Origin Story

Welcome to Irish wit and wisdom. Club or as the Irish greeting says “Céad Míle Fáilte” which translates as 100,000 Welcomes. I've been to Ireland twice and was awestruck by this beautiful island and more importantly on the beauty of the friendly, playful nature of its people.

Here in the USA when a stranger approaches, people get uptight thinking that they're in danger, someone gonna ask for money, sell them something or stick them up. So you avoid eye contacts with strangers and walk right by them. In Ireland it’s the exact opposite. They greet strangers with a playful mischievous twinkle in their eye expecting they’re about have some fun out of their day. That spirit is contagious.

When there, I experienced nothing short of a Soul Recovery where the playful, mischievous, fun loving spirit of my youth suddenly re-appeared. I said to a pub owner, “I can't get over how friendly you people are here in Ireland.” The pub owner replied, “well you're pretty friendly yourself.” And I said “yeah, but not all the time. Back home, it's a hustle bustle climbing the success ladder and you forget to have a good time.”

“Young man let me tell you something: if you ain't having fun — You ain't doing it right.”

He then told me something I would remember for the rest of my life. I think you'll find that wherever you travel people will be about as friendly as you are. That was like a Burning Bush moment for me. I came back determined to spread that playful Irish spirit to everyone I encounter and add a little more fun to my life and others.

I recently discovered that Ireland has 1/10 the suicide rate of the rest of the world and the USA has 15 times more suicides than Ireland. Living Proof that there’s something to be said for lightening up and having a good time.

My brother Billy (a retired Army Master SGT) wears funny T-shirts every single day for the last 30 years. He is shy but loves it when people come up and laugh, kid or compliment him. I love outdoor festivals and Irishfests. I noticed half the people were in T-shirts that brand themselves: dog Lover, Patriot, Hobby, Passion, Politics, etc.

So I thought what about the Irish? There's only 5 million people in Ireland but there's 34 million people of Irish descent in the USA. That’s 10% of the population. So I said to my brother Billy, “you know I think there’s a business here,” and Irish Wit and Wisdom Club was born.

Our Mission

Our mission is to help people be more joyful, cheerful, playful, and make the world a better place with their T-shirts, daily jokes, toasts, quotes, and Irish proverbs—but I need your help.

Be a Founding Member

Go to our Irish pub community and register as a Founding Member. Include your Photo, Tell us a little about yourself, what made you join, what you like about what we're doing and what do you think we could do better? With your help, we can really make this into something great.

Join the Community
John and Billy Ford

The Story Behind Irish Wit & Wisdom

A three-part journey into the heart of Irish humor. Take five minutes to discover why this community exists and how you can find your seat at the table.

The Story
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01

The Story

Irish humor isn't just about the laugh—it's about resilience. Discover how a tradition of wit became a global cultural anchor.

The Vision
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02

The Vision

What if the warmth of a local Irish pub could be accessed from anywhere? We’re building a digital home for humor—a global club where everyone has a seat.

The Invitation
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03

The Invitation

This is where your journey begins. Watch as we extend the official invitation to become a Founding Member.

Meet Billy

Meet Billy

Billy is one of those rare people everyone instantly likes. He’s the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back—and not think twice about it.

  • Kind
  • Dependable
  • Always willing to help

And I’m not exaggerating when I say: Everyone loves Billy. No exceptions.
Billy never married, but he’s got a big heart—He’s a huge animal lover with three dogs,
and he spends his spare time volunteering
with the American Legion and local animal shelters.That’s just who he is.

But here’s where it gets interesting…

Billy has worn funny T-shirts every single day for over 30 years.And even though he’s naturally a shy guy—Those shirts do something.People come up to him.They laugh.
They start conversations.Complete strangers.What started as just wearing a T-shirt turned into something much bigger for BillyA simple way to connect with people.

Now, when it comes to working together—

We couldn’t be more different. I’m the creative one—ideas nonstop, which can be a blessing and a curse. Billy? He’s got that military discipline and integrity. He keeps me focused. Makes sure we don’t bite off more than we can chew.
And most importantly—Makes sure we actually deliver what we promiseAnd that the railroad runs on time..Great partnerships work because of opposite strengths.If two people are the same—
one of them isn’t necessary.And in our case—He’s not just my partner.He’s my younger brother.And I would never betray the trust he’s placed in me.At the end of the day, this isn’t some big corporate brand.It’s a family business with two brothers.One with a head full of ideas…and one who makes sure those ideas actually happen.And between the two of us—
we’re building something we hope brings a little more laughter into the world.

Who Fits In At The Pub?

“Where the right line meets the perfect moment.”

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Love a Good Joke
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Appreciate Clever Wit
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Enjoy Good conversation
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Like Brightening Someone’s day
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Believe Laughter Makes Life Better
The Irish Soul

Why Irish Humor Is the Funniest in the World

Not yet a Member? Enter your email (and optional phone for text alerts) and we’ll send you the beautifully illustrated booklet — THE IRISH SOUL

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Join The Pub — $29
Irish Soul Booklet

Rave Reviews

Ron Rucolas

Member

John,You’re the second best writer I know. The other one just got out of jail

Richard Pinter

Member

John , You have a fantastic talent for writing, I find myself submersed in your story. I see what you see & feel what you feel. There is a certain cadence and rhyhymn with your way with words that is spellbinding .

Darlene Glendale

Community Member

John you’re a brilliant writer. It takes a lot for me not to lose my attention. I didn’t wander once. A gift from your father. Thanks for sharing

Moira Ford

My late Great wife

The only reason we have stayed together for these 49 years is that you could always make me laugh,