“What’s Irish and sits in the back yard?”/“Paddy O’Furniture.”

A popular St. Patrick’s Day joke is:
 
Q: What’s Irish and sits in the back yard?
A: Paddy O’Furniture (patio furniture).
 
The jocular Irish name “Paddy/Patti/Patty O’Furniture” has been cited in print since at least 1981. The joke has been told since at least 1982 and 1983.
 
 
21 June 1981, Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR), “Help offered to rinsed, drained soap script writers” by Jean Henniger, pg. TV34, col. 4:
Paddy O’Furniture…Irish wit
   
14 June 1982, Austin (TX) American-Statesman, “A few words from a man of letters” by Mike Kelley, pg. B1, col. 1:
You hadn’t thought to ask who is the first Irishman to come out in the spring, sir? (...) Still can’t say? Very well. Paddy O’Furniture.
 
17 September 1982, Santa Cruz (CA) Sentinel, “Wally Trabing’s Mostly about People: Groaners you can tell Grandma,” pg. 13, col. 2:
Noodle: “What’s Irish and stays out all night?”
Bud Knowitall: “Patti O’Furniture.”
Whohaa.
 
Google News Archive
6 October 1982, Milwaukee (WI) Sentinel, “Rafferty” by Gerald Dumas, pt. 3, pg. 2, col. 4:
Rabbits went to the window and looked at Lemming. “Are you okay, Malloy?” he asked. “That’s the first joke tonight you didn’t laugh at. Did you hear the punch line? Paddy O’Furniture?”
     
24 February 1983, Park City (UT) News, Personals sec., pg. C9, col. 1:
What do you call an Irishman you can leave out all summer? Patti O’furniture!
 
Google Groups: net.jokes
Disgusting—Rot 13—you are warned.
wateng!daemery
4/14/83
(...)
What do you call an Irishman who hangs around the pool?
Patti O’Furniture
 
9 December 1983, Morning Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA), “Smiley Anders’ Baton Rouge,” pg. 1B, col. 1:
TALK ABOUT BLARNEY! My buddy Jimmy the Freak called in the other day to ask me, “What’s Irish and stays outside even in bad weather?” The answer, of course: “Paddy O’Furniture.”
 
30 December 1983, The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec), pg. C-9, col. 1:
Google News Archive
“What’s Irish and sits out in the rain?” “Paddy O’Furniture.”
 
Google News Archive
3 June 1984, The Ledger (Lakeland, FL), “Coffee Guzzlers Hold THird and Sometimes Annual Pun Contest” by Lonnie Brown, pg. 11A, col. 1:
This is a wonderful time of year to have a pun contest, too—after St. Patrick’s Day. (What’s Irish and sits in the back yard? Paddy O’Furniture.)
 
Google News Archive
19 March 1989, The Ledger (Lakeland, FL), “Encyclopedia editorializes for asparagus over broccoli, brussels sprout” by Lonnie Brown, pg. 15A, col. 1:
Who’s Irish and sits in the backyard?
 
Paddy O’Furniture.
 
Google Books
Dancer on the Grass:
True Stories about Horses and People
By Teresa Tsimmu Martino
Trontdale, OR: NewSage Press
1999
Pg. 144:
They would joke, “What’s Irish and lives on your lawn? Paddy-O-Furniture.”
 
Google Books
Let’s Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
By Peter Roop and Connie Roop
Minneapolis, MN: Milbrook Press
2003
Pg. ?:
What is green and stays outside?
Paddy O’Furniture.
 
Google Books
Beer is the Answer…I Don’t Remember the Question:
And Over 1,000 Other Bar Jokes, Quotes and Cartoons
By Ray Foley
Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, Inc.
2007
Pg. 59:
Q: What’s Irish and stays out all night?
A: Paddy O’Furniture.
   
Google Books
September 2007, Boys’ Life, ‘Think & Grin,” pg. 66, col. 1:
Patrick: Who sits on your back porch and watches over a pot o’ gold?
Molly: I’m clueless. Who?
Patrick: Paddy O’Furniture! Brendan McBreen, Parris Island, S.C.
   
Google Books
The Mammoth Book of One-Liners
By Geoff Tibballs
London: Constable & Robinson Ltd
2012
Pg. ?:
What’s Irish and stays out all night?
Paddy O’Furniture.
 
Google Books
The Everything Big Book of Jokes:
Hundreds of the Shortest, Longest, Silliest, Smartest, Most Hilarious Jokes You’ve Never Heard!
By Evan C. Thomas
Avon, MA: Adams Media
2014
Pg. 104:
WHAT TYPE OF LAWN FURNITURE is only used on St. Patrick’s Day? Paddy O’Furniture.
   
(Trademark)
Word Mark PADDY O’FURNITURE
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 020. US 002 013 022 025 032 050. G & S: Outdoor Furniture namely Tables, Chairs, Benches, Planters, Boxes, Loungers, Stools and Carts
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 75735090
Filing Date July 15, 1999
Current Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Owner (APPLICANT) Celtic Bears, L.L.C. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OKLAHOMA 1239 E. 29th St. Tulsa OKLAHOMA 74114
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date March 25, 2000