The Ancient Order of Hibernians

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

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Saturday, October 28th, 2023

AOH Statement on Passage of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill

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With the passage today of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, the government of Prime Minister Sunak has decided to add their own sad chapter in the history of Britain’s callous disregard for the rights of the Irish people.  The bill trades equal access to the courts and justice that are the mark of all democratic societies for an unrealistic, forlorn hope that perpetrators of killings and torture will, after decades of literally getting away with murder, will now have a ‘Road to Damascus” moment.  In rare unanimity, the bill is opposed by all major … [Read more...] about AOH Statement on Passage of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill

Cū Chulainn, Yeats and 1916

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The Dying Cuchulainn Oliver Sheppard was a respected Irish sculptor now remembered mostly for his 1911 work, The Dying Cuchulain. Sheppard, of Protestant background, was active in the Celtic Revival movement and sculpted The Dying Cuchulain in 1911, inspired at least in some respect by Lady Gregory’s work. In 1905 he sculpted a statute of a Wexford pikeman, recalling the United Irishmen Rising of 1798. Eamon DeValera chose The Dying Cuchulainn to be placed in the GPO in 1935, in advance of the 20th anniversary of the Rising, describing the work as “a creation of Irish genius, symbolizing … [Read more...] about Cū Chulainn, Yeats and 1916

Ancient Order of Hibernians Urges British House of Commons to Oppose Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill

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In an unprecedented move, the President of America's largest Irish American Organization, the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), has written a letter to each member of the British House of Commons expressing strong opposition to the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill currently before parliament. This marks the first time that the AOH, an influential Irish-American organization, has reached out directly to Members of Parliament, highlighting the significance of the issue. The text of the letter is as follows: In every official meeting between the United States and the … [Read more...] about Ancient Order of Hibernians Urges British House of Commons to Oppose Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill

Inaugural Tom’s Tournament Smashing Success

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The Fr. Sean O’Shea Hibernians of Reno County Kansas Hosted a Golf Tournament on Friday August 4th of 2023 at Crazy Horse Golf Club. The inaugural “Tom’s Tournament” was held to remember a friend of the Hibernians Tom Hammersmith, and to support his surviving wife and children. 128 friends of Tom’s showed up to remember a friend and to raise money for his family. All proceeds from the event were given to Tom’s family. … [Read more...] about Inaugural Tom’s Tournament Smashing Success

Hartford Irish Road Bowling Tournament

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The 2023 Hartford Irish Road Bowling Tournament was held on July 29 and the winning team came from LAOH Division 36 in Worcester, Mass. The winning team was: Meghan McGuirk, Deb Donovan, Julie Jarry and Deb Haglund. The Jamie Forzono Trophy was presented by Sue Forzono (far left) and AOH Hartford Brother Nick Forzono. The Hartford Irish Road Bowling Tournament was held on Saturday, July 29 by the Hartford AOH Division 2, in conjunction with Riverfront Recapture. The event marked the third-straight year that Irish road bowling tournament returned to the area and attracted … [Read more...] about Hartford Irish Road Bowling Tournament

UK’s Legacy Bill Threatens the Good Friday Agreement and ‘Special Relationship’

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Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris stated today that the U.K. Government plans to continue to pursue the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, restoring to the bill provisions that would provide an amnesty for murder and torture, halt current and future investigations, and deny victims access to the courts. This action contravenes Britain's pledged commitments under the Good Friday Agreement and the norms of justice of civilized societies, including the basic principles of the Magna Carta, which holds that no one is above the law. The Northern Ireland … [Read more...] about UK’s Legacy Bill Threatens the Good Friday Agreement and ‘Special Relationship’

AOH letter to Prime Minister Sunak, Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill threatens the US “special relationship” with the UK.

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The Ancient Order of Hibernians in America have been closely following the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill which threatens the US "special relationship" with the UK and has issued the following letter to Prime Minister Sunak following the recent amendment's to the bill: Prime-Minister-Rishi-Sunak-send-6-14-2023Download … [Read more...] about AOH letter to Prime Minister Sunak, Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill threatens the US “special relationship” with the UK.

AOH in America Participates in Honoring 6000 Coffin Ship Victims in Montreal

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Lily MacLean, Esmé Cavanaugh (Gráinne), Tim Weklar (Albany, Division 5) Victor Boyle (AOH Canada National President), MP John Finnucane (Sinn Féin, Belfast North) and Jim Scott (Schenectady, Division 1)  On May 28th, members of the AOH in America participated in the “Annual Walk to the Stone” memorial ceremony that is organized by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Canada. The Black Rock Memorial is currently located in between two highway roads near the Victoria Bridge in the Point Saint Charles section of Montreal and is the site of a 6,000 person mass grave of coffin ship … [Read more...] about AOH in America Participates in Honoring 6000 Coffin Ship Victims in Montreal

Emergency Legacy Justice Appeal Webinar

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AOH Brother Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick will join victims’ relative Patsy Kelly, civil rights lawyer Niall Murphy, and justice campaigner Andree Murphy in a live webinar broadcast hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) this Saturday, June 10th, at 10 AM Eastern Time, 3 PM Irish time.  By its appointment of former Chief Justice Declan Morgan to head its new legacy commission, the British government is clearly signaling its intention to move ahead with the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, despite overwhelming opposition by victims’ relatives, human … [Read more...] about Emergency Legacy Justice Appeal Webinar

AOH Army Veterans – Commemorative Jump

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Brother Hibernians and Brother Paratroopers. LTC (Ret) Cole Slattery, past President of the Col. Thomas J. Cunningham Jr. Div., Loudoun County, VA (Left) and MAJ (Ret) Keith Kettell, current President of the Herbert /Cady Div. Alexandria. VA (Right), stand proudly before the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Old Town Alexandria in early March and meet up again in late March in Palatka, FL to close out Irish American Heritage month by jumping from the 80-year-old C-47, Tico Bell. The storied aircraft dropped Paratroopers into Normandy on D-Day June 6th, 1944, and again during Operation Market Garden … [Read more...] about AOH Army Veterans – Commemorative Jump

Good Friday Agreement Anniversary Calls for Renewed US Commitment

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As President Biden arrives in Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, we recognize the tremendous progress that has been made in Northern Ireland since its signing. The agreement has brought about an unprecedented era of peace and stability, and its positive impact on the people of Northern Ireland cannot be overstated. However, we cannot let the significant achievements made over the past 25 years distract us from the significant challenges and threats the Good Friday Agreement and a lasting peace still faces. The ongoing political deadlock in Northern Ireland as … [Read more...] about Good Friday Agreement Anniversary Calls for Renewed US Commitment

Mass Rock – Cardinal Timothy Dolan Interviews AOH Suffolk County

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6-months in the making, on March 28th AOH Suffolk County President, Bill Gorham; Past AOH NewYork State President, Vic Vogel and AOH Suffolk County, Director or Public Relations, JimKillen journeyed into Manhattan to meet with His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan.In the September 15, 2022 Catholic Faith Network newsletter, Cardinal Dolan wrote about hismore than 2-dozen pilgrimages to Mass Rocks in Ireland. Coincidently, 3-days later onSunday, September 18, 2022, with AOH Suffolk County Chaplain Fr. Henry Reid andcommittee members Gorham, Vogel, Killen, Patrick Spero and Joe Kelly, AOH Suffolk … [Read more...] about Mass Rock – Cardinal Timothy Dolan Interviews AOH Suffolk County

AOH Hartford Honors Irish Canal Workers

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AOH Hartford Division 2 held a wreath laying ceremony at the Irish Canal Workers Monument in Windsor Locks, Conn., on Sunday, March 19. The memorial, dedicated by Hartford AOH in 2022, remembers a forgotten Irish-Catholic cemetery in Windsor Locks. The memorial honors the 400 immigrant laborers who left their homeland in Ireland and came to the area between 1827-1829 to build a canal. In particular, the memorial remembers those canal workers and family members that are buried in an unmarked cemetery that is located about 100 yards and across the canal from where the memorial is … [Read more...] about AOH Hartford Honors Irish Canal Workers

St. Patrick’s Contest – AOH Nashville

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AOH Nashville sponsors a St. Patrick art contest for second graders and sixth gradersdiocesan wide. Several weeks prior to the contest, students receive instruction and lessonson the virtues of St. Patrick and biographical information. Second graders color a picture andwrite an essay espousing those virtues and the lessons they learned about him. The sixthgraders learn about St. Patrick in similar fashion but engage in a project of their choice whileutilizing higher-level critical thinking skills. This year’s winners ranged from a beautifulwatercolor painting with a lovely authentic prayer … [Read more...] about St. Patrick’s Contest – AOH Nashville