Hartford AOH has been sponsoring Food Drive for the pantry at Saint Augustine’s since May 2020 and will continue to do so. The Toy/Gift Card Drive concluded our “holiday” season with drives in October for Halloween treats and in November for Thanksgiving sides.

The event benefited the Recreation Assistance Program for the City of New Britain, which assists families in sending their children to camps and other programs, and AOH Hartford’s fight against hunger.

This was the fifth consecutive year that AOH Hartford sponsored the tournament and the championship trophy is named in honor of departed Brother Jamie Forzono, who originally brought the game to the Hartford area.

This St. Patrick’s Day, the Wake County, NC Division #1 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians gathered at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Raleigh, NC, for a profound celebration rooted in our Irish heritage and Catholic faith. The Mass, led by Division Chaplain Father Duggan, was a moving tribute to our enduring traditions.

LAOH member Debra Foley, from County Kerry, Ireland, set a reverent tone, guiding us in prayers in the Irish language before the Mass. All were encouraged to join in as the Lords Prayer was said in Irish during the mass. This connection to our shared heritage added a profound depth to the prayers, enriching our celebration. We look forward to adding more Irish language into future masses.

As the Mass concluded, AOH member Chris Cooke of the An Gorta Mor Memorial Pipes and Drums filled the air with the sounds of “St. Patrick’s Day in the Morning.” His bagpipe performance was a fitting finale to our spiritual gathering, leaving us inspired as we exited to the stirring sounds of the pipes.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, the players from the Raleigh GAA, and our friends at Le Chéile, as well as everyone in the community who joined us. Your presence made this celebration of our heritage and faith truly special.

We cherish these moments of unity and tradition and look forward to sharing many more with you. Thank you for being part of this memorable St. Patrick’s Day.

On February 3 rd , after Suffolk County, NY Division 2’s men’s monthly meeting was completed, Division 2’s chaplain Monsignor Brian McNamara offered to all men in attendance to have their throats blessed, to celebrate this Feast Day.
Saint Blaise is the patron saint of throat illness. He is also the patron saint of doctors who treat throat ailments. According to the Acts, while Bishop Blaise was being taken into custody, a distraught mother, whose only child was choking on a fish bone, threw herself at his feet and implored his intercession. Touched by her distress, he offered up on his prayers, and the child was cured.

Traditionally, Saint Blaise is invoked for protection against injuries and illnesses of the throat. For all our men members who had their throats blessed by Chaplain Monsignor Brian McNamara, it was comforting to have the two candles held to our throats as we heard Monsignor Brian pray: “Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other
illness”.

Submitted by: Jim Killen | Division 2 Public Relations

The artwork, a tribute to Fr. Yorke’s enduring legacy, was a highlight of the visit, offering a meaningful way for members to honor the priest’s contributions to both the Irish community and the Church. The library continues to serve as an important space for preserving and celebrating Irish heritage, and this exhibit adds to its rich collection of cultural and historical works.

This year marks the centenary of the death of Fr. Peter Yorke, a beloved American Irish Catholic priest who served at St. Peter’s Church in San Francisco during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Throughout his life, Fr. Yorke was a staunch defender of the Catholic Church against bigotry, a vocal champion for labor rights, and an advocate for Irish Nationalism. Fr. Yorke’s story is beautifully captured in the book Consecrated Thunderbolt: Father Yorke of San Francisco by Joseph H. Brusher.

To honor his legacy, Division 17 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) will commemorate Fr. Yorke’s remarkable contributions by marching with banners honoring Fr. Yorke during this years St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday March 15.  Each Palm Sunday, the United Irish Societies of San Francisco including the Division 17 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, hold a memorial celebration in his honor at Holy Cross Cemetery.

AOH St. Patrick’s Division 2, here in Babylon, NY held a fundraiser to help the “Brotherhood for the Fallen”, Suffolk County chapter. The event was held at the AOH / Irish Cultural Center at 27 Locust Avenue, Babylon, NY.

AOH St. Patrick’s Division 2 president, Jim McGrath said: “it’s our honor to assist in raising funds for such a worthy cause for the men and women in law enforcement who protect us every day in our communities”.

Event chairperson and Division 2 Recording Secretary, Bob Farrell said: “AOH Division 2, Suffolk County was proud to present a check for $3,800.00 to the Brotherhood for the Fallen of Suffolk County, which was raised at our “Back the Blue BBQ and Fundraiser”. Besides President McGrath, Division 2 Brothers who played a key role in the event were Brothers Tim Kerr, Rich Darrell, John Weppler and Jim Killen.

Brotherhood for the Fallen, Suffolk County chapter is a not-for-profit organization whose funding relies on donations. Born in August of 2016, the group’s sole mission is to help “assuage the anguish” of a loved ones of police officers who have paid the ultimate “sacrifice upon the alter of freedom”. There are over eight hundred members, and the organization enjoys the full support of the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association as well as other union-related and fraternal organizations within the department.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians in America was founded in 1836 in New York City. It is the oldest
Irish Catholic fraternal organization, represented in all fifty states. AOH St. Patrick’s Division 2
was organized on October 6, 1946, and is the only AOH Division in the Town of Babylon. For
more information, or to become a member, please see the contact information above.

The Archbishop John Ireland Division 4 Christmas celebration included a reading by Division
4 member Mark Connor from his book, “It’s About Time (Millions of Copies Sold for Dad),”
winner of Irish Network Minnesota’s 2024 Bloomsday Literary award. Described as a “saga
wrapped around a package of poems guarded by angels,” the autobiography that reads like a
novel, honors his deceased father, Division 4 member Robert J. Connor. It is available at
https://boxersandwritersmagazine.com/books/ and includes local Irish-American history
including stories from Division members.

Hartford Division 2 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians held a successful Toy/Gift Card Drive on Saturday, December 14. Three carloads of toys were collected in addition to over $300 worth of gift cards. The collection took place at Christ the King Parish in Wethersfield and benefitted The Helping Hands Project at Saint Augustine Parish in the south end of Hartford. The generosity of those that donated will make Christmas brighter for many families in Connecticut’s capital city.

Hartford AOH has been sponsoring Food Drive for the pantry at Saint Augustine’s since May 2020 and continues to do so. The Toy/Gift Card Drive concluded our “holiday” season with drives in October for Halloween treats and in November for Thanksgiving sides.

We were informed that our $1,000 would create a meal for 4,000 individuals in need in the local Harrisburg, PA area.   

The gathering at Calvary Catholic cemetery was led by Deacon Mike Wilkins and Division Historian; Conor Doolan. The event was not only well-attended but also filled with unexpected moments of connection and discovery. One of the most touching highlights occurred when Patrick Nolan, a non-member, was astonished to find a relative’s grave during the event. As the group walked through the cemetery, Patrick exclaimed, “This is one of my relatives!” to everyone’s surprise.

It turns out that Patrick’s great-grandfather, Thomas Johnson, was a past president of the Nashville AOH—a connection he had never known before. Moved by the revelation, Patrick took a moment to share the legacy of Thomas Johnson and his contributions to the community, enriching the experience for everyone present.

At the conclusion of the event, the Nashville AOH, officially invited Patrick Nolan to join the organization as an associate member and extended the invitation to participate in future meetings and events.

The AOH aimed to honor past members and deepen knowledge of early Irish settlers in Nashville, and this event certainly exceeded those expectations. Participants left with a renewed appreciation for their heritage and the unexpected connections that can be found within it.

Tour was led by Deacon Mike Wilkins and Division Historian Conor Doolan. President Jim Horton thanked Deacon.

On Sunday 8 September Dr. Ruan O’Donnell spoke at the United Irish Cultural Society event in San Francisco, California, on the subject of Robert Emmet’s legacy in the USA. Ireland’s Consul General Michael Smith addressed the gathering outside the Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park. Ancient Order of Hibenians, San Francisco Division 17 joined with the United Irish Societies of San Francisco.

In 1916, one third of the population of San Francisco was Irish or of Irish descent and largely supporters of the struggle for Irish independence. When news of the Easter Rising reached them, they showed their support with guns, money and political advocacy—not only then but in the years to come. US Senator James Duval Phelan, the son of an Irish immigrant and former mayor of San Francisco, was one such supporter who used his political influence in promote the cause including reading remarks into the minutes of the US Senate. Senator Phelan commissioned a copy of the bronze statue of Robert Emmet from artist, Jerome Connor. One of four statues, the others stand in Washington DC, in Emmetsburg, Iowa, and in St Stephen’s Green, Dublin. The Washington DC statue, the first one cast, was dedicated in 1917. The San Francisco statue was erected in the Golden Gate Park in the band concourse beside the Academy of Science in 1919. When the Academy was remodeled, it was moved to a more prominent spot in front of the building.

On July 20, 1919, the statue was unveiled by Eamon De Valera, future Taoiseach and President of the Republic of Ireland. De Valera, who had been one of the leaders of the Easter Rising and had recently escaped from British custody, was on a fundraising tour of the United States, which netted millions of dollars. One of his stops was San Francisco, where his friend and editor of The Leader newspaper, Father Peter Yorke, helped him rally supporters to donate money to the struggle.

Robert Emmet, leader of the Rebellion of 1803, was an inspiration to the leaders of the 1916 Rising. In 1916, there were still people living in Ireland who would have heard stories of Wolfe Tone’s Rebellion of 1798 and Emmet’s Rebellion of 1803 from their grandparents much like older San Francisco natives of today heard stories of the great Earthquake of 1906 from their grandparents.

The Society of United Irishmen were a non-sectarian organization made up of Presbyterians, Catholics and members of the Church of Ireland, which advocated for parliamentary reform and emancipation for Irish Catholics and Presbyterians. Inspired by the American Revolution and the French Revolution, they evolved into a revolutionary organization which sought to end British rule and to establish an independent Ireland. United Irishmen like Theobald Wolfe Tone, leader of the 1798 Rebellion, and Emmet brothers, Thomas Addis and Robert, were members of the Protestant Ascendency and of the Church of Ireland yet they put their very lives at risk to support the emancipation of Irish Catholics. Tone and Robert Emmet did indeed lose their lives and Thomas Emmet went into exile. Their defeat was the last time the Protestants and Catholics would stand together in great numbers in the struggle for independence.

After the failure of the 1798 Rebellion and Wolfe Tone’s death, his close friend, Thomas Addis Emmet, went into to exile in the United States; and Robert Emmet began to re-organize the United Irishmen with the goal of preparing a new rebellion.

In 1803, Emmet was forced to start the rebellion prematurely when one of his arms’ depots exploded. He failed to receive reinforcements from other rebel groups in Wicklow and Kildare but nonetheless on July 23, 1803, his forces in Dublin went into action. He soon loss control of the situation and the rebellion was easily crushed by the British.

Emmet went into hiding and fled to Harold’s Cross to be near his fiancé, Sarah Curran. Sarah was the daughter of John Philpot Curran from Newmarket, Cork. Sarah and Emmet had met through her brother, who was his fellow student at Trinity College. Her father strongly disapproved of the courtship and disowned her when they became engaged. Her father never relented and even denied her request to be buried at Rathfarnham—next to her sister, Gertrude—when she died tragically of TB in 1808 after her marriage to Captain Sturgeon and the death of her one-month old son. She was buried in Newmarket, Cork.

The story goes that Emmet probably would have been able to escape to France if he had not taken the opportunity to say adieu to Sarah. Regardless, he was captured on August 23, 1803 and put on trial. At his trial on September 19, he was found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death. Prior to his sentencing, he delivered his famous Speech from the Dock, which has been an inspiration to generations of proponents of a United Ireland to this very day.

Let no man write my epitaph: for as no man who knows my motives dare now  vindicate them. Let not prejudice or ignorance asperse them. Let them and me repose in obscurity and peace, and my tomb remain uninscribed, until other times, and other men, can do justice to my character; when my country takes her place among the nations of the earth, then, and not till then, let my epitaph be written.

I have done.

Excerpt from Robert Emmet’s Speech from the Dock

The Division continues to hold a monthly food drive to benefit the pantry at Saint Augustine’s and has been since June 2020. Upcoming drives will also include school supplies in August and September, Thanksgiving items in November and a toy drive in December.

On Memorial Day, the Marian Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage passed through Saint Paul, Minnesota, enroute to the National Eucharistic Congress. Minnesota Hibernians were among 7000 members of the local faithful who participated in the “Source and Summit” Eucharistic Procession which went on Summit Avenue in Saint Paul from the Saint Paul Seminary through various historic neighborhoods, past our Governor’s Residence, and ending with a prayer service at the Cathedral of Saint Paul / National Shrine of the Apostle Paul.

Sunday, July 21, 2024, 14 Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, San Francisco Division 17, volunteered their services to St. Anthony’s Dining Room where we served 1,338 meals. Great job, lads. Thanks to all of you who helped out.

Before the start of every General Meeting at the Suffolk Legislature, one Legislator is chosen to designated individuals in the community to sing the National Anthem and obtain a clergyman to say an opening prayer. For the June 6^th General Meeting, Suffolk Division 9 Brother Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon chose fellow Division 9 Brother Father Henry Reid to lead the Legislature, and all those present, in a prayer dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  

Brother Lennon introduced Brother Henry to those present as a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians for over thirty years, former New York State Chaplain, former Deputy National Chaplain, currently the Suffolk County AOH Chaplain, Police Holy Name Society of Suffolk County, Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, and a fellow Marine Corps Veteran. 

Brother Henry opened the prayer by asking for enlightenment and wisdom. To give those in political positions the strength to reach across divisions, and to find common ground. To bless our nation, our homes, our families, and our communities, through Christ our Lord.