One hundred and ninety years ago on the streets of lower Manhattan the AOH was founded when we answered the call to defend our church from those No Nothings who wanted to burn them down. Sadly, this was a situation that the Irish race was all too familiar with. During the dark days of the Penal Laws in Ireland, we did the same, we protected our faith as priests were hunted and were forced to say mass in woods and forests on mass rocks. Priests under the threat of execution by the British were protected by brave Irish men and women who saved our faith.
Sadly, in the 1830s we as Irish immigrants were viewed as the immigrant who was different, spoke a different language, worshipped a different faith, and were not trusted. But we persevered, worked hard, and contributed to this great country.
In this the 250th year of our United States as Irish and Hibernians we are duly proud of the contributions we have made to make what my beloved soon to be 90-year-old County Kerry born mother has always called the greatest country on the face of the earth. We have been proud to be part of the multi-cultural ethnic immigrant fabric that has made us a great unique nation than values all equally.
Today the Hibernians continue to promote, protect, and preserve our Catholic Faith and our Irish history and heritage.
We also place an especially important priority on working towards peace, justice, and unity on the island of Ireland. We were proud to do our part and stand with others to make the Good Friday Agreement a reality. We did that with so many other Irish advocates by reaching out to elected official throughout the USA and we told the truth of what was happening in the North of Ireland. We pushed back on the narrative that the British promoted, that they were an impartial force there to separate two warring factions. When we said that truth, elected representatives listened and learned. That momentum brought with it the Good Friday Agreement, which has brought peace to the North for almost thirty years. We will be forever grateful to those elected officials who stood with us and those that stand with us now to complete the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. There is still work to be done.
Despite the Irish language gaining official recognition through the 2022 Identity and Language Act in Northern Ireland, challenges remain. Implementation is hindered by reluctance and discrimination, as evidenced by the 2025 controversy at Belfast Grand Central Station, highlighting ongoing issues in promoting the language’s public use.
Legacy cases such as Sean Brown, Pat Finucane and so many others continue to be stalled by the British government. The AOH applauds the Irish government for their steadfast support of all victims in the North and the human rights case they have brought to the European Court of Human Rights against the British government. We have expressed cautious optimism on the new agreement that both countries have entered, to address legacy and will be watching with a critical eye. We will never stop our support of those seeking truth and justice.
Finally, the Good Friday Agreement calls for the Northern Ireland secretary to call for a unity referendum when that office feels that the landscape reflects that the matter may pass. Hillary Benn the current NI secretary of state dictates a narrative that there is no interest in that process, but the facts will show another story.
Elections: Since 2017 the Unionist majority has ended in assembly elections. In 2022 Sinn Fein became the largest party and historically achieved the office of First Minister. Elections show an increasing diversity of views on Irelands future and the majority of second preference votes are for pro unity parties.
Demographics: The only demographic where the Unionist, Protestant. Loyalists have an advantage in is senior citizens.
Economics: Studies have suggested that a united Ireland would economic one island advantages,
The AOH says let us have this conversation on unity. Let us move past the rhetoric and let each side put their best argument forward and let the people decide democratically. Those that support a unity referendum have used 2030 as a target for the vote. One must ask if by 2030 a full 32 years after the Good Friday Agreement we cannot have a conversation on unity, then when? The time has come for serious discussion and a plan for Irish Unity
In closing regarding unity, we could really use some of that here. In our historic 250th year let us honor the brave men of the thirteen colonies who worked towards compromise to lay the foundation of the great nation we are today. Let us stop being Red or Blue and start being Red, White, and Blue. The world is watching and more importantly so are our children and grandchildren. We can do better; we must do better.