Nashville, TN – [September 2024 – The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) hosted a remarkable event in September, celebrating Irish heritage in Nashville and attracting both AOH members and community members with an interest in local Irish history. The gathering at Calvary Catholic cemetery was led by Deacon Mike Wilkins and Division Historian; Conor Doolan. The event was not only well-attended but also filled with unexpected moments of connection and discovery. One of the most touching highlights occurred when Patrick Nolan, a non-member, was astonished to find a relative’s grave during the … [Read more...] about Nashville AOH Event Celebrates Irish Heritage and Uncovers FamilyConnections
Around the Divisions
Robert Emmet Remembrance Day in San Francisco
On Sunday 8 September Dr. Ruan O’Donnell spoke at the United Irish Cultural Society event in San Francisco, California, on the subject of Robert Emmet’s legacy in the USA. Ireland’s Consul General Michael Smith addressed the gathering outside the Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park. Ancient Order of Hibenians, San Francisco Division 17 joined with the United Irish Societies of San Francisco. In 1916, one third of the population of San Francisco was Irish or of Irish descent and largely supporters of the struggle for Irish independence. When news of the Easter Rising reached them, they … [Read more...] about Robert Emmet Remembrance Day in San Francisco
Hartford AOH Division Sponsors Annual Hartford Irish Road Bowling Tournament
Hartford AOH Division sponsored its annual Hartford Irish Road Bowling Tournament on July 20 at Riverside Park in the capital city. With over 40 teams participating in the event, it is believed to be the largest Irish Road Bowling Tournament ever held in New England. All proceeds benefit the Division's fight against hunger in the Hartford area, particularly the food pantry at Saint Augustine Church and the sandwich ministry at Saint Patrick-Saint Anthony Church. The Division continues to hold a monthly food drive to benefit the pantry at Saint Augustine's and has been since June 2020. … [Read more...] about Hartford AOH Division Sponsors Annual Hartford Irish Road Bowling Tournament
National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Saint Paul
On Memorial Day, the Marian Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage passed through Saint Paul, Minnesota, enroute to the National Eucharistic Congress. Minnesota Hibernians were among 7000 members of the local faithful who participated in the “Source and Summit” Eucharistic Procession which went on Summit Avenue in Saint Paul from the Saint Paul Seminary through various historic neighborhoods, past our Governor's Residence, and ending with a prayer service at the Cathedral of Saint Paul / National Shrine of the Apostle Paul. … [Read more...] about National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Saint Paul
St. Anthony Dining Room – Ancient Order of Hibernians, San Francisco Division 17
The St. Anthony Foundation is a nonprofit social service organization in San Francisco, California. They are best known for their operation of the St. Anthony Dining Room in the Tenderloin District. It was founded in 1950 by Franciscan friar Alfred Boeddeker to serve free meals to the poor in an ordinary restaurant-like setting. The Dining Room has served as many as 2,500 plates of food a day, and over thirty seven million meals since its creation. The foundation operates a residential drug and alcohol treatment program for … [Read more...] about St. Anthony Dining Room – Ancient Order of Hibernians, San Francisco Division 17
Suffolk’s Division 9 Brother Father Henry Delivers Prayer at Suffolk Legislature
Before the start of every General Meeting at the Suffolk Legislature, one Legislator is chosen to designated individuals in the community to sing the National Anthem and obtain a clergyman to say an opening prayer. For the June 6th General Meeting, Suffolk Division 9 Brother Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon chose fellow Division 9 Brother Father Henry Reid to lead the Legislature, and all those present, in a prayer dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Brother Lennon introduced Brother Henry to those present as a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians for over thirty years, former … [Read more...] about Suffolk’s Division 9 Brother Father Henry Delivers Prayer at Suffolk Legislature
Illinois ~ Chicago Division #59 Celebrates Bloomsday
June 16th is Bloomsday, named after the one of the main characters in James Joyce’s Ulysses.Bloomsday is the day where people get together around the world to celebrate the book. InChicago our Hibernian brothers celebrated with traditional music referenced in Ulysses andreading selective passages. (Hibernians member in picture = Joe McGovern) … [Read more...] about Illinois ~ Chicago Division #59 Celebrates Bloomsday
Illinois – Chicago Division #59 Supports Those in Need
John F Kennedy Division #59 came together on April 27th to help St. Vincent DePaul’s food pantry at St. Thomas More. Division #59 regularly donates to local food pantries throughout the south side of Chicago to ensure that families do not have to make choices between medical bills and food. Hibernians in action, giving back to our community. (Hibernians members in picture Left to Right) Joe Kennelly, Joe McGovern, Kevin Gill, Michael O’Connor, Tim Noonan … [Read more...] about Illinois – Chicago Division #59 Supports Those in Need
AOH St. Patrick’s Division 2 Installs New Brothers
On Sunday, April 28th, AOH St. Patrick’s Division 2 (Suffolk County, Long Island, NY) held a Shamrock Degree. Division President Jim McGrath welcomed 21 new Brothers into the Order. Refreshments were enjoyed by all after the Shamrock Degree. With the newly installed Brothers, this brings the total membership of St. Patrick’s Division 2 to 514. Division 2’s Organizing Team (led by Brothers Kevin Vaughn, Frank Collins, Mark Tynan and John Faust) are planning another Shamrock Degree in the early Autumn of 2024. … [Read more...] about AOH St. Patrick’s Division 2 Installs New Brothers
Town of Babylon Proclaims March 2024 – Irish American Heritage Month
IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH PROCLAIMED IN THE TOWN OF BABYLON L-R: President Jim McGrath; Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Town Councilman and Hibernian Terrence McSweeney LINDENHURST, N.Y. – On Wednesday, February 28th , Town of Babylon proclaimed March as “Irish American Heritage Month”. Town of Babylon officials stood alongside President Jim McGrath and Past Presidents of St. Patrick’s Division 2 on Wednesday, February 28th at Babylon Town Hall to proclaim March 2024 as Irish American Heritage Month in the Town of Babylon, Long Island. The proclamation was made by Town of … [Read more...] about Town of Babylon Proclaims March 2024 – Irish American Heritage Month
No Hunger Holiday in Missouri
On Tuesday, around 100 volunteers packed the Cottleville Knights of Columbus to help the non-profit No Hunger Holiday assemble each box, which includes a turkey and fixings for a Thanksgiving meal at home. The turkeys are the result of donation drives held at several area high schools. The 40 partner organizations help cover seven counties (St. Charles, St. Louis, Warren, Montgomery, Lincoln, Pike and Franklin), along with the City of St. Louis. This is the 33rd year for No Hunger Holiday and it’s just incredible to see everyone come together, from high school students to firefighters to … [Read more...] about No Hunger Holiday in Missouri
Inaugural Tom’s Tournament Smashing Success
The Fr. Sean O’Shea Hibernians of Reno County Kansas Hosted a Golf Tournament on Friday August 4th of 2023 at Crazy Horse Golf Club. The inaugural “Tom’s Tournament” was held to remember a friend of the Hibernians Tom Hammersmith, and to support his surviving wife and children. 128 friends of Tom’s showed up to remember a friend and to raise money for his family. All proceeds from the event were given to Tom’s family. … [Read more...] about Inaugural Tom’s Tournament Smashing Success
Hartford Irish Road Bowling Tournament
The 2023 Hartford Irish Road Bowling Tournament was held on July 29 and the winning team came from LAOH Division 36 in Worcester, Mass. The winning team was: Meghan McGuirk, Deb Donovan, Julie Jarry and Deb Haglund. The Jamie Forzono Trophy was presented by Sue Forzono (far left) and AOH Hartford Brother Nick Forzono. The Hartford Irish Road Bowling Tournament was held on Saturday, July 29 by the Hartford AOH Division 2, in conjunction with Riverfront Recapture. The event marked the third-straight year that Irish road bowling tournament returned to the area and attracted … [Read more...] about Hartford Irish Road Bowling Tournament
Sullivan & O’Sullivan annual Shillelagh Swing golf Outing .
Sullivan and O’Sullivan Division held their Annual Shillelagh Swing golf outing on June 17,2023 at Brookwood Golf Course. All proceeds from this event are donated to Catholiccharities on St. Patrick’s day at 12 noon Mass at St. Matthews Catholic Church DowntownFlint Michigan . … [Read more...] about Sullivan & O’Sullivan annual Shillelagh Swing golf Outing .
AOH in America Participates in Honoring 6000 Coffin Ship Victims in Montreal
Lily MacLean, Esmé Cavanaugh (Gráinne), Tim Weklar (Albany, Division 5) Victor Boyle (AOH Canada National President), MP John Finnucane (Sinn Féin, Belfast North) and Jim Scott (Schenectady, Division 1) On May 28th, members of the AOH in America participated in the “Annual Walk to the Stone” memorial ceremony that is organized by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Canada. The Black Rock Memorial is currently located in between two highway roads near the Victoria Bridge in the Point Saint Charles section of Montreal and is the site of a 6,000 person mass grave of coffin ship … [Read more...] about AOH in America Participates in Honoring 6000 Coffin Ship Victims in Montreal
AOH Army Veterans – Commemorative Jump
Brother Hibernians and Brother Paratroopers. LTC (Ret) Cole Slattery, past President of the Col. Thomas J. Cunningham Jr. Div., Loudoun County, VA (Left) and MAJ (Ret) Keith Kettell, current President of the Herbert /Cady Div. Alexandria. VA (Right), stand proudly before the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Old Town Alexandria in early March and meet up again in late March in Palatka, FL to close out Irish American Heritage month by jumping from the 80-year-old C-47, Tico Bell. The storied aircraft dropped Paratroopers into Normandy on D-Day June 6th, 1944, and again during Operation Market Garden … [Read more...] about AOH Army Veterans – Commemorative Jump
Mass Rock – Cardinal Timothy Dolan Interviews AOH Suffolk County
6-months in the making, on March 28th AOH Suffolk County President, Bill Gorham; Past AOH NewYork State President, Vic Vogel and AOH Suffolk County, Director or Public Relations, JimKillen journeyed into Manhattan to meet with His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan.In the September 15, 2022 Catholic Faith Network newsletter, Cardinal Dolan wrote about hismore than 2-dozen pilgrimages to Mass Rocks in Ireland. Coincidently, 3-days later onSunday, September 18, 2022, with AOH Suffolk County Chaplain Fr. Henry Reid andcommittee members Gorham, Vogel, Killen, Patrick Spero and Joe Kelly, AOH Suffolk … [Read more...] about Mass Rock – Cardinal Timothy Dolan Interviews AOH Suffolk County
AOH Hartford Honors Irish Canal Workers
AOH Hartford Division 2 held a wreath laying ceremony at the Irish Canal Workers Monument in Windsor Locks, Conn., on Sunday, March 19. The memorial, dedicated by Hartford AOH in 2022, remembers a forgotten Irish-Catholic cemetery in Windsor Locks. The memorial honors the 400 immigrant laborers who left their homeland in Ireland and came to the area between 1827-1829 to build a canal. In particular, the memorial remembers those canal workers and family members that are buried in an unmarked cemetery that is located about 100 yards and across the canal from where the memorial is … [Read more...] about AOH Hartford Honors Irish Canal Workers
St. Patrick’s Contest – AOH Nashville
AOH Nashville sponsors a St. Patrick art contest for second graders and sixth gradersdiocesan wide. Several weeks prior to the contest, students receive instruction and lessonson the virtues of St. Patrick and biographical information. Second graders color a picture andwrite an essay espousing those virtues and the lessons they learned about him. The sixthgraders learn about St. Patrick in similar fashion but engage in a project of their choice whileutilizing higher-level critical thinking skills. This year’s winners ranged from a beautifulwatercolor painting with a lovely authentic prayer … [Read more...] about St. Patrick’s Contest – AOH Nashville
Green Carnation for Saint Patrick’s Day
This past weekend members of the St Charles Missouri AOH collected donations for the St Vincent de Paul Society and gave those donating a green silk carnation. The members have been doing this now for 15 years on the Sunday before Saint Patrick’s Day at local parishes throughout the region. Pictured left to right Mike Tobin, Leo Tevlin and Rocky Reitmeyer at All Saints Church, StPeters, Missouri … [Read more...] about Green Carnation for Saint Patrick’s Day