The Ancient Order of Hibernians

The Oldest and Largest Irish-Catholic Organization in the United States. Established 1836

Join the A.O.H.!

News

AOH Gaelic Mass Watched Nationally

By

The Westchester County Legislature proclaimed “Gaelic Mass Day,” as viewers from as far away as Texas, California and Ireland itself, joined Hibernians wearing sashes and medallions, Irish community groups, Irish speakers and parishioners, for a Mass said in Irish by Fr. Brendan Fitzgerald at St. Barnabas on Saturday September 17th. Bronx County Ancient Order of Hibernians’ 4th annual Gaelic Mass, again made a national Hibernian event by President Danny O’Connell, was carried live on the parish Facebook and AOH YouTube. This year the Irish Language Mass included special prayers for victims’ … [Read more...] about AOH Gaelic Mass Watched Nationally

Take Britain to European Court on Amnesty Call

By

Members of a key Irish parliamentary Committee have urged the Irish government to charge Britain in the European Court of Human Rights, if Britain enacts its Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill shutting down hopes of legacy justice. Fergus O’Dowd TD, on behalf the Irish Committee for the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA),has made the formal request to the Irish Attorney General, while fellow committee member, Rose Conway-Walsh TD, raised the issue with Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin during the recent British-Irish Association conference. These … [Read more...] about Take Britain to European Court on Amnesty Call

Hibernians Question S.4450, the “ Special Relationship Act.”

By

National President Daniel O’Connell has written to Senators Portman (Ohio) and Coons (Delaware) to express the Hibernians concerns over their sponsorship of  S.4450, the “ Special Relationship Act.” The legislation seeks to grant new presidential authority to enact a trade agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom for a period of five years (a period which should be noted spans the 2024 elections).  The Hibernians are concerned that the agreement sets a very low bar for compliance with the Good Friday Agreement despite previous resolutions from Congress stating that any move … [Read more...] about Hibernians Question S.4450, the “ Special Relationship Act.”

The AOH Helps Americans to Retire in Ireland

By

The AOH is working with the government on behalf of Irish America to implement a new scheme to allow Americans to retire in Ireland. Tánaiste of Ireland Leo Varadkar Addressed the members of the AOH and LAOH at their joint AOH/LAOH National Convention to tell Ancient Order of Hibernians measures would help make case for US immigration reform to benefit Irish people Read More in the Irish Times https://youtu.be/DIkXBaMhcsI https://youtu.be/sPJSCHqzg0M … [Read more...] about The AOH Helps Americans to Retire in Ireland

Hibernians – RFJ Lobby Against Amnesty Law

By

Leading Hibernians, joined by Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice, secured crucial Senate, House, and Irish Oireachtas support against the planned British Amnesty bill last week in Washington. The emergency lobby took place as Britain moves to rush through an amnesty bill despite overwhelming opposition across Ireland. A key public statement by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, a new House Foreign Affairs Committee initiative, and backing for an Irish government case against Britain in the European Court of Human Rights, wereamong results which made the week one of the most … [Read more...] about Hibernians – RFJ Lobby Against Amnesty Law

Bloomsday – A Celebration of James Joyce’s Work

By

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 by reading sections or marathon readings of the entire book. 2022 is the 100-year anniversary of the book’s publishing which makes this year special. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Ireland’s global diplomatic network will mark the centenary of with extensive programs of events worldwide. James Joyce’s Ulysses is considered to be a masterpiece and one of the hardest works in literature to read. Published in … [Read more...] about Bloomsday – A Celebration of James Joyce’s Work

AOH President in Belfast for Legacy Pledge

By

Danny O'Connell, National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, traveled to Belfast to meet the Springhill Massacre families, at the site where a priest, Fr. Noel Fitzpatrick, Patrick Butler, three teenagers, Margaret Gargan, John Dougal and David McCafferty were murdered by British Army snipers on July 9th 1972. He told victims’ relatives he was there to stand with the Springhill Massacre families and give a pledge to them and all victims’ relatives who have been fighting for legacy truth that he, and the powerful Irish American AOH organization which he heads would continue to stand … [Read more...] about AOH President in Belfast for Legacy Pledge

Amnesty ‘Kick in the Teeth’ for Victims

By

Belfast woman who has been campaigning nearly 50 years for legacy truth, described the Queen’s Speech amnesty announcement as a “kick in the teeth” for thousands of victims seeking justice. Patricia Burns, whose father was shot dead by British troopers in July 1972, spoke 4 days after the Queen’s Speech announcement, that Britain will push ahead with a Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) amnesty bill despite overwhelming opposition from Irish victims, the Irish government, Irish political parties and American Congress. She was joined by Congressman Jamaal Bowman, victims’ … [Read more...] about Amnesty ‘Kick in the Teeth’ for Victims

Key Hibernian Fact-Finding Mission Ends

By

As the British move ahead with amnesty plans in their Queen’s speech and Westminster legislation, a Hibernian fact-finding delegation heard appeals for American help from legacy victims across the six counties. “Without the AOH and Irish America, Boris Johnson would have already shut everything down and made sure there would be no justice!” said one legacy victims’ campaigner, Martin Mallon in Tyrone. The delegation, which included senior national officers from both the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH),spent 10 days meeting relatives on the … [Read more...] about Key Hibernian Fact-Finding Mission Ends

Irish American Heritage Month: Patrick Gallagher, USMC

By

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: studying law while working in real estate; even getting involved in local politics as a campaign worker for Senator Robert Kennedy.  In 1966, Patrick was drafted for service in Viet Nam. Despite pleas from a heartsick sister living in the states to avoid the horrors of war by simply returning to … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: Patrick Gallagher, USMC

Sergeant Major Daniel Daly, USMC Recipient of two Medals of Honor and Nominated for a Third

By

In the history of the Medal of Honor, the United States Highest award for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty", only 19 men have been awarded the medal twice. Among them is Marine Sergeant Major Daniel Daly, one of only two marines to receive the Medal of Honor Twice for separate acts of heroism and nominated for a third. Daly was born in Glen Cove, Long Island, New York, on 11 November 1873. He was slight of stature, only 5’ 6" in height and weighing 132 lbs, yet enjoyed an early reputation as a fighter, a reputation he would prove … [Read more...] about Sergeant Major Daniel Daly, USMC Recipient of two Medals of Honor and Nominated for a Third

Irish American Heritage Month: Commodore John Barry

By

Did you know that the first flag officer and founder of the United States Navy was an Irishman?  His name was John Barry and Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, said in his eulogy at Barry's graveside, "He was born in Ireland, but America was the object of his devotion and the theater of his usefulness."  Barry was born in Co. Wexford, Ireland in 1745 and grew up with a great love for the sea.  As a young man, he emigrated to the Crown colonies in America and by 1760, he was employed in a shipbuilding firm in Philadelphia.  In 1766, at the age of … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: Commodore John Barry

Irish American Heritage Month: Colonel Eileen Collins, A Descendent of Immigrants Who Attained the Stars

By

On July 30th, 1999, 30 years and two days after the first successful moonwalk, Irish American Colonel Eileen Marie Collins became the first woman to command a U.S. spacecraft. Eileen Collins was one of four children born to a family that traced their heritage to  immigrants  from County Cork who had settled in Elmira New York. At an early age Eileen expressed an interest in flying, the skies around her home a frequent home to sailplanes and Elmira was home to the National Soaring Museum. Her father would often take her to the local airport to watch aircraft take off and … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: Colonel Eileen Collins, A Descendent of Immigrants Who Attained the Stars

Irish American Heritage Month: The Irish Brigade at Antietam

By

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 Irish-born Gen. Thomas F Meagher. Their story is an extraordinary chronicle of military valor in America’s cause; once when President Lincoln visited General McClellan’s Union camp, he lifted a corner of the Irish Brigade Flag, kissed it and said Thank God for the Irish! In early August, the Brigade … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: The Irish Brigade at Antietam

Irish American Heritage Month: Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore, America’s First Superstar

By

A TV documentary on the St. Louis World Fair mentions how John Philip Sousa and his band dominated the entertainment, which included a young John McCormack singing at the Irish Pavilion. It brought to mind a forgotten era when American superstars were not individuals with a current hit record, but band leaders – people with the ability to not only play, but compose, arrange, and lead a musical organization. And, in the beginning, America’s first superstars were the leaders of America’s first bands – her marching Brass Bands and though Sousa was certainly one of them, he was not the … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore, America’s First Superstar

Irish American Heritage Month: The Angel of Andersonville

By

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 was saved, including the City Hall which stood therein? However, Rev. Peter Whelan was just as courageous in another way. Rev. Whelan distinguished himself as a chaplain for the Montgomery Guards, an Irish company established in Savannah for the First Georgia Volunteer Regiment named for America’s … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: The Angel of Andersonville

Irish American Heritage Month: Andrew Higgins, the ‘Noah’ of WW II

By

“The Jaws of Death.” A photo by CPHOM Robert F. Sargent, USCG. A Coast Guard-manned LCVP from the USS Samuel Chase disembarks troops of Company E, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division on the morning of June 6, 1944, at Omaha Beach It is an iconic image of WW II, a photo taken on June 6, 1944 showing American soldiers exiting a landing craft coming ashore at Omaha beach. A few months later on October 20th, another photo captured the moment General Douglas MacArthur “returned” to the Philippines, wading ashore from a landing craft. Neither of these historic moments would have been possible … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: Andrew Higgins, the ‘Noah’ of WW II

Irish American Heritage Month: The Irish Whales

By

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 28, 1868, in an impoverished section of South Boston. He grew up with a love of sports and when an International Olympic Committee resurrected the ancient Olympic Games to be held in Athens in April 1896, Connolly requested a leave of absence from Harvard to participate and left for Greece. After … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: The Irish Whales

Irish American Heritage Month: The Sullivan Brothers

By

DID YOU KNOW that in the annals of America's heroes, there is scarcely a brighter entry than that of the fighting Sullivan brothers?  Born in Waterloo, Iowa to Railroad conductor Tom Sullivan and his wife Alleta, George, Francis, Albert, Joseph, and Madison grew up the best of friends in the closeness of an Irish family and matured into patriotic Americans. It was no surprise, therefore, that when Pearl Harbor was attacked, the Sullivan brothers headed straight for the nearest U.S. Navy recruiting office. Navy policy discouraged family members from serving together, but the Sullivans … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: The Sullivan Brothers