News from the National Board
Irish American Heritage Month: Patrick Gallagher, USMC
Patrick Gallagher was born in Derrintogher, County Mayo Ireland on February 2, 1944. At the age of eighteen, as so many you Irish men and women before him, Patrick immigrated to the United States and the promise of a new life filled with opportunity. He quickly started on the immigrant dream: … [Read More...]
Political Education: With Britain’s Invocation of Article 50, AOH Renews Calls for Special Envoy to Northern Ireland
Today, the British Government of Prime Minister Theresa May invoked Article 50 and began the process of the United Kingdom severing its relationship with the European Union, which includes among its members the Republic of Ireland. The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) is extremely concerned for … [Read More...]
Irish American Heritage Month: The Irish Brigade at Antietam
DID YOU KNOW THAT the Irish had a major part in the victory on the bloodiest day in American history? It was at Antietam on September 17, 1862, and it was the victory that emboldened President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Foremost among Union forces was the Irish Brigade led by … [Read More...]
Irish American Heritage Month: The Irish Whales
DID YOU KNOW that the first Gold Medal winner in modern Olympic history was the son of Irish immigrant parents and that Irish athletes dominated Olympic track and field events for the U.S. for the first two decades of the 20th century? The first to win was James Connolly and he was born on October … [Read More...]
Statement on the Passing of Martin McGuinness
The Ancient Order of Hibernians mourn the passing of former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness. Per AOH National President Judge James McKay “It is with deep sadness that the Ancient Order of Hibernians learned of the passing of Martin McGuinness. If the measure of a … [Read More...]
Irish American Heritage Month: John Philip Holland, Inventor of the Modern Submarine
DID YOU KNOW that an Irishman invented the first successful submarine? His name was John Philip Holland and he was born in Liscannor, Co. Clare, Ireland, on February 24, 1841. He experienced the Irish potato failure suffering poor eyesight as a result. His father was a member of the Coast Guards and … [Read More...]
Irish American Heritage Month: Ther Angel of Andersonville
DID YOU KNOW that an Irish Catholic Priest Rev. Thomas O’Reilly threatened General Sherman with a mutiny by the Irish Catholics in his army if he torched the church district of Atlanta at the start of his infamous march to the sea and that General Sherman backed down and the entire church district … [Read More...]
Historical Happenings – Lessons in Irish History
SAINT COLMCILLE
by Mike McCormack, AOH National Historian On 12 May, 563, Saint Colmcille established a monastery on the island of Iona. Thirty-four years later he died on 9 June 597, which is his universal feast day. In that short time, he exceeded the herculean task that he had set for himself of bringing … [Read More...]
