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The Ancient Order of Hibernians

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

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List of Past Presidents, Chaplains, Editors, Kennedy Medals, and MacBride Awards

National Presidents of the AOH
National Chaplains of the AOH
Sean MacBride Humanitarian Award Recipients
AOH John F. Kennedy Memorial Medal Recipients
Editors of the Hibernian Digest


National Presidents of the AOH

YearsNameHomeConvention Site
1854 – 1856James Saunders, NDNew YorkNew York, NY
1856 – 1858Peter R. Gaynor, NDNew YorkNew York, NY
1858 – 1864James Sanford, NDNew YorkNew York, NY
1864 – 1866Thomas Kearns, NDNew YorkNew York, NY
1866 – 1869John Maguire, NDNew YorkNew York, NY
1869 – 1877Patrick Campbell, NDNew YorkNew York, NY
1877 – 1880John Hart, NDNew JerseyNew York, NY
1878 – 1879John Hart, NDNew JerseyBoston, MA
1879 – 1880John Hart, NDNew JerseyCincinnati, OH
1880 – 1881Peter Kiernan, NDLouisianaPhiladelphia, PA
1881 – 1882Peter Kiernan, NDLouisianaSt. Louis, MO
1882 – 1884 *1Jeremiah Crowley, NDMassachusettsChicago, IL
1884 – 1886Henry F. Sheridan, NDIllinoisCleveland, OH
1886 – 1888Maurice Wilhere, NDPennsylvaniaSt. Paul, MN
1888 – 1890Maurice Wilhere, NDPennsylvaniaLouisville, KY
1890 – 1892Maurice Wilhere, NDPennsylvaniaHartford, CT
1892 – 1894Maurice Wilhere, NDPennsylvaniaNew Orleans, LA
1894 – 1896 *2P.J. O’ConorGeorgiaOmaha, NE
1896 – 1898P.J. O’ConorGeorgiaDetroit, MI
1898 – 1900John T. KeatingIllinoisTrenton, NJ
1900 – 1902John T. KeatingIllinoisBoston, MA
1902 – 1904James E. DolanNew YorkDenver, CO
1904 – 1906James E. DolanNew YorkSt. Louis, MO
1906 – 1908Matthew CummingsMassachusettsSaratoga, NY
1908 – 1910Matthew CummingsMassachusettsIndianapolis, IN
1910 – 1912James J. ReganMinnesotaPortland, OR
1912 – 1914James J. ReganMinnesotaChicago, IL
1914 – 1916Joseph McLaughlinPennsylvaniaNorfolk, VA
1916 – 1918Joseph McLaughlinPennsylvaniaBoston, MA
1918 – 1919No Convention Held – World War I  
1919 – 1921James E. DeeryIndianaSan Francisco, CA
1921 – 1923James E. DeeryIndianaDetroit, MI
1923 – 1925Michael DonohoePennsylvaniaMontreal, Quebec
1925 – 1927Michael DonohoePennsylvaniaAtlantic City, NJ
1927 – 1929Martin L. SweeneyOhioBuffalo, NY
1929 – 1931Martin L. SweeneyOhioMinneapolis, MN
1931 – 1933Michael W. DelaneyIllinoisNewport, RI
1933 – 1935Michael W. DelaneyIllinoisChicago, IL
1935 – 1937John E. FentonMassachusettsBaltimore, MD
1937 – 1939John E. FentonMassachusettsAtlantic City, NJ
1939 – 1941Joseph E. KerriganMassachusettsPiittsburgh, PA
1941 – 1946Joseph E. KerriganMassachusettsSt Paul, MN
1943 – 1945No Convention Held – World War II  
1946 – 1948Michael A. McGrathOhioSyracuse, NY
1948 – 1950Michael A. McGrathOhioMontreal, Quebec
1950 – 1952George R. ReillyCaliforniaBoston, MA
1952 – 1954George R. ReillyCaliforniaAtlantic City, NJ
1954 – 1956Michael J. DowdWashington DCChicago, IL
1956 – 1958P. Frank KeanMassachusettsNew York, NY
1958 – 1960Jeremiah O’CallaghanNew JerseyProvidence, RI
1960 – 1962Patrick J. HoganConnecticutSt. Louis, MO
1962 – 1964James J. ComerfordNew YorkPittsburgh, PA
1964 – 1966William J. McEneryRhode IslandAlbany, NY
1966 – 1968Walter J. O’LearyMassachusettsChicago, IL
1968 – 1970Michael J. DelahuntyNew JerseyPhiladelphia, PA
1970 – 1972Edward J. FayPennsylvaniaIndianapolis, IN
1972 – 1974Edward J. FayPennsylvaniaDublin, Ireland
1974 – 1976John M. KeaneMissouriAnaheim, CA
1976 – 1978John M. KeaneMissouriNewport, RI
1978 – 1980Thomas D. McNabbNew YorkKillarney, Ireland
1980 – 1982John P. ConnollyMassachusettsBal Harbour, FL
1982 – 1984Joseph A. RochePennsylvaniaSan Antonio TX
1984 – 1986Joseph A. RochePennsylvaniaAlbany, NY
1986 – 1988Nicholasa J. MurphyNew YorkBuffalo, NY
1988 – 1990Michael J. CooganOhioCleveland, OH
1990 – 1992George J. Clough Jr.MissouriAlexandria, VA
1992 – 1994George J. Clough Jr.MissouriNew Orleans, LA
1994 – 1996Edward J. WallaceNew YorkLouisville, KY
1996 – 1998Edward J. WallaceNew YorkSt. Paul, MN
1998 – 2000Thomas E. GilliganFloridaPittsburgh, PA
2000 – 2002Thomas E. GilliganFloridaBaltimore, MD
2002 – 2004Edward P. McGinleyPennsylvaniaFoxwood, CT
2004 – 2006Edward P. McGinleyPennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA
2006 – 2008Jack MeehanMassachusettsBoston, MA
2008 – 2010Seamus BoylePennsylvaniaNew Orleans, LA
2010 – 2012Seamus BoylePennsylvaniaCincinnati, OH
2012 – 2014Brendan MooreNew YorkTurning Stone, NY
2014 – 2016Brendan MooreNew YorkSt. Louis, MO
2016 – 2018Jim McKayNew OrleansAtlantic City, NJ
2018 – 2020Jim McKayNew OrleansLouisville, KY
2020 – 2022Daniel J. O’ConnellOhioYoungstown, OH
2022 – 2024Daniel J. O’ConnellOhioPittsburgh, PA

(*1)The 1882 National Convention established the format of biennial national conventions. Previously, conventions were held annually.

(*2) ND denotes National Delegate. Prior to 1894 the elected head of the AOH in America was called National Delegate and represented the American AOH in Ireland at a National Convention of all the AOH jurisdictions in the world. In 1894, the AOH in America severed its administrative ties with the AOH in Ireland and our national leader assumed the title of National President of the AOH in America.

This list was created by Gerry Curran and updated by Mike McCormack


National Chaplains of the AOH

YearsNameResidence
1890 – 1898Bishop John Samuel FoleyDetroit, Michigan
1898 – 1902Archbishop Patrick A. FeehanChicago, Illinois
1902 – 1904Bishop John Joseph GlennonKansas City, Missouri
1904 – 1906Archbishop John M. FarleyNew York, New York
1906 – 1908Reverend ohn D. KennedyDanbury, Connecticut
1908 – 1910Archbishop William H, O’ConnellBoston, Massachusetts
1910 – 1914Bishop John Patrick CarrollHelena, Montana
1914 – 1921Bishop Dennis J, O’ConnellRichmond, Virginia
1921 – 1925Bishop Michael J. GallagherDetroit, Michigan
1925 – 1935Archbishop John Joseph GlennonSt. Louis, Missouri
1935 – 1937Bishop Ja,es A. GrffinSpringfield, Illinois
1937 – 1941Monsignor Fulton J. SheenWashington, D.C.
1941 – 1948Reverend Francis P. Fenton O.S.A.Chicago, Illinois
1948 – 1952Archbishop Richard J. CushingBoston, Massachusetts
1952 – 1956Archbishop James J. McNultyNewark, New Jersey
1956 – 1958Archbishop Patrick A. O’BoyleWashington, D.C.
1958 – 1960Archbishop Thomas A. BolandNewark, New Jersey
1960 – 1962Bishop Lawrence J. ShehanBridgeport, Connecticut
1962 – 1964Francis Cardinal SpellmanNew York, New York
1964 – 1966Bishop Russell J. McVinnyProvidence, Rhode Island
1966 – 1968Bishop Jeremiah F. MinehanW. Roxbury, Massachusetts
1968 – 1970Archbishop Thomas A. BolandNewark, New Jersey
1970 – 1974Bishop Vincent M. LeonardPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1974 – 1978Reverend Terence Lee M.H.M.Sunset Hills, Missouri
1978 – 1982Bishop Thomas J. DruryCorpus Christi, Texas
1982 – 1988Reverend John V. AhernSyracuse, New York
1988 – 1989Bishop Thomas J. DruryCorpus Christi, Texas
1989 – 1990Reverend Donal O’CarrollSteubenville, Ohio
1990 – 1994Bishop Edward J. O’DonnellSt. Louis, Missouri
1994 – 1998Reverend John V. AhernSyracuse, New York
1998 – 2002Bishop Norbert M. DorseyOrlando, Florida
2002 – 2006Reverend Patrick SullivanWilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
2006 – 2008Reverend Bartley McPhaidinBoston, Massachusetts
2008 – 2010Reverend Patrick SullivanBoston, Massachusetts
2010 – 2012Reverend Thomas O’DonnellPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
2012 – 2014Reverend John V. AhernSyracuse, New York
2014 – 2016Reverend Thomas O’DonnellPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
2016 – 2018Archbishop Thomas J. RodiAlabama
2020 – 2024Reverand John KeehnerOhio
2020 – 2024Reverand Michael HealyOhio

Sean MacBride Humanitarian Award Recipients

YearName
1989Author/Activist Oliver Kearney
1991PNP Joseph A. Roche
1993Congressman Bruce Morrison
1995Former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds
1997NY State Legislator John Dearie
1999Congressman Tom Manton
2001Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey
2003Great Hunger advocate Don Mullen
2005Sgt. Patrick Duggan
2007Hibernian Charity coordinator David Burke
2009Irish Echo editor Raymond O’Hanlon
2011Humanitarian/Activist Clara Reilly
2013Mick Dunleavy
2015Brian O’Dwyer
2017Niall Burgess
2021Geraldine Finucane
2023Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern

AOH John F. Kennedy Memorial Medal Recipients

YearName
1966Hon. James A. Farley: U.S. Postmaster General (1933-1940), Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (1932-1940), member of AOH Div 29 New York Co.; New York, NY.
1967Hon. John E. Fenton: AOH Past National President (1935-39), President of Suffolk University, Knight of the Holy Sepulcher; Lawrence, MA.
1968Joseph M. Brennan: AOH Past National Treasurer and New Jersey State Secretary (1916-1932), 76-year member of AOH Div 3; Orange, NJ.
1969Colonel James A. McDevitt, U.S.A.F.; NASA Astronaut; Commander of Gemini IV and Apollo IX. Houston, TX.
1970Most Reverend Thomas A. Boland, S.T.D., LL.D. Archbishop of Newark, AOH Past National Chaplain (1958-60).
1971Hon. Richard J. Daley: Mayor of Chicago, member of AOH Division 59 Cook Co.; Chicago, IL.
1972Hon. John D. J. Moore: U.S. Ambassador to Ireland; & Hon. James J. Comerford: AOH Past National President (1962-64), IRA Volunteer, Kilkenny Battalion (1919-22), Grand Marshal of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day parade (1957), Knight of the Holy Sepulcher; New York, NY.
1973Hon. John J. Gilligan: Governor of Ohio, alumnus of the University of Notre Dame; Columbus, OH.
1974Hugh J. Devore: University of Notre Dame Head Football Coach (1945 & 1963) & former coach of the Philadelphia Eagles & the Green Bay Packers, alumnus of the University of Notre Dame; Houston, TX.
1975Most Reverend Thomas J. Drury: Bishop of Corpus Christi; Corpus Christi, TX.
1976Eoin McKiernan, Ph.D: Executive Director, Irish American Cultural Institute & Professor, College of St. Thomas; St. Paul, MN.
1977Patrick J. Hogan: AOH Past National President (1960-62), IRA Volunteer (1920-1923); Stamford, CT.
1978Pat O’Brien: Actor; Los Angeles, CA.
1979Lillian E. Fay: LAOH Past National President (1952-1956); Washington, DC.
1980Hon. Denis Dillon: Nassau County D.A., member AOH Division 14 Nassau Co.; Rockville Centre, NY.
1982Thomas W. “Teddy” Gleason: International President – International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA), Vice President, AFL-CIO; New York, NY.
1984Brother Mathias Barrett: Founder, Little Brothers of the Good Shepard; Albuquerque, NM.
1986Martin Higgins: AOH National Chairman, Freedom for All Ireland Committee; Woodmere, NY.
1988Dennis Patrick Long: Former President, Anheuser-Busch, Inc; Sunset Hills, MO.
1990John P. Connolly: AOH Past National President (1980-1982); Watertown, MA.
1992Reverend Desmond Wilson: Director, Springhill Community House and author; Belfast, Ireland.
1994His Eminence John Cardinal O’Connor: Archbishop of New York; New York, NY.
1996John Hume: Member of the European Parliament and Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party; Derry, Ireland & Gerry Adams: President, Sinn Fein; Belfast, Ireland.
1998Hon. Peter L. King: Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (3rd District-New York); Massapequa Park, NY.
2000Hon. Raymond L. Flynn: Former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See and former Mayor of Boston, member of AOH Division 14 Middlesex Co; Boston, MA.
2002Christopher Matthews: Political commentator and television personality; Washington, DC.
2004Reverend Aidan Troy, C.P.: Rector of Holy Cross Parish and Chairman of the Board of Governors of Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School; Belfast, Ireland.
2006Congressman Richard Neal, Democratic Leader of the Friends of Ireland and one of Irish America Magazine’s Top 100 Irish Americans.
2008Robert Gessler: past president of AOH Div 87 Port Richmond; originator of the Hibernian Hunger Project and founder and Chairman of the Hibernian Community Development Corporation – an organization that rehabilitates houses for Hibernian families and provides educational opportunities to disadvantaged Philadelphians.
2010Siobhan Dennehy, Executive Director of the Emerald Isle Immigration Center for her work with Irish immigrants.
2012Rev. Patrick J. Sullivan, C.S.C., PhD, Executive Secretary and Chaplain of the Labor Guild of the Archdiocese of Boston; professor, King’s College (PA); AOH Past National Chaplain; and author
2014Mairtin O Muilleoir; 58′ Lord Mayer of Belfast (2013-2014) abd Belfast City Councilor for Balmoral; author and businessman
2016Major General Patrick Henry Brady, USA retired; recipient of the Medal of Honor (1969); author of Dead Men Flying; Notre Dame Alumnus from Converse, TX.
2018Denis P. Mulcahy, founder of Project Children; member of NYPD Bomb Squad; resident of Greenwood Lake
2020Congressman Brendan F. Boyle, Pennsylvania member of the U.S. House of Representatives
2022Rocky Bleier, American former professional football player; Notre Dame Football Team Captain; Veteran of the United States Army.
2024Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick

Note: The John F. Kennedy Memorial Medal and Fund Committee was established following the 1964 Albany, New York National Convention to honor the memory of our nation’s 35th President, who was a member of AOH Division 14, Watertown, MA from 1947 until his assassination on November 22, 1963. According to the Report of the Committee on the Kennedy Memorial: “The award would consist of a gold medallion designed for this purpose, to be awarded to a Catholic of Irish birth or descent, outstanding in his or her field of endeavor…” The medal was designed by P. Frank Kean of Massachusetts, AOH Past National President (1956-58) and first struck in 1966. In 1980 it was changed from an annual award to a biennial award.


Editors of the Hibernian Digest

YEARNATIONAL EDITOR
1901 – 1919Patrick J. Haltigan (Washington D.C.)
1919 – 1924James E. Deery (Indianapolis, IN)
1924 – 1931John O’Dea (Philadelphia, PA)
1931 – 1940Thomas H. Buckley (Abington, MA)
1940 – 1950Francis O’Brien (Lawrence, MA)
1950 – 1954Jeremiah Mulvihill (an Francisco, CA)
1954 – 1958George Reilly (San Francisco, CA)
1958 – 1962James J. Comerford (New York, NY)
1962 – 1964William McEnery (Providence, RI)
1964 – 1968John Duffy (New York, NY)
1968 – 1969Thomas P.J. Barrett (Newark, NJ)
1969 – 1970John Leahy (Trenton, NJ)
1970 – 1972James J. Comorford (New York, NY)
1972 – 1974John Reynolds (Lake grove, NY)
1974 – 1976Dave Burke (Lawrence, MA)
1976 – 1978Liam Murphy (Irvington, NY)
1978 – 1982George Foley (Troy, NY)
1982 – 1984Thomas D. McNabb (Auburn, NY)
1984 – 1990David Henshaw (Lynbrook, NY)
1990 – 1998James Brennan (Spring Hill, FL)
1998 – 2006Francis Feighery (The Bronx, NY)
2006 – 2008Mike McCormack (Centereach, NY)
2008 – 2011Keith Carney (Washington, D.C.)
2011 –John O’Connell (Glen Cove, NY)

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