Long before the Irish were welcomed or celebrated in American life, they were already fighting for the country’s liberty. In the spring of 1775, in the small frontier settlement of Machias on the Maine coast, the son of Irish Catholic immigrants from County Cork led a band of lumbermen and fishermen against a British warship. His name was Jeremiah O’Brien, and the bold action he commanded would produce the first naval victory of the American Revolution. Jeremiah O’Brien was born in 1744 in … Read More .... about Before the U.S. Navy, There was O’Brien
Main Content
Patrick Carr: The Forgotten Irish Victim of the Boston Massacre
On the night of March 5, 1770, British soldiers fired into a crowd on Boston’s King Street. The shooting left five men dead and helped ignite … [Read More...] about Patrick Carr: The Forgotten Irish Victim of the Boston Massacre
John Boyle O’Reilly: The Fenian Who Became Boston’s Voice
When John Boyle O’Reilly arrived in Boston in 1869, he was not a celebrated poet or civic leader. He was a Fenian exile who had escaped from a … [Read More...] about John Boyle O’Reilly: The Fenian Who Became Boston’s Voice
“I Shot at Every Damn Plane I Could See”: John Finn’s One Man Fight at Pearl Harbor
On the morning of December 7th, 1941, John William Finn was asleep at his home at Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station on Oahu when a neighbor's … [Read More...] about “I Shot at Every Damn Plane I Could See”: John Finn’s One Man Fight at Pearl Harbor
Kate Mullany: An Irish Immigrant Who Helped Working Women Organize
Kate Mullany was a nineteen-year-old Irish immigrant when she became the head of her household. Her father had died in 1864, leaving behind a … [Read More...] about Kate Mullany: An Irish Immigrant Who Helped Working Women Organize
The Chaplain’s Corner
Deputy National Chaplain Update – May 2025
Deputy National Chaplain Fr. Colm Mitchell I imagine by the time this issue of the Digest is sent out, we will be into the Easter season. As … [Read More...] about Deputy National Chaplain Update – May 2025
The Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’: A Reflection for the Ancient Order of Hibernians
The Jubilee Year theme, ‘Pilgrims of Hope,’ resonates profoundly with the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH). As members of this storied organization, we are called to reflect on our shared history, values, and … [Read More...] about The Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’: A Reflection for the Ancient Order of Hibernians