In observance of Memorial Day, we remember in a special way the thousands of Irish immigrants, who though new to their adopted country, were willing to serve and made the ultimate sacrifice to their adopted country. Having left family in Ireland and having not had a chance to establish themselves in America, their sacrifices are often overlooked. May we never forget them. https://youtu.be/nhPXOCy6OcY … [Read more...] about In Rememberance of Memorial Day
Top Spot
Statement By AOH National President on Today’s Verdict Vindicating the Ballymurphy Massacre Victims
(Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Daniel O'Connell, National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the largest Irish American organization in the U.S., has released the following statement: After 18,171 days, almost half a century, today's verdict by Mrs. Justice Keegan not only confirmed that the ten victims of Britain's Ballymurphy Massacre were totally innocent but indicts the British who branded them guilty. The verdict clearly demonstrates Britain's real reason for announcing plans for a soldiers' amnesty or cut-off of historical investigations because the crown … [Read more...] about Statement By AOH National President on Today’s Verdict Vindicating the Ballymurphy Massacre Victims
Hibernians Call on House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee to Reaffirm U.S. Commitment to the Good Friday Agreement
May 4, 2021 The Honorable William Keating2351 Rayburn HOBWashington, DC 20515 Re: May 5, 2021 Hearing on "Reaffirming the Good Friday Agreement. Dear Congressman Keating: We write to you as members of the National Board of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, with membership in all fifty states the largest Irish American organization in the United States, concerning your May 5, 2021 hearing on "Reaffirming the Good Friday Agreement." Given the currents taking place in the north of Ireland, we do not believe that your hearing could be more timely or more needed, and we commend you for … [Read more...] about Hibernians Call on House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee to Reaffirm U.S. Commitment to the Good Friday Agreement
As Violence Escalates in Northern Ireland, Hibernians Call on President to Fill Special Envoy Position
On the 23rd Anniversary of the historic Good Friday Agreement, the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), America's largest Irish American Organization, have written President Biden asking for the appointment of a U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland. The Hibernians expressed their concern that increasing violence and inflammatory rhetoric by senior leaders of the Unionist community are a threat to the over two decades of peace the Good Friday Agreement has delivered. The letter states: BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - APRIL 07: Nationalists and Loyalists riot against one another at the Peace … [Read more...] about As Violence Escalates in Northern Ireland, Hibernians Call on President to Fill Special Envoy Position
Call To Action: Support the Senate Resolution Supporting the Good Friday Agreement!
Loyalist graffiti in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim Brother Hibernians and Friends, Currently before the Senate is a bipartisan resolution sponsored by Senators Mendez of New Jersey and Collins of Maine reaffirming U.S. support for the Good Friday Agreement. Twenty years on, many of the provisions of the agreement designed to cement a lasting peace in the north of Ireland have not been implemented. Now, once again, the peace wrought by this historic agreement is under threat. Several loyalist paramilitaries have recently withdrawn their support for the Good Friday Agreement, one prominent … [Read more...] about Call To Action: Support the Senate Resolution Supporting the Good Friday Agreement!
Call To Action: Irish American Heritage Month
Brothers: As we approach March 2021, the fact that our communities are still battling the COVID-19 pandemic will make many of our traditional celebrations of our Irish heritage through parades and public events untenable for a second consecutive year. While it may not be noted in the mainstream media, we know that this pandemic has hit our community hard. Many of our brothers and sisters in the hospitality industry have lost family businesses that kept the Irish tradition alive across generations. Many of our cultural institutions, schools of Irish dance, and music will be … [Read more...] about Call To Action: Irish American Heritage Month
Hibernian Talks: Irish Author Kevin Barry
The AOH hosted the first in a new series called Hibernian Talks on January 30th. This new series will feature talks around Irish Culture and Arts hosted by AOH Brother Timothy Noonan. The first episode features an interview with Irish Author Kevin Barry about his new book "That Old Country Music" a collection of short stories. Watch the Interview: https://youtu.be/Py2oTjogl7I?t=49 About the Author – Kevin Barry – from Penguin Random House: Purchase “That Old Country Music” by Kevin Barry Purchase audible version of “That Old Country Music” Narrated by Kevin Barry: … [Read more...] about Hibernian Talks: Irish Author Kevin Barry
Hibernians Backing Legacy Justice Appeal
Hundreds of victims' families, fighting new British plans to cut off chances for legacy justice, will make a special live appeal for American support on a webinar hosted by Hibernians on Saturday, January 23rd. This special appeal to Irish Americans will climax a series of events, including a published open letter signed by hundreds of families, and political initiatives both north and south. Relatives for Justice Director Mark Thompson and selected victims' representatives will speak from Ireland, while America's oldest and largest Irish organization, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and … [Read more...] about Hibernians Backing Legacy Justice Appeal
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
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
FFAI – Virtual Event – Saturday 10-24
Hibernians Host Live Virtual Release of "Plastic Justice Report" The Ancient Order of Hibernians, National Freedom for All Ireland (FFAI) Chairman Martin Galvin has announced that the Hibernians will be hosting a virtual release of the "Plastic Justice Report" prepared by Relatives for Justice, Belfast. The report will be broadcast on YouTube on Saturday, October 24 at 4 pm Local time in Ireland, 11 am Eastern U.S. Per FFAI Chairman Galvin: "Plastic Justice" is a special report on how British state forces used plastic bullets to kill 17 innocent Irish people with … [Read more...] about FFAI – Virtual Event – Saturday 10-24
Pro Life – Virtual Event – Saturday October 17th
Guest Speaker Nikki Bruni is one of the principal organizers of the Pittsburgh 40 Days for Life campaigns that take place during Lent, and again in the fall. During the campaigns, volunteers meet in front of planned parenthood and pray for an end to abortion. There are many stories associated with the experience including couples who decide to keep their babies. Nikki is going to share her experiences and talk about the 40 Days for Life Campaigns. This Virtual event will take place Saturday October 17, 2020, 11:00 AM EDT. CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE ON YOUTUBE … [Read more...] about Pro Life – Virtual Event – Saturday October 17th
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
175th Anniversary of the Beginning of the Great Hunger
On September 13, 1845, the British Publication, "The Gardner's Journal," announced, "We stop the Press with very great regret to announce that the potato murrain [blight] has unequivocally declared itself in Ireland." That date is considered the precursor of An Gorta Mor, the "Great Hunger." Over the next five years, Ireland would lose a quarter of its population, over two million people, to death and starvation. 2020 marks the 175th anniversary of the start of the great hunger. Ironically, observances of this tragic inflection point in Irish and Irish American history are constrained as … [Read more...] about 175th Anniversary of the Beginning of the Great Hunger
A Letter to Irish America
August 28th, 2020 Dear Irish America, Founded in 1836 with current membership in all 50 states, the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America is the oldest and largest Irish Catholic Organization in the United States. In fact, the AOH is the largest Irish organization outside of Ireland. How does an American, Catholic, Irish fraternal organization continue to thrive for over 184 years? The answer is simple - we are a multifaceted organization that covers everything relevant to Irish Americans. The giant umbrella of the Hibernians covers all Irish American interests in some way. We are … [Read more...] about A Letter to Irish America
AOH Statement on the Passing of Nobel Laureate John Hume
The Late John Hume It is with deep sadness that the Ancient Order of Hibernians learned of the passing of John Hume. The Late Senator Robert Kennedy once said, “Some men see things as they are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not.” In a land where an oppressive status quo had been carved into the marble of Stormont, where it was accepted that one person could have three votes while another had none, where one’s baptism defined one’s opportunities for life, John Hume dared to ask why must the generations of today be chained to the injustices of the … [Read more...] about AOH Statement on the Passing of Nobel Laureate John Hume
The Gavel is Passed
Newly Immediate Past President Judge James McKay III (center left) passes the gavel to newly elect National President Danny O'Connell (center right). They are flanked by newly elected Vice President Sean Pender (left) and Secretary Jere Cole (right) It is customary to say after each AOH convention that "it was a convention like no other", but nothing could be more true about the 100th biannual National Convention held in this COVID year of 2020. For the first time, the Convention was held on-line which saw exceptional participation by the members. It shows that despite being an … [Read more...] about The Gavel is Passed