Peabody Patch in good humor.]

Stop by City Hall on St. Patrick's Day for a meal and some good-natured ribbing of Peabody's best known politicos in the grand tradition of Boston's Irish community.

City councilor Tom Gould felt it was a shame there wasn't a forum in Peabody for elected city officials and other well known Peabodyites to crack wise about each other -- Salem even has one -- and so set about organizing the first of many roasts to come. He even got Mayor Ted Bettencourt's support too (he may be Portuguese, but he's also half-Irish).

Gould says it will be "a good old fashioned St. Patrick's Day roast" and benefit the city's food pantry, Haven from Hunger. "Anything goes," he said. "It should be a lot of fun."

Peabody’s First Annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast and Roast will take place in Wiggin Auditorium March 16 from 9-11 a.m. Admission is $30.

The public is welcome to attend the breakfast, which will also feature Irish music by “McGeney and Moore.” They're doubling up on the entertainment this year -- the duo still plans to entertain for the annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner at the AOH later that evening.

Anyone interested in attending the breakfast should send a check payable to the "City of Peabody" to: St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, City Hall, 24 Lowell Street, Peabody, MA 01960. Respond by March 6 and include the number of guests in your party.

For more information, call Mary Bellavance in the mayor's office at 978-538-5704.