Around the Divisions

from Bill Sullivan, National Director ... As we all know the cost of a college education today can be very expensive. Realizing that many of their members had children of college age, President Charlie Sinclair of the Major John “Mike” Tivnan USMC Division 18 AOH in Salem, Massachusetts along with the Division Officers and members came up with the idea of an activity to raise funds for college scholarships for members children and grandchildren, while at the same time providing an enjoyable activity for its members their families and friends – a golf tournament! The first golf tournament … [Read more...] about Dollars for Scholars!

from Dan Dennehy, National Director ... I was honored to participate in the Annual New York County Francis P. Beirne Division 9 Golf Outing was held in Van Cortlandt Golf Club, the oldest public course in America in late June. The Francis P Beirne / Frank McGreal Memorial Golf Outing remembers two late great Officers of the Division and is a family affair for the Beirne and McGreal families along with many friends. The Division is named for the former Chairman of the New York St Patricks Parade. This year, the golf attendees were introduced to three of its newest members, all … [Read more...] about First Cousins Become 3rd Generation Hibernians in a Division named after their Grandad

from John Patrick Walsh, National Liaison... As summer heats up most of the DC divisions take a small break from official business and instead focus on fellowship. Baseball presents a wonderful occasion for Hibernian families to gather and enjoy the national pastime in our nation’s capital. Some divisions even use the opportunity to promote Irish culture amongst the Tri-State’s baseball fandom. PND Keith Carney and Commodore John Barry Division 1 have spearheaded “Irish Night @ Nats Park” in conjunction with the Washington Nationals for the past few years. Originally conceived as a … [Read more...] about DC Divisions Mix Baseball and Heritage

from Ed Halligan, National Director ... It’s great to have a Pipe Band. It brings great attention to Notre Dame Division #1. Division 1 uses local newspapers and social media to show their events and charitable endeavors. This also has just as big an impact on their recruitment. They are the largest Division in Montgomery County and one of the top Divsiions in Pennsylvania District One. … [Read more...] about Irish Thunder of AOH Division #1 in Montgomery County performs at the Fourth of July Parade in Oreland, PA.

from Bill Sullivan, National Director ... For nearly a half century, the Massachusetts AOH State Board on the third Saturday in June has sponsored the John Boyle O’Reilly Memorial Exercises at the grave of this Irish Patriot in Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline, MA. Annually Brother and Sister Hibernians across Massachusetts, and many from New Hampshire and Connecticut, as well as, the Greater Boston Irish Community gather to honor and remember a man who was one of the most highly regarded immigrants of his time. The Memorial Program begins with a Mass celebrated by the Mass AOH and LAOH State … [Read more...] about Honoring an Irish Patriot!

from John Patrick Walsh, National Liaison MD/DC/VA Brothers and Sisters, I'm glad to be afforded the opportunity to highlight to great work of one of Maryland's finest divisions. This past March, the John Barry Division of Annapolis was instrumental in organizing AOH resistance when MD recently tried to legalize assisted suicide. Every indication pointed to this being the year that the MD legislature would pass such a bill. But through emails, letters, calls, and marches these brothers were part of the SUCCESSFUL campaign to defeat assisted suicide for another year. My sincere thanks to … [Read more...] about AOH John Barry Div. Annapolis Resists as MD tries to Legalize Assisted Suicide

from National Director John Wilson Saturday May 18, 2019, members of the two AOH Divisions in Minnesota -the Shamrock Division from LeSueur and the Archbishop John Ireland Division in St. Paul, came to St. Mary's Cemetery in Waseca, Minnesota to commemorated the unveiling of a memorial stone for Father Patrick McCabe. Thanks to George Thomas McLaughlin, AOH Member from Providence, Rhode Island and also the director of the Fenian Memorial Committee of America. Father Patrick McCabe played a heroic role in the escape of Fenians, including six on the whaling ship Catalpa in 1876 from the … [Read more...] about Father Patrick McCabe Dedication Waseca, MN

from National Directory Dennis Parks A few of the members of The Irish Brigade #1 in Medina County, OH, marched in the Hinckley Memorial Day Parade, as they do every year.  The parade ends at the Veterans Memorial where the Boy Scouts lay a wreath, followed by a prayer said by the AOH chaplain, Deacon Bruce Dobbins, himself a veteran. … [Read more...] about Irish Brigade Div. #1, Medina Co. OH, at the Hinckley Memorial Day Parade

from National Director Edward Halligan American Legion and the Ancient Order of Hibernians The American Legion Post 100 out of Wyndmoor, Pa have been sponsoring the Memorial Day Parade for decades. This year being the 100th anniversary of their Charter, the Post invited the AOH to be part of their parade Division #2 from Montgomery County, Division #80 from Philadelphia County along with the Glenside Gaelic Club and Division #46 from Philadelphia County responded with their Pipe Band. We marched together with the Pipers leading and the young athletes and their coaches behind us. It was a … [Read more...] about AOH Div 2- Montgomery Co, PA Joins American Legion in Memorial Day Parade

From Liam McNabb, National Director ... Irish culture is alive and well in the “North Country” of New York State as the Monsignor James Ruddy AOH Division in Jefferson County promotes Irish Road Bowling. Irish Road Bowling originated in Ireland and is now a regular Hibernian activity that has attracted young and old Watertown area residents to participate and learn more about Irish culture and the AOH. Sean Hennessy, Division President, reports this activity has grown to include business sponsors and has raised funds for local charities. … [Read more...] about Irish Road Bowling Organized by AOH

From Bill Sullivan, National Director And the Tradition Continues…! For over five decades members of the Tomas Cardinal O’Fiaich Division 14 AOH in Watertown, Massachusetts have been marching in Watertown’s Annual Memorial Day Parade to honor those who have gone before them. Over the years Division 14 members have been joined in the line of march by their brother and sister Hibernians from across Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. Division 1 of Holyoke, which is in the western part of Massachusetts, every year enters a float in this parade and the New Hampshire Pipe and Drums, some … [Read more...] about Tomas Cardinal O’Fiaich Division 14, Watertown, MA

from Ed Halligan, National Director ... The Commodore John Barry Division #1 in Gloucester County, New Jersey for the last 29 years have commemorated the Easter Monday Rising of 2016 when Irishmen and Irish women took to the streets of Dublin to take control of their beloved homeland from the British. The day starts at the AOH Hall with a welcome, invocation, the raising of the Irish Flag, anthems, reading of the proclamation, Mass and a luncheon. Afterwards the women of the community don their homemade Easter bonnets and parade to the bars and clubs in National Park, NJ. It is a community … [Read more...] about Easter Monday at Div #1 Commodore John Barry Division