The Ancient Order of Hibernians

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

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Montana AOH Update

Montana AOH Update

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from National Director John Wilson ... What do you call a person who loves snow? A Montanan! They really look forward to winter more than anyone I’ve ever met. They love skiing, hunting, fishing hiking and enjoy having a fire in the wood stove in their living room. Montana is the Buffalo, New York of the West. On February 12th the Hibernians in Great Falls, Montana awoke to 28 to 30 additional inches of snow. The Hibernians see it as a great time to head to the mountains and go skiing. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the Irish who came west and settled in the great state of … [Read more...] about Montana AOH Update

Irish American Heritage Month: The Foley Brothers “No greater love than to lay down your life for another”

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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 … [Read more...] about Irish American Heritage Month: The Foley Brothers “No greater love than to lay down your life for another”

Tell Amazon To End “No Irish Need Apply” When It Comes To Respect and Tolerance

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Currently, Amazon is selling an item labeled as a “F*ck St Patrick's Day Shirt.”  Amazon describes the item as a “Funny Luck St. Patrick's Day Gift.”  As of my writing, Amazon currently sells 130 items with the phrase “F*ck Me, I’m Irish.”    A similar search replacing “Irish” with several other races and ethnicities returned ZERO results. Hundreds of other items defaming Irish Americans have messages such as  "Irish Today Hungover Tomorrow", "Irish, Drunk, or Whatever", "Drink Till You're Irish" In response to concerns from other ethnic groups, Amazon has … [Read more...] about Tell Amazon To End “No Irish Need Apply” When It Comes To Respect and Tolerance

In Our Special Month, Don’t Be “That Guy,” Be A Hibernian

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Brothers, we are about to enter the month of March, a month when we celebrate the contributions of the Irish to our Nation and the World and remember our Patron Saint St. Patrick, a man of faith, compassion, and humility who created a light from Ireland that illuminated the world in the Dark Ages and continues to shine. We have a lot to be proud of; we have a lot to celebrate. Unfortunately, many see our holiday as having no more depth than a pint of green beer, a green bacchanal combining the worst elements of Halloween and a college kegger. The only green others see is the greening of the … [Read more...] about In Our Special Month, Don’t Be “That Guy,” Be A Hibernian

AOH Scores Big in “SouperBowl”, benefits Capuchin Soup Kitchens

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An annual "SouperBowl" event is run by the Fr. Solanus Casey and Ethel Kennedy divisions in Macomb County, Michigan, to support the Detroit-area soup kitchens run by the Capuchin Fathers. The Capuchin soup kitchens serve more than 2,000 meals a day and brother and sister Hibernians have been supporting them for 28 years, resulting in donations in excess of $350,000. SouperBowl is a day-long event offering unlimited bowls of soup and bread in a wide variety donated by more than 50 local restaurants and bakeries amid entertainment by the best Irish bands and dancers. This year was the … [Read more...] about AOH Scores Big in “SouperBowl”, benefits Capuchin Soup Kitchens

Call to Action on Irish American Heritage Month

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We are currently in the final stages of preparing a new Irish American Heritage Month Video. Last year our video proclaimed Irish American Heritage Month to thousands on social media and the web. This year we wish to better that. We ask each of you not only to watch it but to share it on Facebook, Twitter, etc. and encourage others to do the same. It takes less than 2 minutes, yet if every Hibernian took the opportunity to share this video, then we should have no less than tens of thousands of shares. Tens of thousands of shares will be noticed promoting not only IAHM but the Hibernians. We … [Read more...] about Call to Action on Irish American Heritage Month

Immigration

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Bipartisan support At a gathering of the Brehon Law Society in Nassau County, New York, on January 22, U.S. Representatives Tom Suozzi and Peter King were praised for their bipartisan support for Irish Unity and continued support for Malachy McAllister’s fight to remain in the United States. National AOH Director Dan Dennehy, left in both photos, and National AOH Treasurer Sean Pender, right in both photos, pose with Democratic Congressman Suozzi and his wife, Helene; and with NJ AOH Immigration Chair Malachy McAllister and Republican Congressman King.  The AOH National Immigration … [Read more...] about Immigration

Hibernians take the plunge

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On January 26, the Vol. Patrick Torphy Division, of Middletown, NJ, hosted its 14th annual Polar Plunge for Catholic Education at Sea Bright beach. Total raised exceeded $210,000 for the day and over $1.6 million since inception. AOH Brothers from Bergen, Fair Haven, Freehold, Middlesex, and Middletown divisions joined one thousand plungers in true Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity.     … [Read more...] about Hibernians take the plunge

Southwest Report – February 2020

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from Mike Joyce, Southwest Liaison ... Hibernians in the Southwest are busy prepping for the Green Season. An update from Phoenix, Albuquerque, Austin, and Dallas/Fort Worth: My home division in Austin, Texas the Brothers of Msg. McCabe Dv#1 are gearing up for their 4th Annual Irish Stew Cookoff at B.D. Riley's Pub. This event has raised thousands for local charities CARITAS and the St. Gabriel Project over the past few years. In Dallas/Fort Worth the Brothers of Michael Collins Dv#1 are in talks to participate in the Dallas St. Patrick's Day Parade as well as helping to organize a … [Read more...] about Southwest Report – February 2020

The RACE FOR THE REST OF US!!!

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Saint Columcille Division 36 AOH, Worcester, MA from National Director William Sullivan ... Division 36 AOH has devised a unique fundraising endeavor. Advertised as “The Race for the Rest of Us”, Division members recently took part one weekend in a road race like no other! As in just about all road races, participants pay an entrance fee. These entrance fees are used to fund the Division’s cultural activities. The two-day event begins with a Friday night all you can carb spaghetti dinner, followed by the road race on Saturday. The 0.5k (1640.415 ft.) road race on Saturday morning, … [Read more...] about The RACE FOR THE REST OF US!!!

Michael Dougherty Division #1 in Bucks County Hosts Major Degree

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from National Director Ed Halligan On Sunday February 9, 2020 the Isle of Erin Degree Team conducted a Major Degree at the home of the Michael Dougherty Division #1 in Bucks County. Twenty-six members received their Degree while forty-five Hibernians were in attendance to observe. The Isle of Erin Degree team will be celebrating their twenty fifth anniversary in March of 2020. Due to deaths and retirements the Degree Team needs new members. They currently have members from as far away as Wilkes Barre, PA, Cape May, NJ and Dauphin County, PA. If interested or have questions, please … [Read more...] about Michael Dougherty Division #1 in Bucks County Hosts Major Degree

FFAI BULLETIN – February 2020

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A chairde: FFAI ISSUES UPDATE A-Stormont returns but bad faith on British financial pledges charged- Two days before the deadline threatening a new election, agreement was reached to restore the Stormont Assembly, after a three year absence.DUP head Arlene Foster returned as the north's first minister, while Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill was named deputy first minister. The agreement to restore the assembly was welcomed by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and accompanied by British promises of extra funding to meet the north's economic crisis in areas … [Read more...] about FFAI BULLETIN – February 2020

Catholic Calendar – February 2020

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To All Hibernians: February this year is a transitional month as far as the Church year is concerned. The first Sunday of the month, February 2, is The Presentation of the Lord, which calls for white vestments. The remaining Sundays are in Ordinary time--green vestments. Finally, Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, falls on February 26, and we transition to violet vestments. As the penitential season of Lent approaches, check with your local diocese or parish for fast and abstinence regulations, as well as other opportunities for penance. IRISH SAINTS OF FEBRUARY February 1 … [Read more...] about Catholic Calendar – February 2020

THE IRISH BRIGADE COMES HOME

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Prior to the American Civil War, the regular Army was small reflecting the logic that America was best defended by volunteer militia units. Many were little more than glorified fraternal organizations, filled with men who liked to parade, drink and sometimes drill. There were groups like the German Black Sharp-shooters and Hungarian Kossuth Rifles among others. Not to be outdone, the Irish formed the O'Connell Guards, Irish Rifles and Irish Zouaves. In New York, the more serious of these units were mustered into a formal state militia as was done in many states across the U.S. On October 12, … [Read more...] about THE IRISH BRIGADE COMES HOME

AOH Condemns  “Anti-St. Patrick’s Day” Sentiments on Amazon

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Note expletives referenced have been obfuscated, the items in question show them in their explicit form.  In a letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the Ancient Order of Hibernians again note the hypocrisy of Amazon claiming to promote diversity and tolerance while selling an item with emblazoned with "F*ck St. Patrick's Day" with the self-professed intent of promoting “Anti-St. Patrick’s Day” attitudes.  National Anti-Defamation Chair Neil F. Cosgrove writes:  Currently, Amazon is selling an item labeled as an “F*ck St Patrick's Day Shirt” (see URL below).  Amazon … [Read more...] about AOH Condemns  “Anti-St. Patrick’s Day” Sentiments on Amazon

Colorado AOH joins Denver’s “Celebrate Life Rally & March”

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from National Director John Wilson ... Members of Denver, Colorado’s Michael Collins Division #1 and Father Joseph P. Carrigan Division of Boulder County joined thousands of people on the streets of downtown Denver, Jan. 11, 2020 to celebrate joy over the gift of life and human dignity at the annual “Celebrate Life Rally & March.” This year’s theme was, “Every life is a gift!” and the rally featured various guest speakers who shared their testimonies as well as musical performances to brighten up the celebration, including Irish dancers. Speakers included Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, … [Read more...] about Colorado AOH joins Denver’s “Celebrate Life Rally & March”

Tir Na’N Og’ Division 1, Lehigh Co., PA

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from National Director Ed Halligan ... The Lehigh County, PA Division #1 was formed in 1984. They currently have 100 members. Their Charity endeavors are impressive. They sponsor May’s Shelter, Mercy Special Learning Center, the Rescue Mission and Joe’s Kids – a toys for kids’ charity. All of these charities are in the Lehigh Valley. A more recent charity out of Bethlehem, PA is the Kolbe Academy that provides individualized academic programs in a safe, compassionate, Christ-centered community for high school students in recovery from substance abuse. This Division also raises the … [Read more...] about Tir Na’N Og’ Division 1, Lehigh Co., PA

The Bell Ringers!!! – James C. Campbell Division 19 AOH, Lowell, MA

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from National Director Bill Sullivan ... As it has annually for the past fifteen years, the James C. Campbell AOH Division 19 of Lowell, Massachusetts participated in the annual Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign on Saturday, December 14, 2019. On Saturday morning, December 14 members of Division 19 greeted shoppers in front of one of the city's largest supermarkets in the area, Market Basket, and happily accepted donations on behalf of the Salvation Army. This nonprofit organization assists more than 4½ million people during the Thanksgiving and Christmas time periods in the United … [Read more...] about The Bell Ringers!!! – James C. Campbell Division 19 AOH, Lowell, MA