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
Bloomsday – A Celebration of James Joyce’s Work
Readings for the Memorial of Saint Justin, martyr
St. Paul shown with the sword and the scroll In the readings below, from Holy Mass for Wednesday, June, 1, 2022, we hear St. Paul warn the disciples about savage wolves that will come and not spare the flock and men perverting the truth to divide them and take them away from God. Again in John's Gospel, we hear Jesus pray to his father for the unity of the Apostles. How can these readings of Scripture speak to us about politicians, celebrities, and news reports that divide us by repeating on a daily basis that abortion needs to be protected as a legal right. Reading I Acts 20:28-38 At … [Read more...] about Readings for the Memorial of Saint Justin, martyr
AOH President Commends Congressional Delegation
Danny O'Connell, National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, is currently in Ireland where he met Irish government officials including Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, and with legacy victims’ families, including the Springhill Massacre families in Belfast and Bloody Sunday families in Derry Belfast. As leader of the oldest and largest Irish American organization, he wanted to congratulate and commend the visiting Congressional delegation led by House Ways and Means,and Friends of Ireland Chairman Richie Neal, for their forthright comments on the protocol issue in the face of the somewhat … [Read more...] about AOH President Commends Congressional Delegation
AOH President in Belfast for Legacy Pledge
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
AOH Suffolk County Board – Remembering Thomas & Kathleen Daly Clarke
On Sunday April 24th, AOH Suffolk County Board held their annual remembrance and wreath laying at the site of the farmland purchased in 1906 by Thomas & Kathleen Daly Clarke. The event held annually in Manorville, Long Island, NY was attended by AOH & LAOH members from Suffolk County, NY including Suffolk County Presidents Bill Gorham and Sue O’Neill. NYS Past President Vic Vogel was in attendance as well as Past Suffolk County Presidents, current Suffolk County officers and Suffolk County Division Presidents and members. New to the Clarke site was the newly installed … [Read more...] about AOH Suffolk County Board – Remembering Thomas & Kathleen Daly Clarke
Amnesty ‘Kick in the Teeth’ for Victims
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
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
Catholic Calendar – May 2022
Catholic Action To All Hibernians: The month of May is traditionally a month dedicated to Mary. This year May falls within the Easter season, the liturgical color being white. The Ascension of the Lord, a solemnity and holy day of obligation, falls this year on May 26. Many dioceses of the United States transfer the Ascension to the following Sunday. MAJOR SAINTS AND FEAST DAYS OF JANUARY May 2AthanasiusMemorialMay 3Philip and James, ApostlesFeastMay 10Damien de Veuster (The Leper)May 14Matthias, ApostleFeastMay 20Bernardine of SienaMay 26The Ascension of the LordSolemnityMay 31The … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – May 2022
Noted Civil War Historian and Author, Brother Craig Caba, Presents to Division
Dauphin County, Division One (Harrisburg, PA) “Bobby Sands” Division Brother Caba presented to the Division, in his second appearance, the significance of the Irish in the Civil War. He also displayed memorabilia from the J. Howard Wert collection which he now curates. A private collector for over 40 years, Brother Caba has authored several books on the Civil War and has lectured to many organizations, notably the Union League of Philadelphia. He is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and former High School teacher. … [Read more...] about Noted Civil War Historian and Author, Brother Craig Caba, Presents to Division
Irish American Heritage Month: Patrick Gallagher, USMC
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
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
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
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
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
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
There’s a New Irish Pipe Band in Town – Wake County, NC Division #1
Pipe Major Brian Wells with the Irish Diaspora tartan fly plaid over his shoulder. In March of 2020 the brothers of the Wake County Division #1 helped form a new Irish pipe band called An Gorta Mór Pipes & Drums. Despite the hurdles they faced in getting the band started amid a global pandemic, their Irish spirit and tenacity drove them to push forward with their plans. This past week they met their initial goal by marching in their first Raleigh St. Patrick’s Day Parade. They hope to celebrate many more St. Patrick’s Day parades and help share our Culture with their local … [Read more...] about There’s a New Irish Pipe Band in Town – Wake County, NC Division #1
Irish American Heritage Month: The Angel of Andersonville
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 Canal Workers Memorial Dedication – Hartford, Connecticut Division #2
The Ancient Order of Hibernians Hartford Division 2 dedicated the Irish Canal Workers Memorial in Windsor Locks, Conn., on Sunday, March 20.The memorial honors the 400 immigrant laborers who left their homeland in Ireland and came to the area between May 1827 and November 1829 to build the canal bypassing the treacherous Enfield Rapids. In particular, the memorial honors 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 placed.The fundraising for the memorial came from gifts as large … [Read more...] about Irish Canal Workers Memorial Dedication – Hartford, Connecticut Division #2
Irish American Heritage Month: Andrew Higgins, the ‘Noah’ of WW II
“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: An Irish American Angel in America’s West
There were many Irish women among the settlers of the American West, and one of the best known in her time was a lady from County Cork named Ellen Cashman. Ellen came to America, like so many others, fleeing the effects of the Great Hunger. She arrived in Boston in 1850 with her mother, Fanny, at the tender age of five where she grew up caring for a younger sister. An ambitious young lady, she worked as a bellhop in a well-known Boston hotel when she decided to follow the call of the American West with the idea of making her fortune. She moved to San Francisco and soon found … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: An Irish American Angel in America’s West