Uncle O’Grimacey is Back For the First Time Since 1975 to Promote Shamrock Shake
After nearly 40 years out of the spotlight, Uncle O’Grimacey, Grimace’s festive Shamrock Shake-loving uncle, has officially returned to McDonald’s. Originally introduced in 1975 to promote the beloved Shamrock Shake, Uncle O’Grimacey is making his way back to McDonaldland, reuniting with his purple nephew for the first time in decades.
“This Shamrock Season celebration came to life when Grimace stumbled upon his family’s original Shamrock Shake recipe,” McDonald’s shared in a press release. “That discovery sparked Grimace to reconnect with his vibrant, joyful, and generous uncle, Uncle O’Grimacey.”
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To mark the occasion and celebrate 50 years of Ronald McDonald House Charities, Uncle O’Grimacey is making his way from Sham Rock, Ireland, to visit locations across the U.S., kicking things off in Studio 1A. McDonald’s franchisees will donate 25 cents to RMHC for every Shamrock Shake sold between Feb. 10 and March 23, with a goal of raising $5 million. That amount could cover approximately 50,000 overnight stays for families benefiting from RMHC programs.
“We are thrilled that proceeds from this minty treat will aid RMHC in keeping families together,” said Joy Silmon, a second-generation McDonald’s franchisee, in the release. Fans can also get their hands on Uncle O’Grimacey-themed T-shirts, baseball caps and crewnecks, available for preorder at goldenarchesunlimited.com. McDonald’s will also make an additional donation to RMHC from the sales of these items.
Who Exactly Is Uncle O’Grimacey?
Courtesy of McDonald’s
Much like his well-known purple relative, Uncle O’Grimacey is a large, fuzzy, anthropomorphic character … though no one is entirely sure what species he belongs to. His family tree includes Grimace’s Grandma Winky and twin aunts Millie and Tillie, all of whom reside on Grimace Island. Uncle O’Grimacey, however, calls Sham Rock, Ireland, home, where he takes on the all-important duty of delivering Shamrock Shakes each year in honor of St. Patrick’s Day.
The Shamrock Shake itself first appeared in 1970, and Uncle O’Grimacey followed as its official mascot five years later. Throughout the late ’70s and early ’80s, he regularly popped up in McDonald’s ads, always spreading St. Paddy’s Day cheer until he mysteriously disappeared in the mid-’80s.
His vanishing act likely coincided with McDonald’s phasing out several of its McDonaldland characters, including Mayor McCheese, Birdie the Early Bird, and Captain Crook, as part of a larger brand refresh. However, in recent years, McDonald’s seems to be bringing back many of its nostalgic characters out of retirement, including CosMc, who is the inspiration for the new themed chain CosMc’s, selling fun drinks and snacks.
As for how long he will stick around this time? That remains to be seen. At the very least, he will be here through March 23, after which he’ll likely retreat to his quiet life in Sham Rock until the next time McDonald’s decides it’s time for a nostalgic shake-up.
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Classic Comedy Duos
March 2021
Chuckle at television & films funniest comic duos.
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