Robert Emmet Thomas Emmet in Later Life On the surface, the brothers Thomas Addis Emmet and Robert Emmet were the most unlikely of revolutionaries. They were born (Thomas Addis 1764, Robert 1778) into an affluent family of Ireland's Protestant ascendency. Their father was the State Physician of Ireland; firmly positioning the family as members of the British establishment. Yet the spirit of the enlightenment ran strong in the Emmet family; they were sympathetic to the struggle for independence of the American Colonies during the Revolutionary War and critics of the disenfranchisement … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: The Emmets, an Irish and Irish American Story
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Irish American Heritage Month: The Catalpa Rescue
In 1858, the Fenian brotherhood was founded in America and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) in Ireland to work for Irish independence. Britain declared membership in that organization a crime punishable by deportation to her penal colony in Freemantle, Australia. Seldom in history can one find a story to rival the adventure that brought embarrassment to England and freedom to six Fenians who had been sentenced to that harsh penal colony for life. John Devoy, Fenian and leader of Clan Na Gael It all began in 1871, when John Devoy, Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa, and other … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: The Catalpa Rescue
Irish American Heritage Month: The Sheas, Three Generations of Olympians
Since the ancient past, societies have honored athletes. Athletic competition may have developed out of pragmatic concerns such as training warriors, but it was soon realized that certain individuals were gifted with exceptional talents. In the Ancient Olympic Games winning competitors were awarded Olive Wreaths and honored as human incarnations of Apollo; in modern times they are honored with some of the highest salaries in the world. These honors are given in recognition of how exceptional athletic prowess is in on one individual; what then would be the likelihood of finding world class … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: The Sheas, Three Generations of Olympians
Irish American Heritage Month: Nellie Bly, Pioneering Journalist
There was a time when mouse clicks and tweets did not drive reporters; they actually went out, sometimes at great personal peril, to find the news. One such reporter and a pioneer of investigative journalism was Irish American Nellie Bly. 21-year-old Nellie Bly as she appeared while reporting from Mexico Nellie Bly was born Elizabeth Cochrane on May 5, 1864 in Cochran's Mills, now part of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her father, Michael Cochran (Elizabeth would add the 'e' to the last name later), was the son of an immigrant from Derry who has started as a laborer and had … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: Nellie Bly, Pioneering Journalist
Irish American Heritage Month: “Wild Bill” Donovan, “The Last Hero.”
At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, for the first time in over four years, the guns fell silent across the trenches that scarred the face of Europe during the First World War. America had been latecomers to the conflict but at a tremendous cost had tipped the scales in what had been a murderous stalemate. No division had sacrificed more than the 42nd Division, nicknamed the "Rainbow Division," as it had been formed from National Guard Units whose origins stretched across the country. No unit in the Rainbow Division fought on more fronts, nor suffered more … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: “Wild Bill” Donovan, “The Last Hero.”
Irish American Heritage Month: The Foley Brothers “No greater love than to lay down your life for another”
At the young age of 32, Thomas Foley was already an 11-year decorated veteran firefighter of the FDNY and a legend. He was a larger than life individual who embraced life to the fullest and seemed to excel at everything he tried from powerlifting to skydiving. Having learned to ride horses on visits to his grandfather's farm, he even excelled as a competitor on the rodeo circuit. With boyish good looks, Thomas Foley was featured twice by People Magazine and appeared in the FDNY's "2003 Calendar of Heroes." However, being a firefighter was Thomas Foley's first passion; it was all he wanted to … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: The Foley Brothers “No greater love than to lay down your life for another”
In a Year of Parade Cancellations, Amazon Continues to Drop the F-Bomb on St. Patrick’s Day
Link to Item The Ancient Order of Hibernians, America's Largest Irish Organization, once again note, that Amazon continues to peddle prejudice for profit in selling merchandise that demeans and denigrates the Irish and Irish American. In a year when the Irish American community is again being asked to to forego their traditional St. Patrick's Day celebrations out of respect for the health and welfare of the broader population amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, we find the sale by Amazon of items with the phrase "F(expletive) St. Patrick's Day" inexcusably tone-deaf and … [Read more...] about In a Year of Parade Cancellations, Amazon Continues to Drop the F-Bomb on St. Patrick’s Day
Global Leadership Forum Hosted by Irish Pro-Life USA
Irish Pro-Life USA will be hosting a Global Leadership Forum for the advancement of Pro-Life & Pro-Family values on Wednesday December 9th at 7PM EST on YouTube Live. Join us for updates and reports from both sides of the Atlantic with calls to action and reflections on positive change for the dignity and protection of human life. The Keynote Speaker will be, Peadar Tóibín TD, Leader of Aontú, Ireland's Pro-Life & Fastest Growing Political Party. Special Guests: Fr. Stephen Imbarrato; Daniel O'Connell, National President, Ancient Order of Hibernians in America; Catherine Glenn … [Read more...] about Global Leadership Forum Hosted by Irish Pro-Life USA
AOH Statement on the British Government’s Refusal of an Independent Public Inquiry into the Murder of Pat Finucane
Once again, the British Government has refused to honor its own court rulings, pledges, and international law, regarding the murder of civil rights lawyer Pat Finucane. It has again refused a public inquiry which would reveal the extent of British state complicity in the murder and has instead told the Finucane family to again make complaints to the constabulary or ombudsman, in other words, to continue with the very process that the British Courts have found as insufficient. We can only conclude that Britain has much to hide. AOH National President, Daniel J O’Connell, added “the British … [Read more...] about AOH Statement on the British Government’s Refusal of an Independent Public Inquiry into the Murder of Pat Finucane
Hunger Strike 1980
https://youtu.be/YusVQUas-Zs Hibernians join 1980 Hunger Strikers Tommy McKearney and Fra McCann, and political commentator Andree Murphy for a discussion about the 1980 Hunger Strike. Forty years ago, seven Irish Republican political prisoners were in the midst of a 53 day Hunger Strike against British torture and a strategy to brand them as common criminals rather than political prisoners. Britain's decision at the end of that Hunger Strike, to intensify efforts to break the H-block prisoners rather than compromise, triggered the 1981 Hunger Strike transforming Irish politics and its … [Read more...] about Hunger Strike 1980
The 2020-21 Freedom For All Ireland Christmas Appeal
Please donate to this year’s CHRISTMAS APPEAL. Together we can make a difference.All checks must be made out to “Ancient Order of Hibernians”. Payments should be sent to AOH-FFAI PO BOX 904 JEFFERSON VALLEY, NY 10535. 2020-21 Appeal Pledge FromDownload 2020-21 Freedom for All Ireland ClubDownload 2019-20 Grant Criteria and RecipientsDownload 2020 Freedom For All Ireland Christmas Appeal LetterDownload 2020-21 Freedom For All Ireland Christmas Appeal Closing LetterDownload 2019-20 Freedom For All Ireland Century Club DonorsDownload Your help for freedom for all Ireland is … [Read more...] about The 2020-21 Freedom For All Ireland Christmas Appeal
Hibernians Write U.S. Friends of Ireland Caucus Over Renewed Brexit Concerns
The Ancient Order of Hibernians, America's largest Irish American Organization, has written to members of the congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus expressing their concern that Prime Minister Johnson's government will use the post U.S. election transition as a distraction for a hard Brexit. In a letter from Political Action Chair Neil Cosgrove, the Hibernians state: "The Hibernians are very concerned that at this time when our nation demonstrates the strength of our democracy by the peaceful transition to a new administration, that a lack of focus on Brexit may result in … [Read more...] about Hibernians Write U.S. Friends of Ireland Caucus Over Renewed Brexit Concerns
Hibernians Congratulate President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris on their election
Daniel O'Connell, National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), has sent the following letter to President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris on their election: "The Ancient Order of Hibernians, America's oldest and largest Irish American Catholic organization, wishes to express our congratulations to you, President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris, on being elected to the two highest offices in our nation. Once again, the promise of America, as embraced and defended by hundreds of thousands of Irish immigrants, has been vindicated by this … [Read more...] about Hibernians Congratulate President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris on their election
The U.S. Can’t Be Played for Puppets
While we hope we can bring a smile during these trying times in the best tradition of Jonathan Swift, the threat that Brexit and the Internal Market Bill pose to the Good Friday Agreement is no laughing matter. It is critical that we send a clear message to our elected officials, especially those newly elected, that the United States should not be played for a puppet in getting a U.K./U.S. trade deal; that we will not enter into new commitments with a Britain that has consistently failed to honor its two-decades-old commitments under the Good Friday Agreement. https://youtu.be/bqVvhF0KODk … [Read more...] about The U.S. Can’t Be Played for Puppets
A Halloween Lesson for Election Day.
In a few days, we will be celebrating the holiday of Halloween. The holiday has specific significance for us as Irish Americans. Like St. Patrick's Day, Halloween is a beloved tradition brought to America by Irish immigrants. It dates back thousands of years to the ancient festival of Samhain, which was the Celtic New Year. As with most ancient peoples, the Celts were keen observers of the sun and the night sky, which was essential for the agriculture they relied on for survival. Most cultures set their Calendar by the extremes of the sun's progression through the heavens; today, … [Read more...] about A Halloween Lesson for Election Day.
Plastic Justice Report
A Report on the use of Plastic and Rubber Bullets in Ireland The Ancient Order of Hibernians was honored to host a virtual release of the “Plastic Justice Report” prepared by Relatives for Justice, Belfast. The report was broadcast on YouTube on Saturday, October 24 at 4 pm Local time in Ireland, 11 am Eastern U.S. https://youtu.be/QahLrUFCbuA Per FFAI Chairman Martin Galvin: “Plastic Justice“ is a special report on how British state forces used plastic bullets to kill 17 innocent Irish people with impunity, will get a transatlantic launch on Saturday, October 24. In Belfast, … [Read more...] about Plastic Justice Report
The Cushwa Center at Notre Dame 2020 Hibernian Lecture “The Idea of Greater Ireland”
https://youtu.be/p-Lm5AQjl_I On Friday, October 9, the 2020 Hibernian Lecture was presented by Colin Barr (University of Aberdeen). Stained glass window depicting Daniel O'Connell, “Liberator of Ireland,” at St. Patrick's Parish Church in Boorowa, New South Wales. With an appointment as the Herbert Allen and Donald R. Keough Visiting Faculty Fellow, Barr is visiting Notre Dame’s Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies this academic year from the University of Aberdeen, where he is senior lecturer in modern Irish history. Barr is author of Ireland’s Empire: The Roman Catholic … [Read more...] about The Cushwa Center at Notre Dame 2020 Hibernian Lecture “The Idea of Greater Ireland”
HIBERNIANS PRESENT FREEDOM GRANTS
AOH/LAOH present Freedom For All Ireland (FFAI) Grants by Zoom. Freedom for all Ireland (FFAI) grants totaling almost $100,000 were handed out last month to seventeen applicants by the American Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH.) Leading figures from each grant recipient, then joined in a zoom webinar conference on September 19th, telling Hibernians from across the United States, about each group's work and how much they count on American financial help. The grant checks were personally delivered in Belfast, Derry, Tyrone and Down by recently … [Read more...] about HIBERNIANS PRESENT FREEDOM GRANTS
Justice for Bloody Sunday Denied Again Says AOH
The Statue of Justice erected at Dublin Castle during British Imperial Rule. The decision not to prosecute Soldiers involved in Bloody Sunday confirms again that British justice in Ireland is to look to the sword and not the scales of fairness.(Image by Alberto Sanchez from Pixabay) Ancient Order of Hibernians National Freedom for All Ireland Chair Martin Galvin has issued the following statement concerning the decision by the Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service not to prosecute 15 British Soldiers accused of participating in the killings of Bloody Sunday in Derry in … [Read more...] about Justice for Bloody Sunday Denied Again Says AOH
AOH Calls on Administration to Support Good Friday Agreement and Irish Protocol
The Ancient Order of Hibernians welcomes news of the trip to Ireland by the United States Special Envoy Mick Mulvaney and his comment to RTE Television that the United States would "protect and defend" the Good Friday Agreement. However, the Hibernians are disappointed that there seems to be a continued reluctance by the administration to make a clear, concise, and unambiguous statement that preserving the Good Friday Agreement by precluding the return of a British border in Ireland is a U.S. priority and necessary precondition to future U.S./U.K. agreements. The Hibernians believe that … [Read more...] about AOH Calls on Administration to Support Good Friday Agreement and Irish Protocol