Hibernian Digest Sep-Oct 2013

DATED MATERIAL

®

—HIS EMINENCE, PATRICK CARDINAL O’DONNELL of Ireland

Vol. LXXX No. 5 USPS 373340

September-October 2013

1.50

Hibernians Welcome Irish Ambassador Anderson

In This Issue…

Celebrating Irish Culture in New York

AOH and LAOH National and District of Columbia State Board Presidents welcome Ambassador Anne Anderson to Washington, DC, from left, Brendan Moore, Ambassador Anderson, Maureen Shelton, Gail Dapolito (DC LAOH State Board President), and Ralph D. Day (DC AOH State Board President).

At a formal dinner held at the prestigious National Press Club located near the White House, the Washington DC State Board closed out their biennial convention with a special welcome to Ireland’s new Ambassador to the United States, Anne Anderson.

Newly re-elected presidents Ralph Day of the DC AOH and Gail Gorman Dapolito of the DC LAOH were honored to be joined at the head table by Ambassador Anderson and her guest, Dr. Lowe, DC Chaplain Father John Hurley, our National Presidents Brendan Moore and Maureen Shelton, as well as the president of the National Press Club, Angela Greiling Keane, as the AOH was the first to publically welcome Her Excellency to her new post.

The pre-dinner reception was graciously entertained by Brother George Rogers (past President, DC State Board) as he played the Uilleann pipes and penny whistle and the Irish Dairy Board supplied a wonderful array of Irish cheeses for the jovial crowd. The evening’s guest included Hibernians from more than six states and included National Board members Patrick Sturdy and Sean Pender as well as Maryland State president Tim Harvey, each of whom had

addressed the DC Convention earlier that day. Also joining the AOH at the dinner were numerous DC Irish organizations and former Congressman Bruce Morrison and his wife as well as Norman Houston, director of the Northern Ireland Bureau.

The evening’s master of ceremonies was past-National Director Keith Carney who kept the busy program running, but also took the solemn time to read the names of the 32 AOH Brothers and Sisters who perished on 9/11 trying to save others (as the 12th anniversary of that tragic day was upcoming at the time of the dinner). The O’Neill-James School of Irish Dance began the entertainment at the banquet, including getting the audience off their feet to learn an Irish Shamrock dance and signing Happy Birthday to Mr. John Cosgrove who celebrates his 95th birthday. Mr. Cosgrove, the quintessential DC Irishman, is the Past President of the National Press Club. He addressed the dinner guests from the podium in grand fashion telling the story of his welcoming President John F. Kennedy (the only U.S. President that was a member of the AOH) to be a member of the National Press Club in 1963.

Page 23 Deputy Consul General Peter Ryan

Page 12

Irish History Scholarships Missouri

continued on page 11

Freedom For All Ireland Our Appeal Begins

By Sean Pender, Chairman This year instead of me writing of the importance of the Christmas Appeal and the continued need for support I have taken a different path. In the last issue of the Digest, I had members who have traveled to Ireland and met the groups on our trips to write regarding the support that we offer thru the Christmas Appeal and our trip. I sincerely thank all those that contributed.

In this edition you will hear first hand from a cross section of the groups that we support. It is my hope that this information will confirm to the reader the need for our appeal and answer any questions members may have regarding the appeal.

There is a dedicated core of individuals, divisions, and boards that support the yearly Christmas appeal and I am sure that these messages from organizations will only inspire them to do more.

But it is my real hope that those individuals, divisions, and boards that do not donate will be educated and inspired by these messages and donate this year. As always I am available to answer any questions regarding the appeal just drop me an email at paddyspeed@yahoo.com St. Patrick’s Centre, Mary’s Gift, Rights Watch, Relatives for Justice, Cairde, and Coiste and team are just some of the groups

that we support; their leadership has written the following regarding the support we have given them.

Page 8 AOH 2013 FFAI Christmas Appeal Kick-Off Rights Watch (UK) (previously British Irish Rights Watch) has the following mission, expertise and achievements: Our Mission: Promoting human rights and holding governments to account, drawing upon the lessons learned from the conflict in Northern Ireland. Our Expertise and Achievements: Since 1990 we have provided support and services to anyone whose human rights were violated as a result of conflict. Our interventions have reflected our range of expertise, from the right to a fair trial to the government’s positive obligation to protect life. We have a long record of working closely with NGOs and government authorities to share that expertise. And we have received wide recognition, as the first winner of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Prize in 2009 alongside other honours.

The Support of the AOH The AOH has been a friend of BIRW (now RW (UK)) for a number of years. Our change of name and widening of focus has not deterred the AOH from its continuing support of our imporcontinued on page 10

State News California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Connecticut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Delaware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Illinois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Massachusetts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 New Jersey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Ohio

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Washington DC . . . . . . . . . . . . .11, 12 West Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 LAOH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 More news at www.hiberniandigest.com

® NATIONAL BOARD OFFICERS Rev. John Ahern - NY . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Chaplain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .rev.john.ahern@aoh.com Rev. Thomas M O’Donnell - PA . . . Deputy Nat’l Chaplain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .rev.thomas.odonnell@aoh.com Rev. Peter Walsh, CSC - FL . . . . . . . Deputy Nat’l Chaplain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .rev.peter.walsh@aoh.com Brendan Moore - NY . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .brendan.moore@aoh.com James McKay - LA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Vice Pres. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .james.mckay@aoh.com 2016 Commemoration Chairman Thomas D. McNabb- NY. . . . . . . . . Nat’l Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .thomas.mcnabb@aoh.com Daniel O’Connell - OH. . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .daniel.oconnell@aoh.com Joseph Brady - RI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Dir. ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT . . . . . . . . . ...joseph.brady@aoh.com Catholic Action Chair Jere Cole - NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Dir. NJ, DE, MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .jcole4838@gmail.com Pro-Life Chairman Denny Donnelly - PA . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Director PA, OH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ddon633@comcast.net National Organizer aohorganizer@aoh.com Charles McLean - NY . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Director NYC, Long Island . . . . . . . . . . . .charles.mclean@aoh.com Hibernian Hunger Chairman Michael McNabb - NY . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Director NY counties no. of NYC . . . .michael.mcnabb@aoh.com Charities & Missions Chair James Wahl - MO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Director MO, IL, KS, IN, OK . . . . . . . . . . . . .james.wahl@aoh.com Notre Dame Fund Chairman Seamus Boyle - PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Past Nat’l President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .seamus.boyle@aoh.com Commodore Barry Memorial John Meehan - MA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Past Nat’l President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .john.meehan@aoh.com Ned McGinley - PA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Past Nat’l President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ned.mcginley@aoh.com Hibernian Charity ned.mcginley@hiberniancharity.com Edward Wallace NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . Past Nat’l President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .edward.wallace@aoh.com Project St. Patrick Chairman George Clough - MO . . . . . . . . . . . . Past Nat’l President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .george.clough@aoh.com Nat’l Chair 2014 Convention, Finance Oversight Committee Nicholas Murphy - NY . . . . . . . . . . Past Nat’l President. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .upkerry@optonline.net Finance Oversight committee Joseph Roche - MD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Past Nat’l President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .jar32aoh@aol.com Nat’l Political Edu. Chair, Finance Oversight Committee John O’Connell - NY. . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .john.oconnell@aoh.com Michael McCormack - NY. . . . . . . . Nat’l Historian/Archivist . . . . . . . . . . . . .michael.mccormack@aoh.com Patrick Sturdy - MI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Legal Counsel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .patrick.sturdy@aoh.com Constitution Chairman Sean Pender - NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Freedom For All Ireland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .sean.pender@aoh.com Dan Dennehy - NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Immigration Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . .dandennnehy@hotmail.com JJ Kelly - VA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Veterans Affairs Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .jj.kelly@aoh.com Nat’l Rituals Chairman Joseph McDonald - NY . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Webmaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .joseph.mcdonald@aoh.com Neil Cosgrove - NY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nat’l Anti Defamation Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . .neil.cosgrove@aoh.com Nat’l Irish American Heritage Month Chairman William Sullivan - MA . . . . . . . . . . . Irish Way Program Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . .william.sullivan@aoh.com Study Abroad Program Chairman, Special Projects National Board Liaisons With the the National Board's approval, the National President has requested that certain Brothers serve as "National Board Liaisons" to represent the Board as National Directors normally would in providing outreach to under-represented areas, as well as divisions where no state boards currently exist.

Pat Sturdy…North-Central: Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin JJ Kelly…South: District of Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky Joe Casler…South/South-Central: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Louisiana Pat Cahill…West: California, Colorado, Oregon, Montana

EXPERIENCE A ST. LOUIS CITY FAVORITE. The Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel is located in the heart of all that is vibrant and exciting about St. Louis and we’re looking forward to hosting the Ancient Order of Hibernians Convention in 2014.

We’re certain you’re going to enjoy the hotel, it’s vast amenities and superior service, along with all the amazing restaurants, entertainment & nightlife that Washington Avenue has to offer.

And all just steps outside your hotel.

Historical beauty, sophisticated style and an ideal location, the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel sets the stage for an amazing experience in the heart of the city. We look forward to welcoming you to St. Louis in 2014.

RENAISSANCE ST. LOUIS GRAND HOTEL 800 Washington Avenue St. Louis, MO 63101 314.418.5820 www.renaissancestlouisgrand.com

News of the 2014 National Convention This issue of the Digest contains all the information on Registration, the Package and the Journal for the 2014 National Convention. The hotel is located in Downtown St. Louis within walking distance of the oldest Catholic Church West of the Mississippi, the Gateway Arch, Busch Stadium, home of the Cardinals, and the Riverfront Casino.

Also, all the Museums History, Science and Art including the internationally renowned St. Louis Zoo are free to the public.

The Chairman, National Director Judge Jim Wahl, and his Committees, are planning many surprises in order to make this one of the most memorable National Conventions in a long time.

George J. Clough, Jr, Past National President and National Board Liaison

Copy and Advertising Deadline HIS EMINENCE, PATRICK CARDINAL O'DONNELL OF IRELAND

for the November-December issue of the Hibernian Digest is

Subscription price of $8.00 included in the organization’s dues. Periodical postage paid at Ronkonkoma, NY 11779-9998 USPS 373340 A bi-monthly publication dedicated to Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity. The National Hibernian Digest is the complete chronicle of the ideals, hopes, and achievements of Hibernians everywhere. The National Hibernian Digest is printed and mailed out of Ronkonkoma, NY 11779-9998 and additional mailing offices in February, April, June, August, October and December. Office of publication is Clover Graphics Inc., 2050 Ocean Avenue, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779.

The Hibernian Digest reserves the right to not include articles in this publication due to space limitations and editorial determination. The Digest will make every effort to include articles in future publications if possible. The articles submitted to the Digest do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, Inc., its Board of Directors, the Editor or its membership.

The Hibernian Digest welcomes letters to the editor. Please send via e-mail to editor@hibernian digest.com and include your letter in the body of the e-mail. DO NOT send as an attachment. Letters can be mailed (typed only) to AOH Editor, National Hibernian Digest, c/o John O’Connell, 87-30 256th St., Floral Park.

NY 11001. ALL LETTERS ARE SUBJECT TO EDITING. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Please include contact phone numbers for follow up.

EditorHibernianDigest@yahoo.com

JOHN O’CONNELL . . . . . . . . . . . . .National Editor/Advertising. . . . . (646) 436-0811 editorhiberniandigest@yahoo.com JULIE LEWIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lynchlewis7@sbcglobal.net ROBERT LYNCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Online Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .robert@hiberniandigest.com

Louisiana State President Joe Casler’s name was misspelled in an article in the July-August issue and on the cover that referenced that article. We regret the error.

2

November 1

Correction

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

President’s Message

by Brendan Moore Back On Track Summer 2013 is just a memory and our divisions are now well into the whirl of activities that constitute the normal tempo for most. Your National Board has been in communication on a periodic basis through convenient and inexpensive conference calls.

We have not only been able to touch base with each other in terms of issues, concerns, and the “business” of the Order, but have successfully used our many calls to present reports from various committee chairmen. Such updates have kept our elected and appointed officers apprised of current projects such as the Commodore Barry Memorial Dedication, the upcoming St. Louis National Convention, the progress of legislation on Comprehensive Immigration Reform, and many more significant topics. Such essential communication promotes the flow of ideas among us and further serves as a means of keeping in touch with what is happening throughout the AOH. Likewise, our conference calls promote listening beyond the National Board. This was clearly demonstrated on the August 28th call with State Presidents, some of whom are “brand new,” having just come into office at recent state conventions. This proved to be an effective means of conveying the latest on some significant issues, including states’ use of the Digest to communicate their own news. But most importantly, participating presidents were able to address items they needed answers for. Similarly, on the

evening of August 29th a conference call involved the top four AOH National Officers, the members of the Finance Oversight Committee, and the full Board of Trustees of The Hibernian Charity. The purpose of that meeting was to provide an opportunity for dialogue to insure that we continue on the same page in terms of the The Charity’s progress, function, and direction as an important and valuable subsidiary of the AOH. As a community-based, national organization the AOH continues to be a mainstay of the broad Irish-American network. Our views on the Boston College Tapes Case were solicited during a radio show on that topic following the U.S. Attorney General’s decision. We have been counted on to participate in Consulate round-table discussions on Ireland’s plan to revise its National Constitution, particularly in terms of Diaspora issues and extending voting rights to non-resident Irish citizens. Under the auspices of our own District of Columbia State Board, a splendid event was organized to welcome Anne Armstrong, the new Irish Ambassador to the United States. In short, I am confident in reporting to you that there is little of significance taking place in Irish America that the Ancient Order of Hibernians is not at the forefront of, or at least involved in to a significant extent.

On a more “in-house” note, I was compelled to pause and reflect when I received an email from Chris Boyle of AOH Division #1 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Chris wanted to inform me of the sudden passing of the Division Chaplain, Father Brian Shaw. Chris added: “We are struck dumb by this news.” All of their shock, hurt, and loss were conveyed in that single, short sentence. Our AOH chaplains at every level—division, county, state, national—continue to play a most important role in this organization. We need to be mindful of that, just as my own awareness was heightened when I responded to Chris and the members of Division #1: “”We are blessed with AOH chaplains who are both Brothers and Models of Faith, Service, and Caring.”

Chaplain’s Report

Vice President’s Report

by Rev. John V. Ahern

byJim McKay

No one could tell me where my soul might be, I sought out God but God eluded me, I sought out my neighbor and found all three: Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity!

The motto of our Irish-American Organization is a challenge to all of us more than ever before. There are serious signs all around us that indicate a falling away from positive living. The problem is that there is too much of the wrong kind and purposeless living. May we never forget that the days of us Irish Catholic being persecuted are not over and the challenges of our faith have not ended!

Years ago there was an old Irish sailor who had charge of a Coast Guard station on the rocky coast of Maine. On a bleak stormy night an SOS call came to him. They reported a wrecked ship that was sinking fast. The elderly captain had a new crew and he shouted to them: “Launch the boat.” One of the young seamen paled with fear and stammered: “We are not going out on a night like this, are we? Why, we’ll never get back.” The captain lifted himself to full stature, his broad shoulders expanding and his eyes flashing with courage. He looked the young seaman straight in the eye and repeated his command: “Launch the boat. We have to go out, but we don’t have to come back.” This is always the stern imperative of faith’s venture.

Brothers and sisters, it is well to remember that great ventures of faith have brought us where we are today. Think always of the faith our Irish ancestors had when they came to our American shores. The prejudices and poverty that they faced and lived through all because they wanted religious freedom and because their faith was undaunted.

We today must always remember that our Irish Christian Faith makes possible the seemingly impossible. In the spirit of Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity we must not forget the persecution of the Irish people in Northern Ireland. Have we come far in peace negotiations, not really? All talk; all shaking hands but still injustice and persecution exist. Let us be united in the cause of social justice and true peaceful negotiations for all Irish Catholics in Northern Ireland. We must never fear the journey of faith.

GGGG

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

The summer has flown by and fall will be descending on us by the time you receive this issue. By this time, the majority of state conventions will have been held and new state officers elected and in place.

I had the opportunity of attending the Ohio and North Carolina conventions and I can tell you first hand that Hibernianism is alive and well in these states and throughout the country.

I know that many of our Degree Teams have been very active this past year, especially in the summer months making many appearances at state conventions to initiate new members to our Major Degree. I have been in contact with our eight Major Degree Teams requesting their appearance schedule for the rest of the year. As this information comes in I am forwarding it to our Hibernian webmaster, Joseph McDonald, so that he may insert it on to our National website. It was felt that this would be the easiest method of disseminating schedule information for all of our members who may be interested in obtaining their Major Degree.

We should continue our prayers for those who died or were injured in the Boston Marathon massacre. Such mass violence and human casualties shock the senses. We also pray that our country maintains the ability to handle these types of attacks in a strong and prudent manner.

The National Board continues to diligently work on our next conventions in St. Louis in 2014 and Atlantic City in 2016. In St. Louis, the committees are all in place and planning a great event which is only about a year away. The same consideration and attention is being given to the Atlantic City convention by that committee and while it is almost three years out, most know it will be on us before you know it.

By this time you should be well aware that Michael “Mick” Dunleavy has been selected as our Sean MacBride Humanitarian Award winner and will be honored this October at our National President’s Dinner in New York in October. This will also coincide with our National Board meeting. President Moore conducts many National Board meetings by phone throughout the year but this is the one time besides our National Convention where the Board will meet face to face.

My wife and I traveled to Europe this summer to the south of France, but found time to go through Dublin on our way. We had the opportunity to have dinner with Nial Burgess and his wife the night before we left for France. I had the opportunity to thank Nial Burgess for all the friendship he has shown the AOH not only during his time as Consul General in New York, but also in his present position as Director General of Ireland.

I hope that you all had a relaxing but productive summer and look forward to seeing many of you at our President’s Dinner in New York.

3

Deputy Chaplain’s Report

Director’s Report

by Father Tom O’Donnell

by Denny Donnelly Organizer

Saint Pope John XXIII For about nine years I have been semi-retired and spend most of the cold months in Ft. Myers, Florida. I am only semi-retired since I still am a Judge for the Marriage Tribunal for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. I had lived in a mobile home in Florida, but had to move since the rent was eating up half of my pension. Therefore, I was fortunate enough to be accepted into Blessed Pope John XXII Vilas which is a low income senior citizen housing apartment built by HUD on the southwest end of the property of Blessed Pope John XXIII Church in Ft. Myers. It seems that the name of our church and apartment building will have to be changed to Saint Pope John XXIII. The announcement that the beloved John XXIII, who is associated with Vatican Council II, was approved for sainthood came as a surprise as he had not been associated with a second miracle; something that is normally part of the sainthood process. Vatican Radio reported on the explanation given by Vatican spokesman: Fr. Lombardi stated that a canonization without a second miracle is still valid, given that there is already the existing miracle that lead to the Pope John XXIII’s beatification. He also pointed to ongoing discussions among theologians and experts about whether it is necessary to have two distinct miracles for beatification and canonization. Certainly, he added the Pope has the power to dispense, in a Cause, with the second miracle. Reacting to the news, the Jesuit author Father James Martin wrote: “The announcement that will make millions of Catholics happy. I deeply admire John Paul II and John XXIII is my great hero. The Vatican has not announced when the canonization of John Paul II and John XXIII are expected to take place, or whether they will be done jointly, as Vatican Radio Reports: Fr. Lombardi did not rule out that both celebrations could coincide, and he did express his belief that they would take place by the end of the year. The canonizations will most probably take place on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception since the Pope generally schedules such great events to coincide with a major feast day.

As a young priest I remember how Pope John XXIII said that he was opening up the windows of the Church as he convened Vatican Council II. Now as an older priest I am happy that Saint John XXIII Church and Villas has opened up its doors to me and has helped me to enjoy my retirement years in love, peace and dignity.

In my last article I requested information on Junior Divisions. In 2002 Sean MacBride Division 32 (Allegheny County - PA) initiated a Junior Division at Bishop Canevin High School. After Division Member Steve Wayhart met with the Principal of Canevin, explaining the work of the AOH, he then addressed a school assembly. As a result of his efforts, 28 boys signed up to form this Junior Division. Another Division member, Jim O’Connell, was a teacher at Bishop Canevin and he offered his help as moderator. Jim guided the boys through the process of electing officers, and the Allegheny County officers swore them in as members of the Junior AOH. Over the years there have been fundraisers, and a lot of volunteer activities. The young men have volunteered at the Men’s Division 32 Fish Fry during Lent and the Annual Golf Outing. They have made award-winning floats for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Pittsburgh. As a group they have ascended the “Scala Sancta”….on their knees (Holy Steps at St. Patrick’s in Pittsburgh), and attended the Pittsburgh Irish Classical Theatre productions. Every year there is a trip to either Gettysburg or Antietam, following the trail of the Irish Brigade.

The numbers have fluctuated over the years. They are currently at 53 members.

One of the goals of a Junior Division is for the young men to learn about Irish culture and history. The National Board has Junior Division handbooks that can get you started in forming a Junior Division. This includes all the necessary forms and instructions. The Junior AOH is a great stepping stone for membership into the AOH. I will be happy to mail you this handbook. Email me at DDon633@comcast.net.

Director’s Report

by Jere Cole Pro Life Chairman Turning Life Over to Christ: Pro-Life and Your Life It’s that time of year again! September is officially here. For some of you, that might not mean too much if you have been working and living life somewhat “normally” over the last few months. But for many, September brings a sense of newness, of renewal, of fresh beginnings. As the summer comes to a close, you may have children or grandchildren who have headed back to a new school year. You, yourself, may be a teacher or the teachers in your family have been prepping and preparing for the beginning of the school year.

Outside, even the environment has a sense of freshness to it. The air has been getting cooler and we already have experienced a few mornings that have boasted crisp, autumn air!

This sense of renewal and beginning is refreshing! And it is one that we should attempt to harness in our own lives. As we continue our journey into the meaning of pro-life, this time of the year is an appropriate one to think about what pro-life means for our own lives.

How does pro-life intersect with your life? I do not mean what activities are you involved in that support pro-life. If pro-life means that “every human life is sacred from conception to natural death” and “life and dignity of every person must be respected and protected at every stage and in every condition” (www.usccb.org), how are we respecting and protecting our very own lives at every stage and condition? The mandate for pro-life is not just a mandate for how we treat others, but it is a mandate for how we treat ourselves as well.

This mandate for pro-life in our own lives is reminiscent of Jesus’ statement in the Gospel of John: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10) Jesus tells us not that he has come just to give us life; he has come to give us life to the full. I don’t know about you, but if I can have “life to the full,” then I want it! So how do we start to live a life to the full?

One of the practices beneficial in living life to the fullest is St. Ignatius of Loyola’s “Discernment of the Spirits.” While he was convalescing from battle injuries, St. Ignatius noticed different “interior movements” as he imagined his future. He believed that these interior movements were caused by both good and evil spirits. Being able to discern them was a way to understand God’s will or desire for us in our lives. He named these movements “consolation and desolation.” There were times that St. Ignatius felt very on fire with God’s love that he was impelled to praise, love and serve God and others. He called this a movement of “spiritual consolation.” In contrast, “spiritual desolation was a time that his soul felt in heavy darkness or turmoil. It was a time when he felt assaulted by doubts, temptations or preoccupations. During these times, he often felt cut off from others and from God. We all have times of consolation and desolation. Part of living life to the fullest is to recognize these times. Where are these movements coming from and where are they leading you? The more we can discern these movements and the more we can recognize where they are coming from, the better we will understand how they all fit together and the better we will understand how to live life to the full. Take some time and try it. Where do you feel consolation and desolation in your life? Where is it coming from and where is it leading you? How can you use this knowledge to live life to the full? Blessings to you as your seek life to the fullest!

4

The members of Division 32 outside St. Patrick’s Church in Pittsburgh.

x Director’s Report

by Michael McNabb Charities & Missions Chairman With State Conventions coming to a close and the end of the year approaching, all State Boards and Divisions should be submitting their National Charity and Missions Reports. These reports are used for many purposes.

One is that you will be recognized for your efforts with a certificate at the National Convention. Another and more important reason is they can be used as evidence that our Organization makes many charitable donations.

This happened in New York State where legislation was passed exempting the AOH from reporting and donating more from Bell Jar tear of tickets. These reports were vital in passing this measure. They were presented, along with those of the Moose and Elks clubs, to the NYS Legislators thru a lobbying firm and showed we went well above the minimum set for the use of these fundraising tickets. The fact is more AOH donations go unreported than are reported. With the AOH National Board having a 501(3)(c) for some specific Charities, we could possibly expand this with the proper paperwork. So please take a few minutes to fill out the report. The Form for this can be found on the AOH National web site, AOH.com. They are to be mailed to me, my address is listed on the bottom, or they can be emailed to mikeaohny@aol.com.

I would like to thank two State Charity and Missions Chairmen, Arnie Nagelhout from New York and Mike Wallace from New Jersey for their efforts in making sure reports are filed.

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

Nationaland Secretary Treasurer Report

by Thomasd D. McNabb and Daniel J. O’Connell Brothers, we have seen great improvement in the reporting of membership and per capita from our divisions around the country. Recent changes in the IRS policies make it critical for your Form 11’s and per capita to arrive on time. Without this form and per capita payment by February 15, 2014 your division may not be included in the non-profit recognition form filed with the IRS. Together we have worked on updating the forms used for reporting so we can provide the IRS with critical information. It is necessary for your to use the forms provided and include 1) your local EIN number 2) complete contact information for your president and financial secretary including name, address, telephone number and e-mail. If the president or financial secretary do not have an e-mail they should use one from a division officer who can forward hard copies to you. This information will be included on our IRS report.

Financial Secretaries: 1) Every division received a list of members for update, removal and correction including name, address, membership number, and degrees. This list should have been updated and returned by October 22th. a. This is a critical deadline for membership card corrections. b. Members, it is your responsibility to report any corrections to your division financial secretary.

2) Membership corrections submitted are made by the National Secretary’s office 3) 2014 membership cards (based on your divisions corrections) are sent to all divisions current on their dues in late November.

4) 2013 per capita is due to the National Board no later than February 15, 2011 a. Division’s late paying dues are not in good standing. Additionally, divisions not filing their Form 11’s with Per Capita on time can not be included in the IRS Blanket Exemption for nonprofit recognition.

Irish Way & Study Abroad

by Bill Sullivan Chairman AOH National President Brendan Moore and the AOH National Board are pleased to announce that Kieran McGirl, a member of Division 19 in Kings County, New York, has been selected as one of the recipients of their 2013 National Board Study Abroad Scholarships. Kieran’s father, Kevin McGirl, and his grandfather, Al O’Hagan, are also members of Division 19.

Kieran, a student at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, is majoring in Communications, with a minor in political science. This past semester, Kieran studied at Sacred Heart University Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland. Upon graduation from Sacred Heart University in May 2015, Kieran plans a career in communications and media.

Our sincere thanks is extended to Ned McGinley and to the Hibernian Charity Board for providing the funding for the 2013 Irish Way and the 2013 Study Abroad Scholarships. Several additional Study Abroad Scholarship recipients are expected to be named in the next several months.

Information on the 2014 AOH National Board’s Study Abroad Scholarships and the 2014 AOH and LAOH Irish Way Scholarships will be available in the NovemberDecember issue of the Hibernian Digest. The National Boards strongly encourage all their members to take advantage of these scholarship opportunities. I hope that you had a great summer. Yours in Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity

Coming your way MR. JOHN IRISH 123 MAIN STREET ANYWHERE, USA 00000

You should have received a set of AOH return address labels for your use. This is an effort on the part of the AOH National Board to express our appreciation for your past and anticipated support. We urge you to join us in meeting the needs of the many vital charities we have assisted over the years. Your personal donation is essential to our mission.

• IF YOU WISH TO MAKE A DONATION, please forward a check PAYABLE TO: AOH National Board • Please send TEAR-OFF form that will accompany your labels to: Ancient Order of Hibernians, P.O. Box 791580, New Orleans, LA 70179

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

b. Only Divisions in good standing may participate in National, State, and county conventions. c. Delegates for all conventions are based on the number of members in good standing as reported and paid by each division for the previous year. i. 2014 delegates are based on your paid members as of December 31, 2013.

5) Certificate of Election form 9 must be sent to the National Office within 15 days of the election. This should be the first order of business of a newly elected board. a. This form should also be used to report any change of officers created by a vacancy within 15 days.

6) Membership report, form 11, must be sent to the national office no later than February 15, 2014. This form should include a check for 2013 per capita and a separate check for 2013 initiations.

Treasurers: 1) Every check you send must have your division name, county, number, state and telephone number on it. If its not printed on the check please write it in legibly.

2) You must encumber your national and state per capita. Place these funds in a restricted status; these funds can only be used to pay you per capita in January of the following year.

3) Pay your national per capita no later than February 15, 2014. a. Membership report, form 11, must be sent along with you per capita check. b. A separate check for initiations should be send along with your per capita.

4) Keep your canceled checks. Place a copy of the canceled check with your membership report form 11.

5) Remember, national per capita collected in 2013 is due by February 15, 2014.

Degree Notifications: 1) Within ten day’s of conferring the Major Degrees, the Degree Team secretary must submit a report to the National Secretary stating the time, place, Membership Number and Name of each member who received the Major Degrees.

Questions can be directed to AOH National Secretary Tom McNabb or AOH National Treasurer Danny O’Connell. Thank you.

Non-Profit Recognition for Divisions Critical Information Thomas D McNabb and Daniel J. O’Connell

Brothers, we have been working with the IRS and our accountants to address changes in IRS policies for Non-Profit recognition. All divisions have received a letter explaining this from President Moore sent via the US mail. Additionally, each state president received an electronic copy via e-mail that included a request to forward the letter to all divisions.

It is vital that all divisions send in the per capita and Form 11 for the 2013 year by February 15, 2014 in order for each division to be included in our report of current division to the IRS. This form must include your EIN number as well as the proper contact information for your president and financial secretary. Without this form and payment you cannot be included on the list of divisions covered by the AOH national non-profit designation.

Thank you.

Green Fields of France Seventy years ago, many an Irish lad joined the Allies storming Hitler’s fortress at Normandy. In commemoration, an 8-day journey is being planned for May 23-31. The trip includes visits to the battlefields sites of Utah, Omaha, Caen, Pt. Du Hoc, St. Lo, Ste. Marie, Operation Cobra, and the airborne Museum. You’ll also visit Mont St. Michel, Bayeux, Abbey Museum, Monet, Versailles, three nights in Paris and welcome and farewell dinners.

For details, call Ruby at (410) 224-4555 or (410) 267-0511 or visit www.bestconnectiontravel.com, click on the menu item Join the Group and then scroll to photo of Normandy.

Price: $3,350, Deposit $450.

Normandy Tour advertisement

5

Veterans Affairs

by JJ Kelly Chairman Are you a “veteran”? You may be surprised to find out that according to US law, you might not be – at least for now. There are more than 200,000 National Guard and Reserve retirees denied that status under current law because their military careers of monthly drills and annual training did not include at least 180 days on active duty under so-called Title 10 orders. These men and women may draw retired pay, use TRICARE and shop at the local Post Exchange and commissary. But the laws do not consider them as veterans. That hopefully is about to change. Congress is moving forward this year to expand the definition of veteran to include Guard and Reserve members who served at least 20 years – enough to earn retirement benefits at age 60, even if never called to active duty. Most affected retirees served in the Cold War era, when it was not unusual to complete Guard and Reserve careers without going on active duty. This is unlikely today, given how Reserve Component forces have been deployed for wartime operations since 9/11. However, currently denied the honor of veteran status are many retired Guard members who served under other types of orders at Ground Zero on 9/11, after Hurricane Katrina, and the BP oil spill. Those affected point out that they aren’t seeking more benefits. They only want to be recognized as veterans under the law. They soon could be.

One organization who does not feel bound by the government’s definition of “veteran” is USAA – United Services Automobile Association. If you have paid any attention to their many commercials on TV of late, you know how they are eagerly recruiting “members” – veterans, spouses of military, children of military. One aspect of USAA’s activities involves their efforts in helping veterans make the transition from military to civilian life. It is estimated that between 2011 and 2016, about one million service members will separate from the military and make the transition to civilian life. Finding the right job is always difficult. Today’s economy makes it even more daunting. USAA, along with other companies, is offering advice and tools designed to ease the transition, as well as making veteran hiring a priority. This is not meant as an endorsement of USAA – rather a place to guide veterans and those leaving the military to go see what is out there.

Two final notes: The Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS) will hold their annual benefit on Thursday, November 7th, at The Army – Navy Country Club in Arlington, VA. Go to www.milarch.org/events for details — how to contribute. With such a wonderful mission, the AMS needs all the help they can get. Also, keep an eye out for the first ever USA Today Special Edition “Veterans Affairs: Saluting Our Troops” Commemorative Publication due out on Veterans Day, November 11th.

Finally, please remember to thank a vet or an active duty Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Airman or Coast Guardsman. They are a constant reminder that our cherished freedom is not free.

Anti Defamation

by Neil Cosgrove Chairman As I write this, the new T.V. season is beginning and as Anti-Defamation Chair I must confess to bracing myself.

Unfortunately, for all its progressivism and “political correctness,” the 21st century media, like Harper’s Weekly in the 19th century, finds that ethnic-based caricatures and defaming stereotypes sell. If you see something defaming or disparaging to the Irish people, make sure to make your feelings known in a phone call and letter to the appropriate party (ironically email and Twitter has given the written letter and phone call greater weight). Do though drop me an email at Neil.Cosgrove@aoh.com so if warranted we can coordinate a broader response from the Order.

In that context Brothers, I would like to draw your attention to a subtler form of defamation that our heritage is currently being assaulted by: information out of context. Someone once pointed out that effective propaganda is not a collection of lies, in fact, far from it; the effective propagandist

6

will embellish their distorted message with as much truth as possible to give it credibility. This is what we are seeing in such movies as “Gangs of New York” and TV shows such as “Hell on Wheels,” “Copper,” “Boardwalk Empire,” etc.

To take one example, the complex event known as the NY Draft Riot (which forms the backdrop for both Gangs of New York and Copper) has been grossly oversimplified as depicted by the media. That some Irish rioted and did horrendous acts is true, but overlooked is the fact that so did many others of the city’s poor community and many Irish Americans among the police and Catholic clergy were the only force for law during that tragic event. These depictions leave out information that the NY Irish community had suffered terribly for their enthusiastic show of patriotism as the start of the Civil War and now, for political and prejudicial reasons, they were being asked to shoulder an even more disproportionate share of the future sacrifice of the war. I will not

Irish American Heritage Month

by Neil Cosgrove Chairman Time Magazine, covering the New York State AOH Convention, reported the following: In a world preoccupied by other matters it frequently appears to good Hibernians that the impact of the Irish on U. S. history is belittled or neglected. In Rochester last week, where the Hibernians of New York State were holding convention, fiery charges were heard that U. S. schoolbooks are unfair to the Irish.

“We need a real American history!” shouted wispy, grey John McAdam. “The ones we now have are mostly just an additional chapter of English history. Why, 90% of our histories were written by New Englanders, and they certainly have no sympathy for the Irish.”

The errors charged by Historian McAdam were those of omission rather than commission. Among those individuals and groups whom he cited as suffering from insufficient treatment in U. S. school books were that few persons know that George Washington’s army was 35% Irish, or that 180,000 Irish Americans fought in the Civil War, that Timothy Murphy, one of General Morgan’s sharpshooters, figured importantly in the Battle of Saratoga or that Commodore John Barry, was the first man to receive a U. S. naval commission.

Now in case anyone is confused by the fact that this year’s New York State Convention was in Saratoga, let me point out that this is taken from a Time Magazine article published on September 6, 1937. Yet despite the passing of 76 years, how much has changed? Brother McAdam would certainly be surprised that American History curricula are no longer “mostly just an additional chapter of English history”; there are now new chapters on the role of African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, etc. However, Brother McAdam would certainly be disappointed that little has changed as regards Irish Americans. Where are the present day Brother McAdams among us? As Brother Mike McCormack, the literal and spiritual heir to Brother McAdam reminds us, “It is our Heritage … Defend it.” Irish American Heritage Month is a time for all of us to do our part to see that the contributions of Irish Americans to our great nation, both of yesterday and today, are recognized.

Hopefully, your Division’s plan for recognizing IAHM are well underway; if not, it is not too late. Reach out to your state officials now and ask them to have Irish American Heritage Month proclaimed in your state. Have your Historian provide some “talking points” or perhaps a draft resolution focusing on the contributions the Irish have made to America and your community in particular. Most politicians see resolutions such as this as a “no brainer” and will be highly receptive if your Division helps with the legwork. The key here is advance notice, try to have this request into your legislators snail mail or email at the beginning of the new year.

Continue to challenge your schools and public institutions on how they are recognizing Irish American Heritage Month and be ready to lend a hand. We as an Order get involved in a myriad of good causes; the preservation and understanding of our proud heritage should be one of them. Recognize too that your Division’s recognition of Irish American Heritage Month can be a tremendous opportunity for recruiting new members and getting good publicity on the roles of the Irish and Hibernians in the community.

If there are any present day John McAdams out there with ideas or suggestions please do not hesitate to contact me at Neil.Cosgrove@aoh.com. go into greater detail, there is an excellent article by our Order’s Historian on the New York State Website and in the July-August and this Sept-Oct. issues of the Digest that I encourage you all to read.

Of course when called on this distorted view, the media will provide responses that this is “only a movie or TV show” and not meant as a history lesson. That argument is disingenuous, considering that in the next breath they will boast of accurately recreating the feel of 19th century New York down to “the last detail.” The sad fact is that many people, particularly our young people, take what they see in programs such as these as the gospel truth.

How do we defend against this? First by educating ourselves and becoming aware of the full scope of the actual facts. As Hibernians we should all be proud of and cognizant of our heritage, history and traditions. The role of Historian in our Divisions is vital; make sure that your Division Historian is supported and has an active role in your meetings. Second, let’s not be afraid to speak up and present “the rest of the story,” particularly to the young people in our lives and the rest of our communities. Getting the word out that on the true facts and full context of events,

rather than just accepting history according to Scorsese is why we need to embrace efforts such as Irish American Heritage Month (shameless plug for my other article in this issue).

When it comes to our Heritage, the best defense is a good, well informed, offense. Let’s arm ourselves with the facts and get the positive message of what the Irish and Irish Americans have contributed out there and not surrender the message of what it means to be Irish American to the media.

Copy and Advertising Deadline for the November-December issue of the Hibernian Digest is November 1.

editorhiberniandigest@yahoo.com

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

Your help on Comprehensive Immigration Reform is still needed. Sincere thanks to the many Hibernian Brothers and Sisters who have already made calls to their Congressional Representatives on Comprehensive Immigration Reform. If you have yet to make the call, here are the simple, yet important, steps: 1) Please call your member of the House of Representatives today. The number for the Congressional Switchboard is (202) 224-3121.

2) Give your zip code when requested and ask to speak to your Congressman’s Office.

3) When directed to that Office, ask to speak to the Legislation Officer or Immigration Liaison for your Representative. If they are available, let them know that (a) You support Comprehensive Immigration Reform as a voter, who is Catholic, Irish American, and a Hibernian; (b) and “If Irish America feels that Comprehensive Immigration Reform is good for Irish America, it is good for the rest of Americans too!”

4) If they aren’t available, ask to leave a message stating: “I would like to hear from my Representative, your Chief of Staff or the Representative’s Immigration person as soon as possible.”

5) If your Representative indicates to you their support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, THANK THEM! If your Representative indicates opposition, ask them to reconsider that position and thank them for their time.

6) In conjunction with your call, please send a copy of the letter on this page in the Digest from our National President to the Representative, along with your own message as a constituent.

This issue remains crucial and requires action of every Hibernian. Since 1965, Irish people have struggled to come to the US. Nearly 50,000 Irish people, many with American-born families, have been unable to share great moments of joy, weddings, births and graduations, or great sadness, like illness or the burial of a loved one, with their families in Ireland.

Most of us know our Irish undocumented. They live in and are active members of our communities. They pay their taxes, support our Catholic Churches and schools and work hard in their adopted land. We may never get a better opportunity to correct the lack of legal paths to immigration for Irish people than we have now. If we are not part of the equation, we may have to wait another 20 years for a voice in the immigration reform process. I will be happy to provide you with any supporting information that you require.

I have spent the summer speaking to Hibernians and working with our Irish Coalition partners, the Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform, the Embassy of Ireland and Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, along with members of our Irish Catholic Clergy and lobbyists Manus Cooney and Bruce Morrison to reach as many Congressmen as possible.

Thanks to Geri Garvey from the Irish Apostolate USA www.usairish.org for her generosity in sharing ways that we can improve outreach on this issue and both Catholics and Irish Americans.

Please continue to support the affiliated Irish Immigration Centers of the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers www.ciic-usa.org by making a personal or Division donation, volunteering at your local Center or by attending their fundraisers. The work that they do for our Irish Seniors, young families and Irish immigrants is much needed. When Comprehensive Immigration Reform finally passes Congress, the Irish Immigration Centers will be on the front lines of guiding future Irish Americans.

Upcoming Fundraisers: October 4- Aisling Irish Community Center - 10th Annual Dinner Dance at Lake Isle Country Club honoring Brigid Flynn of Flynn Irish Dance School www.aislingcenter.org October 25 - The 25th Anniversary Emerald Isle Immigration Center Dinner Dance will honor Senator Charles ‘Chuck’ Schumer for his lifelong support in championing U.S. Irish Immigration at the Astoria World Manor in Astoria, Queens. www.eiic.org

National Immigration Chairman Dan Dennehy, NYS President Jim Burke and Schenectady AOH’s Michael Glenn enjoy AOH Ulster County’s Hooley On The Hudson in September.

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

BRENDAN MOORE, NATIONAL PRESIDENT

845-712-5463

! ! ! !

Dear Representative

!

!

!

!

!

!

Email:brendanaoh@yahoo.com

!

As the National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America Inc., the oldest and largest Catholic Irish American organization in the United States, I send you greetings from our many thousands of members and their families across the US-many of whom reside in our home state. I am writing you today to encourage your support for Comprehensive Reform of US Immigration, as proposed in the recently passed Senate Bill.

We feel that Comprehensive Reform will address our Nation’s need to realistically strengthen our borders, while at the same time identify those who would otherwise exist in the shadows of our society, a contentious and divisive issue whereby twelve million undocumented aliens live here and through fines, fees, and taxes contribute to our economy, even though they remain out-of-status for decades. Additionally, Comprehensive Reform can help to correct a fifty year old disparity created by the 1965 US Immigration and Nationality Act, which all but removed legal paths to US immigration for Irish Nationals.

The Irish were among the original settlers of this great land and Irish Americans have always defended their adopted land. Irish-born Medal of Honor winners vastly outnumber those of all other countries combined. Ireland has been a great ally in the War Against Terror with the Shannon Stopover and the innovations to US Homeland Security in Customs and Immigration at Ireland’s air and sea ports. We feel that these contributions and our confidence in the security and reform measures engendered in current proposed legislation lead us to confidently and respectfully request your support for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Yours truly,

Brendan Moore

"Ireland Unfree Shall Never Be At Peace."

New York New officers in the Bronx The Bronx County AOH elected new officers for a two-year term beginning in the summer of 2013. In a convention held at the Riverdale Steak House. Robert F. Nolan, president of Division 3-East Bronx, was elected to lead the Bronx Hibernians.

Also elected were VP John Ward, Grievance Committee Chairman Donald McDonald, Recording Secretary John Hyland, Sentinel Tim O’Donoghue, Treasurer John Quinn, Marshal Edward Foy, and Financial Secretary Christopher Butler.

Brothers Hyland, Quinn, Butler, O’Donoghue and Foy were re-elected to their offices.

Nolan said, “I am deeply proud to assume the office of President of such a well respected fraternal organization like the Ancient Order of Hibernians, which can trace its founding to 1836. There are many challenges facing our County: rebuilding our divisions, educating the public about the Bronx Hibernians and what we stand for and working together with our Catholic Church and schools to determine where we as Hibernians can be most helpful.”

The Bronx County Hibernians sponsor an annual dinner in the fall where prominent Irish-Catholics are honored for their service to the Irish, a communion breakfast in the spring and coordinate the distribution with each division of the Commodore John Barry medals to students who excel in American History at graduation.

Newly elected Bronx County President Robert F. (Bob) Nolan, second right, is congratulated by National Director Chip McLean, center, who also swore in the newly elected officers. (L-R) Ed Foy (Marshal), John Ward (Vice President), McLean, Nolan and Jerry O’Connell, past president.

7

Maryland

by Tim Harvey, State President For years, a faithful group from Div 3 in Towson have been meeting every month, rain, shine or snow, for Irish Road Bowling. Led by Jack Smith, who is the keeper of all things road bowling, and helped by Steve Riegger, and “Iron Mike” McConnell, the group is often joined by the Brennan boys and Steve Riegger Jr or Ed Crawford and Leo Welsh. On June 23rd the First Maryland AOH Inter-Divisional Road Bowling Tournament took place. Members from Divs 4 and 5 in Baltimore City, Div 1 of Catonsville and a hardy team from the LAOH took part in the friendly competition. A good time was had by all who ventured out on the half-mile course. The best bowler and winning team took home trophies to mark their accomplishments and the entire group joined for lunch afterward at An Poitin Stil. Many are looking forward to next year’s tournament and are joining in the monthly matches for practice.

July 26-27 brought together the Maryland AOH and LAOH for the Biennial State Convention in Solomon’s Island, MD. The convention opened with an Aloha themed icebreaker where all had a chance to meet old and new friends. The morning brought a continental breakfast supplied by the Carroll County LAOH followed by day-long individual meeting sessions. I thank National Director Jere Cole and Past National President Joe Roche for attending the convention meeting. Director Cole provided an update on the Order at the National level and Chairman Roche extended the greetings of the National President and spoke on the Re-Unite Ireland Campaign and the Barry Memorial dedication on May 10, 2014.

The business session covered a number of topics, reports from committee break-out sessions and included passage of resolutions in support of the Re-Unite Ireland effort and the Vietnam Memorial in Ireland. Funds were also appropriated for Project St.

Maryland AOH-LAOH at Inter-divisional Road Bowling Tournament.

Patrick at the National and local levels. Director Cole swore in the re-elected AOH Maryland State officers. Following Mass and a cocktail hour, Jere Cole and LAOH National President Maureen Shelton addressed the AOH-LAOH members and their families at a banquet. The gathering enjoyed Richard Dodds from the Calvert Marine Museum who gave an interesting talk on the local history.

The surprise of the night was naming Baltimore City Division 5 member, Tom Bell, as the Maryland 2013 Hibernian of the Year for his example of truly living our motto of friendship, unity and Christian charity. Many commented that there could not have been a better choice. Congrats go out to Tom and to the new Maryland LAOH State President, Cyrile Sincock.

Missouri Hibernian scholarships awarded In Kansas City, Missouri On August 8, The Most Reverend Robert Finn, a member of the AOH Padraig Pearse Div 1, Kansas City, Missouri, presented $500 checks to each of the four winners of the 2013 Irish history essay competition. The Pearse Division annually awards four scholarships based on community, church and school involvement and a 500-word essay.

This year members judged 21 entries, and in August Bishop Finn presided over the ceremony along with Division President, Steve Lynch. Eligibility is for students attending Catholic high schools in the Kansas City region with the checks made out to the high school the student will attend. Essay topics this year ranged from Grace O’Malley, Ireland’s Pirate Queen, to a report on the division’s namesake, Padriag Pearse.

Irish history essay contest scholarship winners were, from left, Brenna Killen, Erin O’Connell, Gabrielle Chirpich and John Perlik with The Most Reverend Robert Finn.

Save the Date. . .

THE MARCH FOR LIFE WASHINGTON, D.C. WEDNESDAY JANUARY 22, 2014 8

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

Massachusetts

by Bill Sullivan The AOH in Massachusetts has been on the move with numerous events that have taken place over the summer months or will take place during the fall of 2013. Here is a roundup of some AOH happenings in the Bay State John Boyle O’Reilly Memorial Exercises: The Annual John Boyle O’Reilly Memorial Exercises was held on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline at the grave of John Boyle O’Reilly. AOH and LAOH State Chaplin, the Rev. William Waters OSA, celebrated a Mass at the grave of this great Irish patriot. AOH State President, Richard Wall and LAOH State President Paula Paoli, placed a wreath on the grave following the Mass. A reception followed the Mass and Memorial Exercises at the home of Division 14 AOH in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Lady of Knock Mass: On Sunday, August 18th, Hibernians from across Massachusetts gathered at Saint John’s Church in Clinton, MA for the annual Lady of Knock Mass, sponsored by Division 8 LAOH, Clinton. Following the Mass, a short prayer service was held at the Lady of Knock Shrine on the grounds of Saint John’s Church. A social with refreshments followed in Saint John’s parish center.

Irish Consul General Leaves Boston: Michael Lonergan, Consul General from the Republic of Ireland to Boston, for the past four years, has been transferred to Dublin and has been replaced by the Vice Consul to New York, Brendan O Caollai. Michael Lonergan has been a very good friend to the AOH and the Irish Community of Greater Boston and New England. An overflowing reception at Skipjack’s in Boston, hosted by Division 8 AOH, Lawrence was held in his honor on Friday, August 2, 2013.

Division 1, Roslindale: Division 1 of Roslindale hosted an AOH Red Sox Night at Fenway Park in Boston on Tuesday, September 17th. Members of AOH and LAOH Divisions throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire are expected to be in attendance at this annual ½ way to Saint Patrick’s Day event.

Division 1, Newburyport: Division 1 AOH in Newburyport hosted a cruise off the coast of this historic seaport in the north eastern part of the Bay State during Yankee Homecoming week in late July, and the Division marched in the Annual Yankee Homecoming Parade as well on August 4th. Both events were well attended by many Hibernians and friends of Division 1.

Division 8, Lawrence: Division 8’s Hibernian Family & Friends Outing was held on Sunday, September 15, 2013 at the Greater Lawrence Community Boating Grounds, in South Lawrence, MA. Division Chaplain, the Rev. William Waters OSA, celebrated a Mass at Noon on the grounds of the Boating program. Boat rides on the historic Merrimack River, games, music, great food, refreshments and boatloads of fun were in store for all who attended. The Division is also planning a day trip to the Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT in November.

Division 19, Lowell: Division 19 of Lowell held their Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Monday, September 16th at the Four Oaks Country Club in Dracut, MA. On Saturday, September 21st Division 19 AOH and LAOH in Lowell hosted Ireland’s “Happy Man” Cahal Dunne at the Lowell Lodge of Elks.

Division 9, Plymouth: The Father John Murphy Division 9 AOH of Plymouth, MA on Sunday, October 6, 2013 will host a Memorial Mass at Saint Anthony’s Church in Cohasset for those lost aboard the Brig St. John, which sank off the coast of Cohasset in 1849.

Following the Memorial Mass, a wreath laying ceremony will take place at the Cohasset Central Cemetery. In 1914 the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians of Massachusetts, erected a twenty foot Celtic Cross as a memorial to the unidentified victims at this cemetery.

Division 36, Worcester: Division 36 AOH in Worcester has announced that entertainment will take place every Friday and Saturday during the fall in their pub, the Fiddlers Green, at the Worcester Hibernian Cultural Center. All visiting Hibernians are welcome to drop by and join in the fun. …and that’s the way we see it in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts - God Bless!

Connecticut

By Phil Gallagher Two of Connecticut’s AOH Divisions celebrate anniversaries this fall. Meriden Div. 1 celebrated its’ 90th anniversary with a gala outing on September 7. However, the spirit of Hibernianism has actually been alive and well for much longer in Meriden since it first started hosting State Conventions back in 1874. In fact, Meriden has hosted 12 State Conventions, which is more than any other Connecticut city and the men and women of Meriden will go to the well again in 2015 when they host the next biennial State Convention. Since 1969 the AOH of Meriden have presented two annual $2,000 scholarships to graduates of Meriden High School. This significant annual donation is one of the largest in the City of Meriden.

Starting in October the John P. Holland Division will also begin a series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of their charter. Like Meriden, the roots of Hibernianism in New London go back a lot farther into history. New London has been a center of Hibernian activity since the 1870’s when the St. Patrick’s Day Parades hosted by Div 1. of New London were attended by Hibernian Divisions from all over eastern Connecticut and Rhode Island. The New London celebration will include a Mass followed by an Irish breakfast and displays of Irish History and culture on October 27. On November 2 a formal Dinner will conclude the commemoration. All profits from these events will go to the St. Joseph’s School Scholarship. In August the Men of the John P. Holland Division had participated with their Chaplain, Father Mark O’Donnell in the first procession of the Feast of the Assumption between St. Mary and St. Joseph Church. Earlier in August, New London was the scene of the North American Curragh Association Regatta. This event included Curragh Clubs from Boston, Albany, Philadelphia and Annapolis.

John Barry has not been neglected by Connecticut either. Jim Gallagher gave a presentation on the Commodore on September 17th to the Irish History Roundtable of New Haven. On September 14th, the Fairfield County AOH and LAOH once again honored the anniversary of Barry’s death with elaborate and meaningful ceremonies at Perry Green in Southport.

IRISH HARP PIN Goldtone 2’’

$15.00 postpaid (MD residents add 6% sales tax)

BLACKTHORN WALKING STICK GOLF PUTTER

This annual event has grown each year and sets a standard for Hibernian Divisions everywhere to follow. This year’s program included a military color guard, military firing squad, the pipes and drums of the Gaelic American Club of Fairfield and a keynote address by Commander Regina Gallagher Marengo USN. Hibernians everywhere should feel proud of the effort made by the Fairfield County Board to honor this great Irish American hero.

On a picture perfect late summers day at Bobby Sands Circle in Hartford the 32nd annual commemoration of the deaths of the ten Hunger Strikers was vividly conducted

by Waterbury and State Freedom For All Ireland Chairman, Joe Flaherty and his Committee, and an enthusiastic group of participants. The program opened with the singing of the Soldiers Song and the Star Spangled Banner, which was followed by a mixture of rousing speeches and heartfelt poetry in honoring those who had made the ultimate sacrifice in 1981.

The sympathies of all Connecticut Hibernians go out to the John F. Kennedy Division of Bridgeport on the untimely death of their fine chaplain, the Reverend Dr. Brian Shaw who was the pastor of St. Ann’s Parish in Milford at the time of his death. Father Shaw was born in Meriden and will be missed by a wide circle of people whose lives he touched.

Money was raised for charity at Connecticut’s Third Annual Softball Tournament held at Foote Field in Milford. Left, Jay King, Thomas A. Gildee Div. 3 Danbury, holds the trophy with Tom Keane, John F Kennedy Div. 1 president and the Connecticut state vice president.

American Highlander Kilt Company “Home of the $99 Kilt” Quality Kilts, Affordable Prices

$85.00 postpaid (MD residents add 6% sales tax)

BLACKTHORN WALKING STICK $55.00 postpaid (MD residents add 6% sales tax)

Boston AOH hosts reception for consul: Division 8 AOH, Lawrence, Massachusetts recently hosted a reception at Skipjacks in Boston for the Irish Consul General to Boston, Michael Lonergan, who has been assigned to Dublin after serving four years at the Consulate in Boston. Pictured, from left, are Bob Collins, Freedom for All Ireland Chairman of Division 8; Division 8 AOH President Bill Sullivan; Patricia C. Burke of Lawrence; AOH Essex County President Jack Lahey, also a member of Division 8 in Lawrence and Attorney John Foley of Boston.

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

A portion of the sales price will be donated to The Commodore John Barry Project.

TRI STATE DISTRIBUTORS P.O. Box 16313 Baltimore, MD 21210 410-370-1594 Delivery in one week. Quantity inquiries accepted.

www.americanhighlander.com Custom Pure Wool Kilts for Pipe Bands Kilt Rentals for Special Events Women’s & Children’s Kilts Sporrans, Hose, Belts & Buckles Flasks, Kilt Pins, Flashes, Sgian Dhubs Call Toll Free (855) 962-7551 Hibernian Owned - 10% Discount for AOH Members 9

FREEDOM FOR ALL IRELAND continued from page 1

tant work for human rights in Northern Ireland. Significantly this year we continued to lobby hard for the release of Marian Price from detention through putting pressure on the relevant authorities and bring her imprisonment to attention of international monitors in New York, Geneva and Strasbourg. Marian Price is now on bail. The support of the AOH has enabled RW (UK) to continue our policy and lobbying work on behalf of political prisoners in Northern Ireland confronting infringements of their human rights.

These may be unpopular causes viewed by many but all prisoners have human rights which require protection.

Support for Cairde Strabane Republican Ex-prisoners Group.

It is really hard for me to put into the correct words, the gratitude that we have as an organisation for the kind support that we have received from the AOH and LAOH in America over the past few years and the very positive impact that their support has had on the development of our project and our community.

So in simple layman terms the support that Cairde has received over the past few years has been utterly invaluable. This support has allowed Cairde to develop a new community based programme, which is aimed at creating a real sense of hope and opportunity for the Ex-prisoners community and the wider communities of the Strabane area.

Since receiving funding from the AOH – LAOH in America, Cairde has been able to develop one of the largest Community Garden & Allotment facilities in one of the most socially and economically deprived areas within the Northwest Region of Ireland. This new community facility is unique in its approach to health programmes as it develops a real sense of ownership for the individual participant and a place of social learning for the wider community of the area.

For the past 15 years the Ex-prisoners community of Strabane have played an active part in developing their communities. We continue to seek change for the better, whether that is Culturally, Socially, Economically or Politically. For this reason many Ex-prisoners have been to the forefront in developing their local community based organisations. Today our organisation continues with that ethos of helping and supporting our communities in reaching their full potential as Irish Citizens. By developing the Community Garden & Allotment Project we again lead the way in developing a unique programme that is having a real and measurable impact in the lives of the individual participants and the wider community of Strabane area.

This is why we have so much gratitude for the support we have received from the AOH – LAOH in America because without that support or project simple would not have reached its full potential, and for that we are truly thankful.

Coiste na nIarchimí Once again Coiste na nIarchimí wishes to send our thanks to you all for the unstinting assistance you have given over the years to us on behalf of all of the former IRA prisoners who were held in jails throughout the conflict. The Good Friday agreement back in 1998 seemed to signal a new era for all of us here in Ireland. Unfortunately this has not turned out to be the case for many of us.

Recent research by Queen’s University in Belfast has identified that approximately 25,000 people passed through the jails during the war and today many of those former activists of the IRA are still in very difficult situations. ( The British say they did not keep records of numbers imprisoned!!) In recent years your assistance has enabled our network to engage in assisting individual former political activists and their families with emotional and some with addiction issues.

In recent months legislation has been brought in to deny employment opportunities to former political prisoners in the North of Ireland and soon there is to be similar legislation in the South. It is a fact that the majority of the Republican ex-prisoner community has major difficulties in accessing appropriate employment and in fact has very high unemployment rates. We attempt to challenge these legislative hurdles but we are hampered by the lack of appropriate funding for these legal challenges. Your assistance on these matters would be appreciated.

I had the pleasure of meeting your last delegation to Ireland at Easter – good people and easy to get on with. I sincerely hope we can at least maintain our fraternal relationship, our friendships and our commonality of interest in securing our political goal of a united country - established on the principles of equality of citizenship for all.

Go raibh maith agaibh arís as bhur gcuidiú ( Thank you all for all of your help in the past.)

Le meas Michael Culbert, Director, Coiste na nIarchimí Mary’s Gift As Executive Director of Mary’s Gift Irish Language Foundation, I am extremely grateful to the AOH and the LAOH for their continued support of our Foundation. This year I was honored to attend the NJAOH State Convention, and to receive from Mr. Sean Pender, President of NJAOH, a very generous donation for our Foundation. The sole purpose of Mary’s Gift Irish Language Foundation is to provide financial support for schools in the north of Ireland that teach exclusively through the medium of the Irish language.

We are proud to be a private and independent, “501(c)(3)” public charity managed exclusively by volunteers; all donations are used solely to support recipient schools or pay Foundation expenses.

Through its mission, the Foundation supports a fundamental element of the Good Friday Agreement: to encourage and facilitate Irish medium education and achieve parity with the current provision for integrated education. Unfortunately, despite fifteen years of effort in the North, this goal has yet to be achieved. Worse, deep-seeded opposition to Irish medium education continues to exist in certain communities in the North, and among their elected representatives, inhibiting progress.

10

Within the past two years, Mary’s Gift has provided material financial support to Bunscoil (“grammar school”) na mBeann, Naíscoil (“nursery school” ) Shliabh Fuait, and Coláiste Feirste. Our support for Naíscoil Shliabh Fuait helped the school “bridge the gap” and achieve a benchmark in fundraising, which entitled the school to recognition by, and funding from, the North’s Department of Education. Coláiste Feirste is the only Irish-immersion high school in the six counties. As such, its existence and success is a critical component of the entire Irish-immersion scheme in the six counties. And yet, among other challenges, Coláiste Feirste currently has enrolled 562 students in a space suitable for 300.

Today there are over 4,000 children enrolled in 70 Irish-medium schools in the North.

By the terms of the GFA and otherwise, they have a right to expect to grow up in a country that will nurture them, support them, secure their rights, and celebrate their abilities and heritage. Mary’s Gift Irish Language Foundation remains dedicated to their cause.

Le meas, Áine Ní Shionnaigh Executive Director, Mary’s Gift Irish Language Foundation, Inc. St. Patrick’s Centre The Saint Patrick Centre is located beside Saint Patrick’s Grave in Downpatrick and the only permanent exhibition in the world dedicated to the memory of Ireland’s Patron Saint. It was built with European and American support in 2000 to help bring international visitors back to the north of Ireland after over 30 years of conflict, to grow the local tourist economy and therefore underpin the peace process.

‘In the years that followed’ says Centre Director Dr Tim Campbell, ‘we found that Patrick as someone from Britain who became the Patron Saint of Ireland can be a used as a role model for bringing all of our communities together.’ The Centre now has a popular education program which explores children’s common Christian heritage and brings people together irrespective of their faith, politics or ability.

‘The Ancient Order of Hibernians have supported the Centre’s Education Program for a number of years and their trips to Ireland have come to include a visit to see our work. Their generous contribution this year will mean that we can continue to deliver this much needed service to even more local children and communities.

The Spirit of Saint Patrick was certainly evident on 29th March at the Saint Patrick Centre, County Down, when members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians from all over America joined a cross community Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate the 15th Local parish priest Canon Sean Rogan and his Episcopalian counterpart Dean Henry Hull lead the Thanksgiving Service at the Saint Patrick Centre with other local clerics from all denominations. Local politicians who contributed included SDLP Member of Parliament Margaret Ritchie, Official Unionist MLA John McAlister and Sinn Fein MLA Chris Hazard, all of whom expressed their hopes for a future of greater cooperation and peace using cross community figures like Saint Patrick.

The AOH then participated in the Easter Service at Saint Patrick’s Church where they helped Canon Rogan officiate the Stations of the Cross. Finally, as an act of annual solidarity they joined members from all faiths and communities and carried the cross through the streets of Downpatrick and the procession ended with a prayer for peace on the Steps of the Saint Patrick Centre.

Dr Tim Campbell, Director, St. Patrick’s Centre, Downpatrick

Sean Pender, George Mitchell and Mark Thompson.

RFJ Relatives for Justice were once again very pleased to receive and host the AOH & LAOH delegation as part of their visit to Ireland. Every year this is a special event in our calendar and one that we particularly look forward to. It is a great and humbling privilege to work with everyone connected to this wonderful organization and over the years we have made many friends. Most of all there is a deep sense of solidarity beyond that friendship that reinvigorates and pushes the struggle for truth and justice forward. And this has become a collective struggle where Irish-Americans don’t just visit - they play a crucial role.

Without the support of the AOH & LAOH Relatives for Justice would not have been able to attend and provide testimony to Congress. The solidarity and collective struggle of people in the ensured the hearings and created the context for these. The resources and funds made available enabled RFJ to be physically present to testify. Placing the issue of egregious human rights violations and civil liberty abuses in an international framework such as a Congressional Hearing, and to the wider US public, creates the context for accountability. These positive and progressive actions by US citizens enable a light to be shone into dark places where sinister forces seek to evade culpability. The more we shine that light the more we facilitate the inescapable conditions for truth.

If over this past decade we were to sum up the value of the AOH &LAOH it would be that they have never let that light diminish. Rather they have shone it brighter with a courage and conviction to follow it into the darkest of recesses and to stand firm on the core principles of democracy where truth and justice flourish. We need ask no more. We are eternally grateful. May our collective work continue and our solidarity extend. We have much to still achieve.

Mark Thompson, Director, Relatives for Justice National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

AMBASSADOR continued from page 1

DC President Ralph Day initiated the welcome to Ambassador Anderson, followed in turn by DC Ladies President Gail Dapolito. National AOH President Brendon Moore, who provided Ambassador Anderson with an AOH commemorative 175th Anniversary coin, and National LAOH President Maureen Shelton both welcomed her warmly.

Ambassador Anderson was introduced to the dinner by National Press Club President Keane who expressed her honor as a female president of the Club to welcome the first female Ambassador from Ireland to the U.S. Ms. Keane serves as the 106th president of the Press Club (founded in 1908 to serve the press corps in DC and now boasts membership of over 4,000 members).

Ambassador Anderson spoke eloquently to her guests. She expressed deep thanks to the United States for their leadership and support for the Good Friday Accord, as well as our immigration reform efforts underway. The Ambassador welcomed Irish Americans to The Gathering and continued support of Irish business, friendship and culture that foster our bond. She expressed her desires to increase the association the Embassy has with the Irish community, especially the AOH/LAOH. She looks forward to the opportunities ahead to continue and promote our heritage. Ambassador Anderson is the 17th Ambassador of the Irish Republic to the United States of America. She had served in the Embassy in Washington the 1980s and reflected on how much has happened in the intervening years. She has served in the Irish Foreign Service for over 40 years and brings vast experience to the post including Ambassador to France and most recently to the United Nations.

The evening concluded with entertainment by Mr. Brian Gaffney, a celebrated DC Irish troubadour, as numerous guests lined up to pose for photographs with Her Excellency.

The dinner was a huge success and showed an enormous AOH/LAOH welcome to the Ambassador.

National President Brendan Moore’s speech at the National Press Club This has been a very busy weekend here in Washington, DC, both for the local Irish-American community, for the AOH and LAOH, and for those who have traveled from other states to join with us all in promoting the interests of Irish America. But most importantly, we have come together tonight to be part of the Hibernian welcome being extended to Ireland’s ambassador Anne Anderson.

And it is good for us to be here! The city of Washington is both the focus and the locus of Irish American interests and aspirations. For us, the Embassy of Ireland is the nerve center that registers reactions, provides points of contact and direction, and represents the priorities and concerns of both the Irish nation and the Irish Diaspora here in the United States.

I am happy to inform you that in my experience, ties with the Irish government have never been closer. Over the years we have been able to evolve a partnership based on mutual respect, support and collaboration. This is due, in large part, to the attentiveness of your predecessor, Michael Collins, as well as to the talent and receptiveness of your consuls and consular staffs throughout the United States.

So it is with tremendous confidence and conviction that we look now to join forces with your embassy to achieve passage of comprehensive immigration reform that will, in part, legalize tens of thousands of undocumented Irish here presently, while at the same time ensuring a future legal flow of Irish through an annual visa program such as that proposed by Senator Chuck Schumer.

Likewise, there is tremendous interest among us with regard to the six counties. There is an obvious and immediate need for an integrated all-Ireland economy to replace the present redundancies encumbered in two tax regimes, two currencies, two legal systems, and two competing economies on the one island that is Ireland. Recently, at the New York City symposium held on the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday agreement, former Senator George Mitchell stated that the agreement is presently in a state best described as “fragile.” We concur that there must be a renewed and discernible sense of momentum in advancing the vision and the promise of full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. While we commend the work of the North-South Ministerial Council and the GFA Implementation Committee, we now urge them to re-double their efforts with evergreater vim, vigor and determination.

Madam Ambassador, everything about you indicates that you are well suited to the challenges ahead. Your stellar career of 41 years in Ireland’s Foreign Service speaks volumes about your many skills and accomplishments. Your 1995 posting as first female Irish Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, was followed by a pivotal assignment to the European Union in Brussels in 2001. Then, starting in 2005, you served with distinction as Ireland’s first female ambassador to France, which led to your appointment for four years as Ireland’s permanent representative to United Nations headquarters in New York.

Ten or 15 years ago, an Irish folk group had a successful debut in the states. They were from an area not far from my own dad’s town of Ferbane, in county Offaly — not far either from where you were born in Clonmel, Tipperary. That group was called “Best Foot Forward,” and one of their most popular hits was a rousing, welcoming tune entitled, “You Couldn’t Have Come At A Better Time.”

(Don’t worry. I won’t sing it!)

Madam Ambassador, on behalf of the Ancient Order of Hibernians In America, I want you to know that you couldn’t have come at a better time and we are convinced that in appointing you as its ambassador to the United states, Ireland has indeed put its best foot forward.

Congratulations!

Washington DC

By Ralph D. Day, President, DC State Board Hibernians Say Farewell to Ambassador Michael Collins…Welcome to Ambassador Anne Anderson Earlier this year the State Board of the District of Columbia was informed by the Irish Embassy that His Excellency, Michael Collins, who served as Ambassador of Ireland to the United States for six years, would be departing in August. During his tenure as Ambassador, His Excellency has reached out to the Irish community in the District of Columbia, and in particular to the AOH. During the last two months of his tenure there were many “farewell” events, several which included invitations to the AOH. Of particular note was the official State Department farewell reception at the State Department.

For those who have never seen them, the official diplomatic receiving rooms at the Department are spectacular.

I was honored to represent the AOH at this event. The AOH also received invitations to the farewell reception at the Maryland Governor’s mansion, and the final reception at the Irish Ambassador’s residence.

As our State Board Convention was approaching in September, the State Board approached the Embassy to request the incoming Ambassador of Ireland be our guest speaker for the final banquet. This request was granted and on September 7 we held our State Board Convention and Banquet. The results of the State Board Convention are reported elsewhere in this Digest.

Ambassador Anne Anderson is the 17th Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland to the United States, and the first female so designated. The theme of the banquet was “Welcome to the Nation’s Capital.” This was the first official public appearance of the new Ambassador. We chose the National Press Club as our venue for two very important reasons. First is that our Division #1, the Commodore John Barry Division meets there and; second is that the current President of the National Press Club is their first female President. To showcase the breadth of the Irish community within the District of Columbia, the AOH and LAOH of the District reached out to other Irish and Irishcentric organizations.

More than four other organizations provided official delegations while members of several others attended.

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

Members of the District of Columbia State Board Welcome Ambassador Anne Anderson, from left, Keith Carney (Past National Director), John McInerney (President JFK Division), Mattieu Greenwood (State Board Treasurer), Ralph D. Day (DC AOH State Board President), Ambassador Anderson, Dr. Devine (partially hidden), Steve Brennan, Chip Lacey (President, Commodore John Barry Division – mostly hidden), Mike Delaney (President, Sons of Aidan Division), Fr. John Hurley (State Chaplain), Larry Dorney John Patrick Walsh (DC AOH State Board Vice-President) and Jack O’Brien.

Brother’s Keith Carney (past National Director) and John Patrick Walsh (Vice-President, DC State Board) were named co-chairs of the convention and banquet, with Gail Dapolito (President, DC State Board, LAOH) as the LAOH chair. Brother Carney served as master of ceremonies for the evening. Brother George Rogers (past President, DC State Board) entertained on the uilleann pipes and penny whistle during the cocktail reception hour. The Irish Dairy Board supplied a wonderful array of Irish Cheeses. The O’Neill-James School of Irish Dance began the entertainment at the banquet, including getting the audience off their feet to learn an Irish Shamrock dance and signing Happy Birthday to Mr. John Cosgrove who celebrates his 95th birthday this month. Mr. Cosgrove is the quintessential Irish-American and the Past President of the National Press Club.

Once dinner was served, the official remarks began.

Brother Ralph D. Day (President, DC State Board) initiated the welcome to Ambassador Anderson, followed in turn by Gail Dapolito, National AOH President Brendon Moore, who provided background on Ambassador Anderson’s career, and National LAOH President

Maureen Shelton. Following the AOH/LAOH welcome, Brother Carney introduced Mr. John Cosgrove to initiate the National Press Club welcome. Mr. Cosgrove introduced Angela Greiling Keane, President of the National Press Club, who in turn introduced Ambassador Anne Anderson; and history was made.

Ambassador Anderson expressed deep thanks to the United States for their leadership and support for the Good Friday accord, as well as our immigration reform efforts underway. Ambassador Anderson welcomed Irish Americans to The Gathering and continued support of Irish business, friendship and culture that foster our bond.

She desires to increase the association the Embassy has with the Irish community, especially the AOH/LAOH. She looks forward to the opportunities ahead to continue and promote our heritage.

The evening concluded with entertainment by Mr. Brian Gaffney, a local celebrated Irish troubadour. The banquet was a huge hit!

We all welcome Her Excellency, Ambassador Anne Anderson, the 17th Ambassador of the Irish Republic to the United States of America.

11

Washington, DC

By Ralph D. Day, President, DC State Board State Board comes back from vacation with a Bang With the summer over, the AOH in the Archdiocese of Washington are getting back energized and better than ever. Whether coming back from our vacations at the beach, or even Ireland, we have returned and the first order of business was our State Convention held at St. Matthew’s Cathedral here in Washington, DC. Over the past two years, we, the AOH have re-established a wonderful relationship with the LAOH and truly consider our organizations inseparable. Earlier this year we joined forces to showcase the AOH/LAOH to the world as they toured the Irish Embassy during the European Union’s Open House. We continued with having a combine State Convention.

Our Convention had the usual reports from Officers and Divisions. We elected Officers for the next two years. I was honored to be re-elected as President, and delighted that John Patrick Walsh is again Vice President and Mathieu Greenwood was re-elected as Treasurer. Our new Secretary is Mr. Jim Keenan, from Division #1, the Commodore John Barry Division. Our Chaplain is Fr. John Hurley of St. Matthew’s Cathedral.

Our National President, Brendan Moore, installed the Officers.

The ladies joined us for our joint program, which featured Dr. Timothy Meagher, Catholic University Archivist, who spoke on the Irish Archives at Catholic University. Most of his comments were on the Fenian movement. He mentioned that the CU Archives are the official archives of the AOH, but he has very little. He was informed that the National President was in atten-

Photo Caption: National President, Brendan Moore, Inducts District of Columbia State Board Officers, from left, J J Kelly (Veterans Affairs, Rituals and Degrees, Hibernian Charities), National President Brendan Moore, Ralph D. Day (President, DC State Board), Fr. John Hurley (Chaplain, DC State Board), John Patrick Walsh (Vice-President, DC State Board), Patrick Sturdy (National General Counsel), Jim Keenan (Secretary, DC State Board) and Mathieu Greenwood (Treasurer, DC State Board).

dance and heard his plea for more AOH archives.

National Presidents Brendan Moore and Maureen Shelton addressed the combined convention and encouraged us to renew our dedication to the AOH/LAOH and encourage our youthful Celtic Brethren and Sisters to join us. As an organization we cannot grow without new blood and new ideas. They both noted the youth that are on our State Board, including our Vice-President and Treasurer.

Returning to individual sessions we were joined by members of the Virginia and Maryland AOH. They had been specifically invited to attend and hear the reports of the National Board Members present. Mr. J.J. Kelly spoke on Veterans Affairs, Hibernian Charities (especially the hunger project), and Rituals and Degrees. He noted that less than 30% of all Hibernians have their major degree. Mr. Sean Pender spoke on the Freedom for All Ireland effort and the success it has had over the

last years and encourage our members to participate in the annual trip to Ireland, as well as contribute to the FFAI Christmas Appeal. We also learned that he is running for National Director. We heard from Jim Lawrecy from South Carolina who is running for National Director. Our final speaker was Mr. Patrick Sturdy. As most know, Brother Sturdy is our National Legal Counsel, but also head of the Constitution Committee.

He informed us that the entire committee will meet immediately after the National President’s Testimonial Dinner to go over every input they have received. He also assured us that all ideas will be brought to the floor for a vote.

We had a great, if short convention. I am proud to be a Hibernian and even prouder to serve as President of the State Board of the District of Columbia. I hope to see all of you at the Testimonial Dinner.

West Virginia

By Sean Duffy, Bishop Whelan Div. 1 Bishop Whelan Div 1, Wheeling, West Virginia held its 4th annual Irish Road Bowling Ohio Valley Championship on September 7, 2013. It is currently the best attended tournament in the state, as 343 people on 53 teams competed in 2012. The day featured food, music and fun.

Peter Ryan, Irish Deputy Consul General from New York City visited Wheeling in mid-July. He met with Bishop Whelan Division representatives at the Celtic Cross monument at Wheeling’s Heritage Port, where he learned that the cross was designed to celebrate the Irish of Wheeling and the Upper Ohio Valley who built the National Road and the B&O Railroad.

Members of the Bishop Whelan Division also conducted a canned food drive Photo 1: Irish Deputy Consul General Peter Ryan (left) on July 20 at Riesbeck’s with Father Jeremiah McSweeney at Wheeling’s Celtic Food Market in the Elm Cross, the largest in the state.

Grove neighborhood of Wheeling on a wet and stormy Saturday. The generosity of the customers allowed the collection and delivery of a full pick-up truck of food to the Catholic Charities Food Pantry on 18th Street in Wheeling. The Pantry was in need of food at this time of year due to the drop-off in food drives conducted by the local parochial schools over the summer.

12

Tom Murphy (left) and Tom Connelly of Bishop Whelan Div. 1 conduct a food drive for the local Catholic Food Pantry at Reisbeck’s Market in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Illinois

The Michael P. Keeley Div. 1, St Clair Co., Illinois, held its 33rd annual golf tournament on June 8. The tournament was renamed to the “Foz” Ryan Memorial Irish Open Golf Tournament, in memory of its originator, Richard “Foz” Ryan. The tournament was held at Yorktown Golf Course, Belleville. Twenty foursomes participated and the event had its most successful year ever. All of the money raised will be distributed to local charities, including the Illinois Special Olympics. As always, everyone enjoyed themselves.

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

Pennsylvania

New Jersey Past NJ AOH vice President Kevin Weldon recently received this letter from Philadelphia AOH Division 39 and Omagh Basketball Coach Eamonn Daly thanking the AOH for our support of the Omagh Basketball program. It is our hope that it will serve to inspire more to donate and make the planned 2014 return trip of the Omagh team to the US a reality. Donations to the yearly Christmas Appeal can be earmarked by your division or board for the Omagh team.

Omagh Coach and AOH Div 39 member Eamon Daly.

On behalf of Omagh Thunder Basketball Club and the Omagh community that supports the club, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Ancient Order of Hibernians for their generous donations.

All coaches and officers of the Omagh Basketball Club, including myself, Brian Durkin and Aidan Bradley, are volunteer members, who donate our time and passion to foster the goals of the club.

In trying to attract young people from all sections of our community, we strive to keep our membership fees to an absolute minimum, which means we are increasingly reliant on funding from other sources, making the financial contributions received from the AOH truly invaluable.

The foundational belief of the Omagh Thunder Basketball Club is that the children of Northern Ireland are the hope for a peaceful, united future. The club is proud to be a contributing factor to the solution of this country’s challenges. We teach and encourage positive, productive and peaceful actions through our example, and use basketball to reach children through the excitement of sport.

We bring together children and their families, from Catholic, Protestant and other communities, to work toward a common goal.

Thanks to the support of the AOH we have a first-class venue for staging matches and training sessions at the Station Centre in Omagh. In 2009, we again received generous support of the AOH, which enabled us to purchase an electronic scoreboard. The continuing financial generosity and moral support of the AOH has allowed the club to expand to a far greater extent than we could have done on our own. In 2010 and 2012, the Omagh Thunder Basketball Club won the Omagh Youth Club of the Year Award. Winning the award was an honor and a testament to the impact our club has had on the community. We believe that it would not be possible to receive such accolades without the growth of our club, which has been consistently fostered by the AOH. In 2010, the Omagh Thunder Basketball Club organized a trip to the United States for fifteen of our most devoted and exemplary players. The trip had an astounding impact on the children, and was without a doubt, a life changing experience for each of them. Based on the first trip’s success and overwhelming feedback we received from the players, our goal is to be able to plan and fund a second trip to America in the summer of 2014.

The Omagh Thunder Basketball Club is now in an a better position than ever to provide the young people of Omagh, male and female, from all social, religious, cultural and political backgrounds, with additional sporting opportunities they would not have otherwise.

On behalf of the Omagh Thunder Basketball Club, please extend our gratitude to all the Hibernians for their continued support.

Most Sincerely, Eamon Daly, Head Coach and Chairman

Reflections on the Major Degree It’s been this way for years — maybe from the outset: You get major-degreed, and nothing more is said about it until perhaps four years pass, and the next opportunity comes along (if you’re lucky), and someone says, “You degreed yet?”

The climactic moments of the degree ceremony pass with relatively few witnesses — normally the degreed brothers who have one or more close friends getting degreed that day.

Those of us who are degreed take a lot of pride in it, but that satisfaction has invisibility rather than transparency.

AOH Division 32 (Carnegie, Allegheny County), the division that never sleeps, recently, under progressive president Denny Maher, inaugurated a new practice: We gathered as many as possible of our newly degreed (July 20) brothers and our previously degreed brothers on the back patio of brother Jim Riley’s Irish pub, The Pour House, for a celebration of our shared ... major-degreeness.

For two scheduled hours (7 to 9 p.m.), which stretched to four for several of us, newly and previously-degreed brethren commemorate the occasion.

Those able to attend: Charlie Boehm; Chris Cahillane; Jim Carr; Bill Delaney; Tim Delaney; Bernie Donnelly; Bob Kelly; Jim Kelly; Joe Loftis; Denny Maher; Mike McGinley; Terry McKeegan; Dennis Murphy; Bill Myers; Leo O’Donnell; Mark Pritchard; Tim Regan; Steve Tabone; John Walsh; Tom Welch; Chuck Yankel and me.

Because AOH 32 financial secretary Bill Myers had promptly ordered new majordegree travel cards for our division’s latest inductees, president Denny Maher was able to present those present with their new cards to hardy applause.

The recently degreed Terry McKeegan, who was leaving for a new job in Manhattan that day, attended the party. Talk about prioritizing us.

His friend, Gaelic harpist Kathleen McGann, performed especially for the party on the patio while Jim Lamb of Guaranteed Irish entertained inside The Pour House.

Thanks to all of the major-degreed brothers who attended.

AOH 32 won’t be cat-napping in the months ahead.

All are welcome to attend and even participate in our roast of AOH 32 brother Pat McCann on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Gaetano’s. Cocktails at 6 p.m., dinner at 7:30 and program at 8:15 p.m. Reservations ($25 per person) through me.

AOH 32/LAOH 32 Christmas party at Fairview Fire Hall at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30. Details TBA. —Ed Blank, Communications Chairman, AOH Division 32

Chaplain appointed pastor On September 14, Reverend Bill Grogan was installed as the Pastor by Bishop Daniel Thomas of the newly combined parish of Holy Cross Church in Mt. Airy, Pa. Holy Cross Church has existed but was merged with Saint Madeline Sophie and Saint Therese of the Child of Jesus. Father Bill is the Chaplain of the Notre Dame Div. 1 of Montgomery County and the Isle of Erin Degree Team. Father Bill is also a member of the AOH Irish Thunder Pipes and Drums Band who played at the Mass. The AOH Color Guard and members of the Degree Team were also present at the Mass.

Copy and Advertising Deadline for the November-December issue of the Hibernian Digest

November 1 editorhiberniandigest@yahoo.com National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

13

I dislike starting my column on a sad note, but I must pay tribute to the late John Hennessy. Most Hibernians knew John from Conventions where he was a familiar face and a jovial personality. I was honored to have brought John into the AOH in 1969 and to this day I count it as one of my greatest accomplishments for he was always ready to lend a hand, chair a committee or hold an office (sometimes several at one time). His knowledge of AOH rituals, bylaws, protocol and constitutional was second to none and demonstrated his admiration for our Order and he insisted they be followed as a matter of honor.

He was proud to wear his Life Member Medal wherever he went – I often joked that if we had given him a waterproof one, he’d have worn it in the shower. I don’t know if Jesus gave him a robe when John arrived at the golden throne, but I do know that if He did, the first thing John did was to pin his Life Member Medal on it. On second thought, this is not opening on a sad note, it’s a happy one for those of us who can’t help but smile when we think of that rare Hibernian and how happy we were to have known him.

Beware of Twistory On a historical note, the initial rush to publish and capitalize on the 150th anniversary of the Great Hunger caused many false accounts of the tragedy to be circulated around 1995. Some attempted to tone down the severity of the event to avoid inflaming hatred in Northern Ireland, which was volatile at the time. There were even some so-called ‘officials’ who proclaimed that the Hunger was over in 1847. Then we had the Anglophiles who can always be depended on to minimize England’s cruelty to the Irish.

Fortunately, as time passed, more intelligent authors took issue with the revised versions of the catastrophe and more diligent research produced enlightened accounts of the greatest calamity to ever hit the Irish nation. Yet, the task for today’s student remains choosing the wheat from the chaff on their library shelves and the best way to do that is to examine the credentials of, and other writings by, the author.

The Easter Rising is about to become the subject of similar amateur coverage, which will no doubt be colored by nationalist sentiment or political correctness as we near the 100th anniversary of that milestone.

Some will rely on the three largest Dublin newspapers of the day that portrayed the Rising in derogatory terms, highlighting the fact that citizens hurled insults and garbage at the patriots as they were marched off to Richmond Barracks. Will they ignore the fact that William Martin Murphy owned those newspapers? That must to be considered.

Murphy was the head of the Dublin Employers Federation whose attempt to destroy

the Irish Transport and General Worker’s Union founded by Jim Larkin and James Connolly led to the Great Dublin Lockout of 1913 when 20,000 workers were fired for joining Larkin’s Union. Many of the workers had revenge on those businesses during the Rising but Murphy’s newspapers denigrated them as looters from the tenements citing their ‘disgraceful’ behavior. After the Rising, Murphy and 763 influential Dublin businessmen signed a memorandum encouraging the discretion of the Commander of the British forces in Ireland to deal with the patriots as he saw fit and endorsing Martial Law. As for the animosity of the citizens toward the patriots, it should be noted that the prisoners were marched off along the quay where many upper class loyalist Dubliners, merchants and British Army pensioners had gathered. Those who had sons serving in the British forces were upset over the possibility of their funds being cut off and some showed support for the winner in fear of retaliation on themselves. However, at Boland’s Bakery, the South Dublin Union and other spots, the patriots were cheered by the citizens for the courage they demonstrated in Ireland’s cause.

Those of us who had the golden opportunity to interview participants in the Lockout and the Rising and share theeir memories as well as the recollections they shared with their immediate descendants will be able to look at the soon-to-come accounts with a jaundiced eye and determine their accuracy. Time will tell, but I sincerely hope that the writings pass the test of truth, for those men and women who participated deserve no less!

Poetry and history, online!

Did you know that Oscar Wilde’s mother was a dedicated Irish patriot? Check out her story on the history link of New York State AOH Website at www.nyaoh.com. You might also want to learn about the Plantation of Ulster. If so, that story is on the September Historical Happenings link of the National Website at www.aoh.com. Mentioning websites, Google search poetry about the Irish by Mile McCormack for a book of verse that reads like a novel and is now available in a Kindle version. The talented National Webmaster, Joe McDonald, also compiled a website for our Irish History books, CDs and DVDs which make great material for division historians to comply with the requirement to read a history at each meeting or as Christmas stocking stuffers. For that one go to www.shamrockandclover.com.

Congratulations to Co. Clare fiddler, Seamus Connolly, on being recognized for a fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts. Many nights I enjoyed his expertise.

Until Oct 21, the Wild Geese, a website at www.TheWildGeese.com that celebrates the history and heritage of the Irish is hosting a membership drive. Members are eligible to win a roundtrip for two from NY City to Dublin based on the number of new members they recruit. Second and third prizes are custom-engraved, handmanufactured crystal provided by Sean Egan Art Glass. Check out the website, It’s really interesting.

Until next time, keep well, keep the faith and keep our traditions alive!

The Irish in Labor, Part Two

By Mike McCormack National Historian The Great Hunger in Ireland from 1845 to 1852 and beyond saw countless numbers of Irish tenant farmers flee to the far corners of the world to escape starvation and disease. Most fled to America where they formed a large unskilled work force. Forced by anti-Catholic and anti-Irish prejudice into the slums of the cities in which they landed, their lot was little better than that which they left behind; the main benefit was that they could organize among themselves without interference from the heavyhanded government action they had known in Ireland.

In America, there was plenty of local oppression from nativist gangs and organizations, but they soon learned how to handle that opposition by becoming part of the electorate and bringing their own to power – something they never could have achieved in Ireland! However, the field of labor was a totally different arena.

The formation of protective societies Bigotry kept the Irish Catholic immigrant down on the lowest rung on the labor ladder enforced by a No Irish Need Apply mentality. Well trained in anti-landlord activity in Ireland, it was now up to them to employ similar tactics in an anti-management scenario in America – and that they did! They brought their organizing ability into play in social clubs like the Saint Patrick’s Fraternal Society and protective societies like the Ancient Order of Hibernians. These Irish organizations were active in protecting workers and their families in case of illness or accident in the days before medical and life insurance. As they

14

grew stronger, they took on the fight for worker’s rights and the formation of labor unions.

In America, the industrial revolution in the 1800s created an unskilled labor force that was highly exploitable. The abuses that accompanied the growing industries led to a cry for a protective force for workers and a few groups were formed. However, it wasn’t until 1866 that the first major labor union was formed, but its main goals were to eliminate cheap convict labor and restrict immigration. The first major activity with worker’s rights as the focal point took place in 1874 as a strike paralyzed the Pennsylvania Coal Fields for a year. A strike was nothing more than a labor boycott – a name taken from a land league denial of services to a landlord’s agent, Capt. Boycott, in Ireland years earlier. Frank Gowan, President of the Reading RR that controlled the mines, called in the country’s leading Union Buster – Alan Pinkerton, who ran a detective agency specializing in “industrial protection.” Pinkerton’s spying, deception and prejudicial testimony before a stacked jury led to the hanging of 20 men. The Workingmen’s Benevolent Association was beaten and the mines reopened; management had won this time, but organizing continued. In 1877 a nationwide strike over wage cuts crippled the railroads and Federal troops were called out. Over 100 were killed and 300 injured by U.S. troops before the strike was broken, but the picture of strikers being killed to protect the profits of millionaire railroad owners at last moved the public. Their anger was evident at the next nationwide election and many railroad politicians fell. The labor movement began

to flex its new political muscle.

The first real Labor Day On Sept. 15, 1882, a handful of laborers, organized by Peter McGuire, began a march uptown through lower Manhattan, carrying signs that read Agitate, Educate, Organize and Less Work, More Pay. Mocked by fashionable New Yorkers, they continued their trek as more and more laboring men, women and children joined them. By the time they reached what is now called Union Square, they were more than 10,000 strong and were cheered by thousands more in the Square. It was the first real Labor Day. Since that day, organized labor has never looked back. By 1894, when Labor Day was declared a national holiday, there were 22 national trade unions and five states were already celebrating Labor Day as a state holiday.

The laborers who dared to organize and confront the bosses were a courageous group and we are proud of the significant contributions of the Irish to that movement.

They were the Irish immigrants who came after the Great Hunger of 1845 and beyond; farmers who crowded into cities and took jobs as unskilled laborers in factories, mines and construction. Poor and uneducated in a strange land, they were taken advantage of and, when abused, they banded together.

Herb Gutman, the late American Labor Historian, pointed out that it was immigrants who supported the organization of labor in large numbers. The Irish had seen their people and economy destroyed in Ireland and were determined that it would not happen here. From the very beginning of the unions as a workers protective society, the Irish were there. The 20 men hanged

in the Pinkerton Union busting in the Pennsylvania coal fields were all Irish; they were members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians who were vilified as Molly Maguires. They made it possible for men like John Mitchel to give the Mineworkers the solid union they have today.

Women: a powerful force Irish women did their share too. Unlike other immigrant women, many Irish women came alone and immediately entered the work force having no one to depend on. They worked in textile mills, telephone companies and as domestic help; later moving to clerical and shop work.

Unable to work in the field of politics, which denied them voting privileges, they became active in union organization. Mary Harris (Mother) Jones from Co. Cork organized for the United Mine Workers; Lenora O’Reilly went from child laborer to member of the Knights of Labor and co-founder of the Woman’s Trade Union League; Aunt Sara McLaughlin rose to the top of the Textile Mill Union as organizer; and Julia Sarsfield O’Connor became President of the Woman’s Trade Union League. The story was repeated again and again.

A long tradition The late John Lawe of Co. Roscommon once told me how he started at the 5th Ave. Coach Co. as a sweeper cleaning out the buses. He said they were called Ireland’s gift to America since the buses were green and had an Irishman at each end; in fact, most of its employees were Irish. In May 1985, when he became President of the Transport Workers Union of America, he continued on page 15

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

Ohio

The new Ohio State Board was sworn in recently by the AOH National Board led

by Vice President Judge Jim McKay. New Ohio president Mike Makenzie brings a wealth of experience to the position, as he has been active on the Division, County and State levels for most of his life. Mike has also been an avid attendee of the AOH National Conventions as well. Seated from the left are Ron Hagan, Vice President; Monsignor John K. Cody, Chaplain; Mike McKenzie, President; Joe Casey, Past President; and Bob Harper, Secretary. Standing from the left are Denny Parks, Director; Pete Chrystal, Treasurer; Danny O’Connell, National Treasurer; Judge Jim McKay, National Vice President; Denny Donnelly, National Director for Ohio; and Ed Brannan, Director.

The Ohio AOH and LAOH joined forces with Western Reserve Public Media, Northeast Ohio’s Public Broadcasting Television Station for the annual pledge drive during a recent “Irish Rovers” broadcast. The Hibernians led by the AOH and LAOH state presidents are happy to report they met the goal for the evening.

Pictured during the live broadcast are Trina Cutter, President and CEO with Danny O’Connell National Treasurer. Staffing the phones are Denny Parks, State Director; Mike McKenzie, State President; Eloise Stalter, State President; and Irene Uhalley, Past President.

A great student, a proud LAOH teacher Casey Murray is 15 years old and will be a junior at Jackson High School in Massillon, Ohio. She is a member of Jackson’s School for the Arts, and an Open Championship level Irish Dancer with The MacConmara Academy of Irish Dance.

Her teacher is Teresa Buck, a member of the Margaret Judge Div., LAOH, Akron, OH. Casey has been Irish Dancing for 11 years and has been involved in several local musicals and theatre productions. Her first leading role was “Charlie” in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. Casey then went on to play Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Sir Andrew in Twelfth Night, Mrs. Kirby in You Can’t Take It With You, as well as a chorus member in The Phantom of the Opera.

Last February, Casey’s mom, Tammy, saw a note on an Irish dance message board looking for a championship Irish dancer who can also sing. Tammy responded to the email listed and not much happened until the end of June. The last week of June the Writer of McGoldrick’s Thread emailed Tammy asking her to submit an audition video of Casey doing a song, monologue and some dancing. Live auditions were being held in New York City the next day but because of the short notice and the distance a video was the best way to audition.

Next came a live Skype audition and Casey was offered the part of Magee. Casey and her mom will move to New York City for two months for rehearsals and the run of the show. The name of the show is McGoldrick’s Thread. McGoldrick’s Thread is the story of the O’Reilly family, who left home in Clonmel, Ireland and settled in a small apartment in the Bronx to raise their four children. The youngest and only daughter, Magee, is a competitive Irish Step dancer with a big Feis in the morning.

The story takes place over a weekend, with a colorful flashback to Ireland — revealing trials, tribulations, triumphs, love and humor of the O’Reilly and McGoldrick families. In their small apartment with brothers, commotion and unanswered questions, Magee learns to believe in herself and what it takes to make her dreams come true — in dance and life. Premier Performances were held at the Theatre 80 ST. MARKS in NYC in September. Check out www.mcgoldricksthread.com for more information on how to help in the full production.

Delaware

Changing your address?

Let your Division Financial Secretary know. It is that officer’s job to notify the National Secretary so the order’s membership list can be updated and copies of the Digest are sent to the right place.

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

by Bob Doyle, FS, Commodore Barry Division 1 Successful fundraiser in Delaware Over the summer, the Commodore John Barry Division of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, sold chances for two tickets plus parking to the Philadelphia Eagles vs.

Washington Redskins football game on Monday, Sept. 9. The tickets were graciously donated to the Division by one of its members. The fundraiser was a huge success and will enable the Division to continue its charitable works and donations.

The drawing was held on Aug. 12 in front of St. Edmond’s Parish Hall in Rehoboth.

The lucky winner was Al Derickson of Lewes, Delaware.

Shown at the raffle drawing are (l to r) Rich Duffy; Tom Brennan, Div Vice-President; Jim Ryan, Div President; Reverend William Mathesius, Div Chaplain; Chuck Allen, Div Treasurer and Joe O’Neill.

LABOR continued from page 14

joined a respected Irish-American labor fraternity that included Teddy Gleason, head of the Int’l Longshoremen; Paschal McGuiness, head of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters; John Sweeny, head of the Service Employees Union; John Kelly of the Professional Employees Int’l; Jack Gannon of the Firefighters; Richard Kilroy of the Railroad Men; and Jimmy Duffy, head of the Int’l Brotherhood of Operating Engineers.

These are only some of the leaders in a long tradition that goes back through Tipperary’s Bill Treacy, Kerry’s Mike Quill, and Matt Guinan, and on and on.

Back to the beginning, the Irish were not only involved, but they led the way. It took years to succeed in America because of severe anti-union forces; but it took longer in Ireland where Crown opposition was much more severe. That is why Ireland’s labor leaders like Larkin and Connolly remain heroes to this day. And that is also why the Tram Workers Strike in 1913 was such a watershed in Irish history. It was the first major labor confrontation on Irish soil and contributed significantly to the birth of the Republic of Ireland. More significantly, it was copied from the success of the American movement, which in turn was copied from the Irish Boycott. And the wheel just keeps on turning. It can truly be said that Irish labor not only supported the freedom of Ireland, but the freedom of the working class in America.

15

California

Éisteann an saol iomlán le ceol Meiriceánach. The whole world listens to American music. Tosaíodh stíleanna ceoil go leor sna Stáit. Lots of musical styles were started in the States. Agus tharla sin mar gheall ar an meascán de cheol is daoine ó thíortha agus ó chultúir an-éagsúla. And that happened because of the mix of music and people from very different countries and cultures.

Bhíodh ceol na dtíortha áirithe á dhéanamh sna Stáit le fada an lá. The music of various countries was played in the States for a long time. Ach i ndiaidh an chogaidh chathartha go háirithe, rinneadh ceol an-difriúil agus nua. But especially after the Civil War, very different and new music was made. Jazz a thugtar air ar ball. It was eventually called jazz. Ceaptar gur cumadh jazz in New Orleans den chéad uair.

People think that jazz was created in NO originally. Ach níorbh é NO an t-aon áit a raibh a leithéid ann, ná baol air. But that wasn’t the only place such a thing was, by any means. Thuas agus thíos an Mississippi go háirithe a bhí aithne ag na daoine ar na nósanna nua seo. Up and down the M. especially people knew these new styles. Agus pé áit a raibh a bhunadh, bhí sé ar fud na tíre faoi cheann achair bhig. And wherever it was from, it was all over the country within a short period of time.

Tá sé an-chonspóideach cad í foinse an fhocail féin, jazz. It is very controversial what the source of the word jazz is. Tá teoiric ann gur as an nGaeilge é. There is a theory that it is from the Irish. Deir ollamh i San Francisco darb ainm Daniel Cassidy gur as an bhfocal ‘teas’ é, agus gurb é iriseoir de shliocht na hÉireann darb ainm Scoop Gleeson a bhain úsáid as den chéad uair, i nuachtán i San Francisco. A professor in SF named…says that it is from the word [heat], and that a reporter with Irish roots named… used it for the first time, in a SF newspaper. Is iomaí Éireannach a chuir faoi ansin san aois sin. It’s many an Irishman who settled there in that age. Bhíodh a lán Gaeilgeoirí ann, gan dabht. There used to be a lot of Irish speakers there, no doubt.

D’fhaigheadh An Gaodhal (An Gael) ábhar ó SF go minic. An Gael used to get material from SF often. Agus bhí a lán ceoltóirí Éireannacha bainteach le buntús an cheoil nua seo. And there were a lot of Irish musicians involved in the origin of this new music.

Mar sin, luíonn sé le ciall gur thug Gaeilgeoir an t-ainm air. So, it stands to reason that an Irish speaker gave the name to it. Ceapaim féin gurb fhéidir go raibh an focal ‘deas’ i gceist, go háirithe mar gheall ar theoiricí eile faoina fhoinse. i myself think it may have been the word [nice], especially because of other theories about its source. Ní an sanasaíocht de cinnte, pé scéal, agus is maith an scéal é gur linne an focal jazz! The etymology is not certain, anyway, and it’s a good story that the word is ours!

Tá baint nach beag ag Éire le déanamh an bhanna ceoil jazz (tugtar snagcheol air as Gaeilge). Ireland had no small part in the creation of the jazz band (in Irish, jazz is called…). Meascán de cheol Afracach, Éireannach, Spáinneach, srl. atá ann. It’s a mix of African, Irish, Spanish, etc. music. Ach de réir dealraimh, is ó bhanna máirseála áirithe a tháinig an meascán de huirlisí phráis agus gaothuirlisí mar an sacsafón.

But apparently, it is from a particular marching band that came the mixing of brass instruments with woodwinds like the saxophone. Agus an duine a rinne sin don chéad uair?

And the person who did that the first time? Éireannach darb ainm Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore. An Irishman by the name of… Rugadh é i mBéal Átha Ghartha, Co. na Gaillimhe, in 1829. He was born in Ballygar, Gallway, in… D’fhoghlaim sé a cheird i mBaile Átha Luain ó Patrick Keating, ceannródaí eile na mbannaí máirseála. He learned his craft from another marching band pioneer…in Athlone. Chuir Gilmore faoi i mBoston in 1848. G settled in Boston in 1848. Bheadh sé i measc na ndaoine ba cháiliúla san aois sin, agus b’fhéidir an ceoltóir ba cháiliúla i Meiriceá. He would be among the most famous people of that age, and maybe the most famous musician in America.

Bhí banna ceoil míleata aige san arm a raibh cáil agus clú air, agus mar gheall air sin, rinneadh ard-bhannamháistir de, i mbun cheol an airm ar fad. He had a military band in the army which was very well known, and because of that, he was made bandmaster general for the entire army. i ndiaidh an chogaidh, bhí ceolchoirm aige in New Orleans leis an mbanna ba mhó riamh. After the war, he had a concert in NO with the biggest band ever. Bhíodh ceolchoirmeacha aige i Nua-Eabhrac, ag áit dá chuid féin, Gilmore’s Concert Garden, agus ar ball, rinneadh an chéad Madison Square Garden de. He used to have concerts in NY, at a place of his own…, and eventually, it became the first MSG. Thosaigh seisean an nós chun Oíche Chinn Bliana a cheiliúradh in Times Square. It was he who started the tradition of celebrating New Year’s Eve in… i rith an chogaidh, chum sé an t-amhrán “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” (ón amhrán Éireannach “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye”). During the war, he wrote the song…(from the Irish song…). Bhí sé agus a bhanna ceoil ar roinnt de na chéad taifeadtaí a rinne Edison. He and his band were on some of Edison’s first recordings.

Nach ait an rud é nach luaitear ach go hannamh duine chomh cáiliúil sin níos mó? Isn’t it strange that a person so famous is rarely mentioned any more?

Mar a tharla, ba é “Papa” Jack Laine, Gael-Mheiriceánach (sílim) i New Orleans a bhí an-tábhachtach ag an tús, agus b’eisean an chéad duine chun druma mór agus sreangdhruma a chur le chéile do sheinnteoir amháin. As it happened, an IrishAmerican (I think)…was very important at the beginning in NO, and he was the first person to put the bass and snare drum together for one player. Fuair sé a chéad dhruma ó mhac Patrick Gilmore! He got is first drum from PG’s son!

16

On July 14th, AOH Division 3 held their 9th annual Edward Casey Award ceremony at the Fenians courtyard concert at Muldoon’s in Newport Beach. We had a great turnout of Orange County and Long Beach brothers who came together to support this great event. This prestigious AOH award was presented to Jerry O’Keefe, past AOH National Director, for his 40 years of outstanding service and commitment to the Irish Community of Orange County.

This AOH award is named in honor of the late Edward Casey, (Father of Terry Casey, lead singer of the Fenians), a Hibernian leader from the early 1960s in Orange County. Edward Casey was the inspiration and mentor to early Hibernians organizing the AOH in Orange County.

Wisconsin 2013 Milwaukee Irish Fest and Annual Liturgy for Peace and Justice The 33rd Annual Irish Fest was celebrated on August 15-18 at Milwaukee’s Maier Festival Park on the shores of Lake Michigan. Crowds from across the nation estimated at 130,000 enjoyed Irish culture, music, food, theatre, sports, children’s activities and the Annual Mass for Peace and Justice. The Mass, held in the Marcus Amphitheater, is reported to be one of the largest outdoor Masses celebrated in North America.

Members of the Milwaukee Division who served as ushers at the Annual Liturgy for Peace and Justice concelebrated by Irish-born brothers, Bishop Raymond Boland and Bishop J. Kevin Boland, and Milwaukee Division Chaplain Fr. William J. Kelly, SJ.

Milwaukee Division members Dean Hunter and Rick McMahon at the Hibernian Information and Recruitment Booth located in the Irish Cultural Center area. Our Division’s mission continues to provide financial support through scholarships at 3 inner-city Catholic Schools, including St. Rose Urban Academy, Nativity Middle School for boys and Notre Dame Middle School for girls.

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

Order mourns John Hennessy John Hennessy of Division 9, Suffolk County, was a man who deserves to be ranked among the greatest of our beloved fraternity.

A respected leader at all levels of the Order, John went to his heavenly reward on August 16, 2013.

He embraced the ideals of Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity and was respected as a role model and an inspirational mentor. He led by the example that he set for he understood that with authority comes responsibility. He expected much from his brother Hibernians, but never as much as he gave of himself.

Suffolk County Historian Dave Ring wrote, “although John understood organizational politics, he always did what he believed to be right for the AOH, not just that which would bring personal benefit. A noble trait that has become all too rare in the world today.”

His knowledge of our rituals, bylaws, protocol and constitutional procedures was extraordinary and his willingness to share that with others will be hard to replace. A Navy veteran, he was at the helm of the AOH NY State Board’s efforts to have the Bill passed that recognized Commodore John Barry as First Flag Officer of the U. S. Navy and was especially proud to present an award to Mike Carney who chaired that Committee during John’s administration as N.Y. State President.

Tribute to John Hennessy The Ancient Order of Hibernians has a long and proud history. First in Ireland protecting the Catholic Church and Clergy. Next here in the New World doing the same, along with welcoming and protecting new arrivals, preserving and promoting our heritage, and giving service to the greater community.

Nowhere has this proud tradition been supported and strengthened more than here in Suffolk County, New York. Men like Jim Hayes, Mike Murphy, Ray Meehan, Pat Shannon and so many others that have come before us developed and nurtured what has become the largest AOH County in the United States. It is not just numbers that make this county great. The strong principles and the deep commitment to Hibernianism as exemplified by those who came before have created an organization to be envied.

Another man, who belongs among the greatest of our beloved fraternity, has left us for his final reward. John Hennessy, a respected leader at all levels of our organization, passed on August 16, 2013. John was a man who embraced our ideals of Friendship, Unity, and Christian charity. He was someone who, for me and many others, was a respected role model and an inspirational mentor. He helped all of us to be better Hibernians and, therefore, better people.

John was a man who could lead us solely by the example that he set. Unlike so many so-called leaders in today’s world, John understood that with authority comes responsibility. He would expect much from his brother Hibernians, but never near as much as he expected and gave of himself.

More importantly, although John understood organizational politics, he always did what he believed to be the right thing for the AOH, not just that which would bring personal benefit. A noble trait that has become all too rare in the world today.

We will miss John for so many reasons. His knowledge of our protocol and procedures was beyond any of us. His institutional memory of how and why things were developed and implemented essentially goes with him. His never ending willingness to tutor and promote people who were new to the various levels of our order is hard to replace.

John does, however, leave us with so many gifts. We keep everything that he taught us. We will remember and try to emulate his love for and devotion to our order. And, perhaps, we can try to live by the example of his life. We can try in our daily lives to be all of the good things that he exemplified: To be men of devotion to faith and family To serve our country and community To be proud of our heritage and culture To always be cognizant of where we came from so that we have guidance to know where we are going.

Rest in Peace and enjoy your well-earned reward John.

Dr. David A. Ring Ancient Order of Hibernians Suffolk County Historian

Remember Project St. Patrick aoh.com/project-st-patrick/

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

Active at all levels of the Order, he worked on so many activities behind the scenes from the National Tara Court Major Degree Team to the N.Y. State annual fund-raising calendar, to the Suffolk County annual Ball and Feis and his own Division 9 Treasurer’s office that it is difficult to imagine the Order without him.

He has left an indelible mark on all who knew him that will never be erased; he was a role model for all Hibernians to emulate.

John is survived by his wife, Margaret; daughters, Sharon, Patricia, Theresa and Rosemary; son-inlaw, Chad; and grandchildren, Amanda, Matthew and Andrew; and thousands of loving Hibernian brothers and sisters.

Reverend Dr. Brian A. Shaw The Reverend Doctor Brian A. Shaw, 73, of Milford, died Monday, August 19, 2013 at his home. Born in Meriden, September 14, 1939, the son of the late Julia Catherine Balasa and Thomas F. Shaw, Father Shaw attended Saint Stanislaus School, Meriden, and Saint John Kanty Prep School, Erie, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Saint Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield in 1960 and continued his studies for the priesthood at Christ the King Seminary at Saint Bonaventure, New York, where he pursued his graduate studies.

He was ordained to the Priesthood on May 19, 1966, by the Most Reverend Henry J. O’Brien, Archbishop of Hartford, in the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Hartford. In 1977 Father Shaw received his Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Psychology from Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, Massachusetts.

Father Shaw served as a temporary assistant at Saint Mary in Meriden and then as Assistant Pastor at Saint Matthew Parish in Forestville from 1966 until 1971, at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Yalesville from 1971 until 1977, and at Holy Cross Parish in New Britain from 1977 until 1980. He was named Co-Pastor of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish in East Haven in 1980 where he served until 1986 when he was appointed Temporary Administrator of SS. Peter & Paul Parish in Wallingford.

On February 2, 1987, Father Shaw was named Pastor of Saint Stanislaus in Bristol where he served until he was named Pastor of Holy Cross Parish in New Britain on September 14, 2003. Then on June 30, 2008, Father Shaw was named Pastor of Saint Ann Parish in Milford where he served until his death. Father Shaw served as Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus Tinto Council #47 and was Chaplain of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Bridgeport, Division 1. He was also a proud member of the Gaelic American Club in Fairfield. Survivors include his brother, Michael Shaw and his wife, Laura of Cromwell, Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Saint Ann Foundation, in care of Saint Ann Church, 501 Naugatuck Ave, Milford, CT 06460. The Gregory F. Doyle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Published in the Connecticut Post

To the editor…

Redouble our Pro-Life efforts In the May/June Digest, the National Pro Life Chairman and Director Jere Cole asked for our stories regarding Pro-Life. I submit that in researching the history of our Order in conjunction with the Albany Irish Museum Project, I found that the Ancient Order of Hibernians, at convention in 1976, established a separate National Chair, apart from Catholic Action, to specifically combat the evils of legalized abortion resulting from the Roe v. Wade decision of the U. S. Supreme Court.

I would suggest that with the gristly revelations that emerged from the Dr. Kermit Gosnell murder trial in Philadelphia that we have still a lot of work to do in exposing the evils of abortion and we should redouble our efforts to expose this terrible practice that prevents unborn children from seeing the light of day.

The national revulsion to what happened in that Philadelphia abortion clinic has given pro-life organizations a golden opportunity to give voice to the cry of the unborn.

The AOH and its Pro Life Committee should rededicate itself to carrying out the specific mandate of the 1976 Convention in striving to overturn the avalanche of death that was unleashed by Roe v. Wade.

Phil Gallagher

17

From the Editor’s Desk John O’Connell I’d like to use this space to answer some frequently asked questions that Hibernians have emailed, called and written letters to me about. Maybe you have had similar questions.

I want to submit something for the Digest. What are the deadlines?

The Digest publishes six times a year. There is an issue for January-February, March-April, May-June, July-August, September-October and November-December.

I aim to get the Digest out by the start of the second month of the issue. To do that, I need all the copy and photos by the first of the month of each issue, because it takes four weeks to edit, proof, correct, re-proof, print and mail the Digest.

So to start the process of each issue I need all submissions by January 1 for the Jan-Feb issue, March 1 for the March-April issue, May 1 for the May-June issue, July 1 for the July-Aug issue, Sept. 1 for the Sept-Oct issue, and Nov. 1 for the Nov-Dec issue.

So the deadlines are Jan 1, March 1, May 1, July 1, Sept. 1 and Nov. 1. Anything that comes to me after that probably will not get in the Digest, at least not in the issue I’m working on. You need to resubmit it for the next issue by the next deadline.

I am lenient on the March 1 deadline for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Otherwise, we’d have parades and such in the issue we get in June; too late! So for the MarchApril issue, get me your St. Patrick’s events immediately after they conclude. You will find that issue gets to you late because of that delay, but it makes more sense than March parades in the June issue.

I also will wait as long as I can in July for convention news. But get it to me as soon as you can or it will go in the following issue.

I sent you a photo and you did not use it. Why not?

There are only two reasons I wouldn’t use your photo. One is space. Our page count is limited, like almost everything else in life. Sometimes I have to cut photos to make room for articles from other states. If I used every photograph, then some states may be underrepresented in an issue, and I’d rather not do that.

But that is typically not the reason I omit a photo you send. The usual reason is that you have submitted a terrible, small, dark, unfocused, low-resolution picture.

Unless you have a smartphone with high resolution and know how to use it to produce a good quality image, do not send cell-phone-shot pictures. They don’t reproduce well in print, will not illustrate you article well and will degrade the look of the Digest. And I won’t use them anyway.

Use a camera to take pictures. Set your camera on L for Large image. Shoot with the sun behind you. Fill the frame with your subject(s). Don’t stand 20 feet away from two people and take a photo. If you do that, we have to crop and enlarge, reducing the quality of your picture. Stand right in front of your subjects, use flash, even in sunlight (it’s called fill flash), focus, compose, and press the button.

Also, instead of 12 people in a lineup like one is suspected of a crime, how about taking a picture of Hibernians doing something, not just standing there and smiling.

For example, if your Division is packing items to send to troops abroad, photograph them packing the boxes, not standing in a lineup after the work is done. Posed pictures are boring. Action shots tell stories.

Every Division ought to have a publicity chairman. Choose someone who has a camera and likes taking photos. And send your good photos to the local newspaper for good press, too.

We moved and we don’t get the Digest anymore. How come?

If you are moving, if a brother or sister Hibernian has passed away and the spouse no longer wants the Digest, tell your Division financial secretary to inform the county, state and, importantly, the national secretary.

The Digest does not have a separate mailing list. It gets mailed to all the names and addresses on the National Membership List. Until an address gets changed on that list, or a name is removed, the Digest continues to be mailed. This results in people getting the Digest who don’t want it, getting it delivered to the wrong address, and a big waste of members’ dues because that’s where the money comes from to mail the Digest.

If you are a Division financial secretary and you learn that someone has died or is moving, make sure you notify the National Secretary so an action can be taken on the Membership List. This will save money and the aggravation of someone getting a Digest, not getting a Digest or getting two Digests.

How can I help with the Digest?

Honestly, this is not a frequently asked question. But if you are a sales person, we could use your help in selling ads for the Digest. Any paid ads we get help to defray the costs of producing the Digest, which is the single biggest expense of the Order.

If you have a local gift shop that has a website, inform them that they can take advantage of a wider national audience by advertising with us. If you want to help sell ads, email me at editorhiberniandigest@yahoo.com. And the Order thanks you.

Moving?

Notify the Financial Secretary of your Divisionision!

Ancient Order of Hibernians Revisit An Gorta Mor Awards An Gorta Mor Award APPLICATION Hibernian Hunger Project of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Funded Through the Hibernian Charity Description of Award “The An Gorta Mor Awards were created by The Ancient Order of Hibernians in America’s Hibernian Charity to honor the people of Ireland who survived the Great Hunger and initiated the Irish Diaspora, those who were forced to flee Ireland, in our case to North America, to survive the starvation and disease. It is our belief that no other people on earth have more awareness or empathy for those in need than the Irish and the foundation of the Irish Diaspora, the members of the A.O.H.” Eligibility for Award: An AOH Division or Board which sponsors or leads a project which aids others in greater need than ourselves.

These projects may aid the homeless, those in need, the elderly, veterans, children, etc.

The board applicant must have paid their division per capita and submitted their form #9 to the National Secretary in a timely manner for their application to be eligible to apply for the 2014 awards.

The Awards will be assessed each quarter and a $500.00 grant will be issued to the division/board to be used to initiate funding for the division or boards Hunger Project or to continue the present project in 2014 Each Calendar Quarter the Hibernian Charity Board will make the grants and the recipient division/board will not be eligible for another grant for thirty-six months The recipient division will be required to send 4-6 pictures of the event which will then be publicized in The Hibernian Digest and the Irish Echo at the end of each month or bi-monthly. We would also encourage that the project be given local publicity and state wide if possible. The pictures and accomplishments will be advertised on our AOH and Hibernian Charity Web Sites.

Eligible projects should be in the division/boards local jurisdiction but the proceeds can be sent to a larger national charity if that is your stated goal.

County and Division Boards are eligible for An Gorta Mor Awards Title of Project: Division or Board Division President ______________________________________________________ Project Leader ______________________________________________________ Date(s) for Project______________________________________________________ Mailing Address ______________________________________________________ Street Town State Zip Email Address ______________________________________________________ Division/Board Web ______________________________________________________ Description and Mission of Project: Location of Project ______________________________________________________ Mission (What do you wish to accomplish) ____________________________________ Accomplishment (If Project is completed or stated goal if initiating) How will the $500.00 charitable grant be used by the recipient Division or Board? ________________________________________________________________________ Please send a no more than a two page type written, double spaced, via an attached email, file describing your division/board project (along with your application) and a more in depth description of any portion of the division/board project to: The awards will begin the last week of January 2014 with subsequent quarterly awards of two grants to follow for one year ending in December 2014.

Besides the grant we will also have a plaque/framed certificate for your division/board AOH National Board Hunger Chairman Charles “Chip” McLean charles.mclean@aoh.com Hibernian Hunger Secretary Edward Dougherty 7236 Brous Ave., Philadelphia, PA (267) 879-6107 eddoc215@verizon.net

Send your new address and the mailing label from the front page of The Hibernian Digest to: Thomas McNabb, 31 Logan Street, Auburn, NY 13021-3925 18

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

A Disease that haunted the Irish Cholera Asiatica, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, is an infection of the human intestine and is recognized as one of the most efficient killers of all time; it works quickly to kill, often on the same day. Cholera causes violent vomiting, cramps and diarrhea and is spread by contaminated excrement and handling clothing and bedding of infected people. In crowded cities, sewage-contaminated water supplies were a major source of its spread, but that was not recognized until after 1854. Before that, it had arrived in America with Irish and German immigrants, crowded below decks on coffin ships with little or no fresh water or sanitary facilities for a rough six-to-eight-week passage across the Atlantic.

It decimated the squalid immigrant slums into which many immigrants were forced to live. In June 1832, an outbreak of cholera spread rapidly throughout the crowded, unsanitary dwellings of New York’s Five Points neighborhood before spreading to the rest of the city killing 3,500 in two months. Nativists blamed the disease on the life style of the poor – namely Catholicism, poverty and drink. When the disease spread uptown, well-to-do families kept the cause of death a secret.

New York’s Croton reservoir was completed in late 1842 to bring clean water to the city for drinking and street cleaning, but the Croton Water Board objected to wasting that water in the Five Points. A second major outbreak occurred in 1849 killing 5,017. For the next 20 years, deaths in the Five Points area was triple that of the rest of the city.

In 1842, cholera also broke out in Saint Louis brought by German and Irish immigrants coming up the Mississippi from New Orleans where upon arrival, dehydrated from the voyage, they drank great gulps of contaminated water. Like their countrymen in New York, the Irish were forced into a dirty slum area, later referred to as the Kerry Patch. As a result, the St. Louis death toll reached 4,500 in three months. The increased arrival of immigrants in 1849 fleeing Ireland’s Great Hunger led to a second major outbreak, which took more than 7,000 lives.

In May 1849, St. Louis took over Arsenal Island in the Mississippi and renamed it Quarantine Island. All ships were stopped there for inspection and those passengers with symptoms of illness remained in hastily built hospital sheds on the island until they either recovered or died, not unlike Grosse Isle in Quebec. Thousands were buried there before the island – cemetery and all – washed away in the 1860s.

However, none of the quarantining efforts prevented bacteria-laden diarrhea from infecting St. Louis’ water supply. With no other dumping site available, chamber pots were emptied into the streets and heavy storms washed the excrement into the limestone caves and sinkholes beneath the city where raw sewage from the city was also dumped. It eventually surfaced and overflowed into a low area near Biddle and 10th streets creating a greenish, putrid pool angrily designated Kayser’s Lake. City engineer Henry Kayser was the official who, in 1842, decided to divert the entire city’s waste water into the honeycomb of limestone caves beneath the city rather than build sewers since building sewers was expensive. In 1849, approximately one-tenth of the population of St. Louis died from disease.

Not knowing the true source of the disease, people blamed everything from sauerkraut to stench as thousands of new immigrants joined the gold prospectors who stopped at the ‘Gateway to the West’ to get outfitted for the trek out to the recently discovered gold fields of California. Typically, cholera swept through the poorest areas first and was interpreted by the Nativist press as being due to the immigrants’ ignorance, laziness, and moral laxity.

On May 17, 1849, a Great Fire destroyed 27 steamboats and 14 blocks of downtown buildings, but the tragedy proved to be no more than a temporary distraction.

By the third week of June, cholera was killing roughly 100 people a day. Rev. John B. Druyts, S.J., president of Saint Louis College (now University), told the frightened students to place themselves under protection of the Blessed Virgin. Those who survived were to chip in and buy a silver crown for her statue in the chapel.

This holy resolution calmed the students and, in what was called a miracle, there were no deaths within the school walls, although there were victims of the disease in almost every house around the College. In October 1849, a silver crown was placed on a purple cushion and carried reverently to the statue.

On June 24, citizens crowded a public meeting at the courthouse and demanded that city officials do something or resign. The officials did what officials always do: they formed a committee that immediately ordered coal, tar and sulfur pots to be burned in the streets. They banned fresh vegetables, especially cabbage believing sauerkraut to be a contributing factor. They also kept public transportation out of the slums believing the disease might be an airborne infection and they ordered churches to stop all that infernal bell-ringing at funerals since it lowered the morale of the people. Then they spent $10,000 to buy slop carts and hired street cleaners, telling them to collect and dump liquid filth into the once lovely Chouteau’s Pond that had already become gray with industrial waste.

More practical prevention came in 1850, when the city drained both Kayser’s Lake and Chouteau’s Pond – not because it eliminated a cause of the disease, but because the city finally installed a sanitary sewage system – and that was what finally did the job. Cholera returned again before the century ended, but it was never again as lethal.

There are many stories of courage and sorrow on the websites of the St. Louis Dispatch and the St. Louis magazine, but when the members of the AOH and LAOH attend our annual convention in St. Louis next year, it would behoove us to remember the Irish who came before us and helped to build that beautiful city in spite of the hardships they had to endure in order to do so. —Mike McCormack

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

AOH, LAOH clean up for kids

Pictured are members Fr. Henry Tansy Div 5 and LAOH Div. 1 of Albany, NY during spring clean up day the Double H Hole in the Woods camp in Lake Luzriene, NY. The Double H camp serves ill children as a summer camp. This effort was led by Div. 5 President Tim Carey.

Commodore John Barry Memorial Project at the United States Naval Academy Dedication Day – May 10, 2014 The Commodore John Barry Memorial at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, will be formally dedicated in joint ceremonies by the Hibernians and the US Naval Academy on Saturday, May 10, 2014.

Circle the date on your calendar or record it on your iPhone – May 10, 2014 – Barry Memorial Dedication Day, USNA Who is invited? All contributors, Hibernians, and supporters are invited to celebrate the dedication day on the grounds of the US Naval Academy. Bring your family. An ice-breaker will be hosted at the John Barry Pub at O’Callaghan’s Hotel on Friday evening, May 9th. Dedication Day will start with Mass, followed by the dedication ceremony and lunch.

Dedication Hotel Headquarters: O’Callaghan’s Hotel in Annapolis will be our official Barry dedication day headquarters.

The AOH negotiated a special rate of $135.00 per night for those attending the ceremonies. The hotel is filling up fast.

So why not book your reservation today by calling (410) 263 – 7700. To secure our special rate, the rate code is AOC-John Barry.

To relieve traffic congestion, we urge groups to come by van or rent a bus. Why not start making your plans today?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commodore John Barry Memorial Project, Ancient Order of Hibernians Jack O’Brien Seamus Boyle Joseph Roche John McInerney (301) 758 – 0738 (215) 820 – 1547 (410) 322 – 6567 (202) 213 – 2055 E-mail contact for public relations: McInerneyVerret@aol.com

19

ladies hibernian news President’s Greetings

by Maureen Shelton The seasons have changed from summer to fall. We have put the State Conventions behind us and have resumed our regular meetings once again.

An important change to our National Constitution will take place at the next AOH/LAOH National Convention in St. Louis, MO. There will be a Constitution Convention held on the opening day of the Convention, July 30th. The Chair for the Constitution Committee is our legal counsel, Mary Ellen Chajkowski. Each State President received a letter from Mary Ellen, this summer asking for every state to review the National Constitution and send their state’s suggestions for improving our Constitution. The committee will be meeting this fall before the Interim Board Meeting. If you have not sent your suggestions, it is not too late to do it. Please send them to Mary Ellen as soon as possible. The LAOH is governed by our National Constitution; this is your opportunity for your state to share their thoughts.

We will be celebrating our Memorial Masses this November; it has been a difficult year as we have lost very dear sister and brother Hibernians. It is important that we come together and remember all those cherished by us. Remember the good times and how special they were to all of us.

We are so blessed to live in a country where we have the freedom to practice our Catholic faith without fear. It is because of the bravery of those in our armed forces that we have this freedom; please remember them in your prayers this Thanksgiving.

I wish you and yours a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.

Yours in Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity Maureen

Massachusetts News The LAOH Sisters of Division 2, Holyoke, hosted a joint LAOH/AOH Board Meeting with their Brothers of Division 1. Plans are underway for the 2014 State Banquet and 2015 State Convention and they were discussed at this meeting. More details to follow as the events draw closer.

LAOH Division 10, Lynn, conducted their annual September school supply drive for Catholic Charities. The division purchases the backpacks and the LAOH members provide the supplies.

LAOH Division 8, Lawrence, co-hosted a Picnic in the Park along the Merrimack River for members and guests.

LAOH Division 14, Watertown, will be hosting The Little Black Dress Gets Ready for Fall— an afternoon of fashion and flowers for their scholarship fund.

Ladies AOH National Board Rev. Stephen Rooney . . . . . . . . Chaplain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . stiofan_o_ruanai@msn.com Maureen Shelton . . . . . . . . . . . President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . maureen1@chartermi.net Mary Hogan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LAOHBKLYN@aol.com Sue Lauster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . happysue6@gmail.com Pat O’Connell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . oconnellp407@comcast.net Sally Mains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irish Historian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sallymains@comcast.net Carol Sheyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Missions & Charity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . csheyer@fuse.net Lynn Burkart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Catholic Action . . . . . . . . . . LAOHCatholicAction@comcast.net Mary Ellen Chajkowski . . . . . . National Legal Counsel. . . . . . . . . . . chajkowski@comsast.met Julie Lewis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Asst. Digest Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . lynchlewis7@sbcglobal.net Kelly Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Immigration & Legislation . . . . . . . . kparks1959@comcast.net Agnes Gowdy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FFAI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . argowdy@aol.com Dee Ramp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LAOH Webmaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . afr201@comcast.net Marilyn Madigan. . . . . . . . . . . . Fundraising. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . madigan1130@sbcglobal.net Patricia Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . paddymurphy0817@gmail.com Kathryn Keane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Auditor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . info@macanta.com Mary Ochab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jewlery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jochab@aol.com Mary Sheehy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Notre Dame Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . marysheehy@sbcglobal.net PAST NATIONAL PRESDIENTS Margaret Hennessy. . . . . . . . . . Organizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deer Park, NY Mary Ryan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marlboro, MA Dorothy Weldon . . . . . . . . . . . . Budget Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Monongahela, PA Mary T. Leathem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Troy, NY Eleonore Grimley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alexandria, VA Mary B. Dolan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . North Brookfield, MA Peggy Cooney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pittsburgh, PA Mary Paglione. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . St. Lucie, FL Kathie Linton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Convention Chair. Notre Dame Chair . . . . . . . Uniontown, Ohio Terry Kelleher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Redwood City, CA Mary B. McEnery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Providence, RI Shelia Clifford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Waterbury, CT 20

Treasurer’s Report I want to take this opportunity to congratulate each recently elected LAOH State Board Officer who has committed to taking a strong leadership role in her State for the 2013-2015 term of office. I say THANK YOU to each State Officer who completed her service and term of office for her State Board.

As we are now in the last quarter of the 2013 Fiscal Year, please make sure that you have forwarded all new officers’ contact information including name, mailing address, phone, and email address to the President and Secretary at the next level within the Order. Keeping our officer data base at each level within the Order is challenging, but this task is an extremely important one so that your elected officers may communicate across the levels within the Order.

I encourage you to be generous in making your donations to our designated national charities and to those local charities that the State Boards, County Boards, and Divisions designate. Please keep an accurate record of your donations given by maintaining a record of the recipient’s full name, mailing address, dollar amount, date donation was given, and indicate whether the recipient has 501(c)(3) status.

Let me share with you a frequently asked question and my response to the question: How do I open a bank account for my State Board, County Board or Division? Response: Due to changes in banking rules, most states are now requiring that the National Treasurer issue a letter directly to the bank/credit union that authorizes the LAOH entity to open an

account with the bank/credit union. Thus, you need to contact me by phone (309-6810262) or by email (oconnellp407@comcast.net). Here is the information that I need from the LAOH entity so that I can prepare the authorization letter: [A] Name of LAOH entity—e.g. Illinois State Board, Peoria County Board IL, or Peoria County Division 1 IL, [B] Name, title, mailing address, phone number, email address of the LAOH contact person—e.g. President or Treasurer, [C] Name of bank/credit union, mailing address of bank/credit union, and [D] Name, title, mailing address, phone number email address of bank/credit union contact person. In the authorization letter, I will specify how the account name is to be stated, who is the LAOH entity contact person who will secure the signature cards for the account/s to be opened, and I will verify the LAOH entity’s EIN number. In addition to the authorization letter, most banking institutions are requiring a copy of the LAOH Articles of Incorporation and a copy of the LAOH IRS approval as a 501(c)(3) organization. I will provide copies of these documents directly to the banking institution. A copy of the letter that I send to the banking institution will be sent to the LAOH entity contact person to be maintained for the LAOH entity’s records.

I look forward to seeing many of you in Dearborn, Michigan in early November as we participate in the 2013 Interim National Board Meeting and honor our LAOH National President Maureen Shelton at her Testimonial Dinner.

Colorado News Way out west, the LAOH Denver Division 1 has had a fun filled and busy summer. The Colorado Irish Festival took place in July and was a great time, although nearly rained out by some pretty torrential downpours. Our sisters take an active role in nearly every aspect of running this large event and our group is pleased to have a booth each year where we can recruit members, increase awareness of the LAOH, and give out information about our Irish, Catholic heritage. This year, at the Feis, the LAOH presented a dancer with the Mary Jeanne Moriarity Memorial Award in memory of our beloved sister who entered into eternal life last year. Mary Jeanne was extremely active in the Irish Dance Community around Denver for many years and we felt it was only fitting for her to be honored in this way. The Moriarity family, including her husband, children, and grandchildren (pictured with the award recipient), along with LAOH and AOH members were present for the presentation of the award.

In August, we held our annual Our Lady of Knock Mass at Sacred Heart parish in Denver followed by our annual picnic. This is a chance for us to come together as sisters and pray to Our Lady in a uniquely Irish devotion. Our families and AOH brothers are invited as well and our local pipers kindly avail themselves to us year after year. The parish always seems happy to have us and we appreciate their hospitality. Sisters bring snacks and drinks to be shared with the parishioners after Mass and then we head out to a lovely park in Denver for our family picnic. It is always wonderful for us to come together in fellowship with our brothers and sisters and their families and spend this great time together.

Articles for the November/December issue are due no later than November 1st National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

Pennsylvania

Missions And Charities

Div. 4 Welcomes New Member On June 3, 2013 Trenna Colleen Loversidge was installed as the newest member of the Mary Ellen O’Neill, Div #4, Washington County PA at the Monongahela Valley Country Club by Division President, Past State President and Past National President Dorothy Weldon. Trenna Colleen is the great niece of Sister Colman Cohill CSJ, late Chaplain of the Mary Ellen O’Neill Division 4 Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Inc.

by Carol Sheyer, National Missions and Charities Officer Following is information on our Third Charity – Miracle Place Miracle Place opened in August of 2000 as a ministry of the Sisters of Providence on the eastside of Indianapolis. Sisters Rita Wade and Barbara McClelland had seen the largely middle class neighborhood nearby slide into poverty. It is there where they rented and renovated a house and named it “Miracle Place”.

Miracle Place offers educational opportunities and cultural experiences for all ages, a place of spiritual refreshment and community development. Rather than focusing on a single problem of the inner city, Miracle Place devotes itself to the neighborhood, with the ultimate goal of developing a strong sense of community and place. The residents, of the neighborhood, are a mix of elderly people who have lived there for decades and renters who may only stay a few weeks or months.

Some of the services Miracle Place has provided to the neighborhood are: Helping residents receive repairs to their homes so they are able to remain in the homes Information on purchasing a home Heat assistance Food Pantry Senior Services Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas presents Helped one family to purchase a home The Mission Statement of Miracle Place, Inc is - “Miracle Place, a ministry of the Sisters of Providence, offers hospitality, care, and concern. It is a place of spiritual refreshment where all who come may find refuge, where all who are severely tired may be comforted, where all who are lonely may find companionship and where those without hope may find a renewed spirit. Miracle Place offers educational opportunities and cultural experiences for various age groups. By bringing together neighbors for neighborhood activities and celebrations a sense of community is established; trust and good will are strengthened. The miracle of God s presence becomes reality!”

To make a donation to the Columban Fathers, Columban Sisters and/or Miracle Place please send the check along with the completed Missions & Charities form (the form can be found on the website) to me at the address on the form. A copy of your donation form only should be given to your Division Missions & Charities Officer, so she can retain a copy for her records, and a copy of the completed form only is to be forwarded to the County and/or State Missions and Charities Officer for their records.

Again I want to thank the membership for their continued support for our National Charities, the Columban Fathers, the Columban Sisters and Miracle Place.

Pennsylvania Elects New State Board

Here pictured are the PA State LAOH Officers for 2013-2015 installed at the PA State Convention held in Pittsburgh on July 20, 2013. (L to R front row): Mary Ann Amesbury, Treasurer; Rae Dispaldo, Secretary; Ellen McCrane, V.P.; Nancy Cullen, President; Maureen Lavelle, Imm.Past Pres.; (L to R back row) Maria Gallagher, Irish Historian; Shirley Murphy, Missions & Charities; Dot Crowley, Catholic Actions; Dorothy Weldon, Past National President.”

Pittsburgh Irish Community Remembers Hunger Strike Anniversary On August 17, the Pittsburgh Irish Community celebrated a Mass of Remembrance of the 32nd Anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strikers at St. Patrick’s Church, in the Strip District. Members representing the various Irish organizations in Pittsburgh processed in carrying pictures of the 10 men. Shirley Murphy, PA State Missions & Charities Chair, represented the LAOH. Fr. Thomas O’Donnell, AOH Chaplain and Fr. Jeremiah O’Shay concelebrated the mass held outside in the courtyard.

Nancy Cullen Leads Pennsylvania

North Carolina News The North Carolina State LAOH Irish Historian, Hope Cusick, has announced the State winners of the 2013 Irish essay competition. With over 40 entered Irish essays, 6 were selected to be winners for these awards.

The essay topic for Level 2- middle school students was “Castles of Ireland.” The NC State winners are: First Place - Sydnee Grill, Second Place Cameron Smithwick, Third Place Wilker Marie Ballantine, and Honorable Mention - Garbrielle Marushack and Sophie Kunz.

For Level 1 - the high school competition topic was “Mother Jones and the American Labor Movement.” The First Place winner is Olivia Miles.

These essays were submitted to the National LAOH for the final competition and Wilker Marie Ballantine won First Place on Level 2, receiving a certificate and a $500.00 check. She is a student from St. Mark’s School in Wilmington, NC. Special thanks go to Mrs. Susan Pirkey and Mrs. Pat Burns for all their support, and to all the judges who helped with evaluating the submissions. NC State LAOH Irish Historian, Hope Cusick, states, “We are so proud of these students and their accomplishment in writing a winning essay about Irish Heritage.” NC State LAOH President, Janice Donahue said, “Congratulations to the winning students on a job well done”.

Note From the Assistant Editor

The Pennsylvania LAOH is honored to welcome their new State President, Nancy Cullen

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

Many of the photos I receive for submission to the National Hibernian Digest do not contain the minimum of 1-2 megabytes and, therefore, are ineligible for publication. It is unfortunate, as they are great photos but will not copy clear enough. Please remind everyone who takes photos of your events to use a digital camera or at least a camera that they know is capable of taking the larger resolution photos. Also, it is most helpful if the articles are submitted as a Word Document attached to the e-mail as opposed to being part of the email.

Now that all the activities are starting up, I hope to receive many more articles.

Julie Lewis 21

Ohio News

Indiana News

Medina County hosts Annual Golf Outing Medina County Hibernians AOH and LAOH held their third Annual Scholarship Golf Outing and Steak Fry in August. The event benefits Medina County Students seeking higher education after graduating. Attending were Hibernians from FIVE AREAS, Medina, Mahoning, Summit 1, Summit 2, and many from Cuyahoga. Mahoning County President, Mugsy McGuiness, and a couple of their members cooked dinner. The most desired trophy of the day is the Casey Traveling Trophy. This trophy is sponsored by Past President Joe Casey and his brother Jim. To qualify, you must have 2 Hibernians on your team. For the third year, a Medina Team has taken the trophy home. This team admits that they aren’t that good and had some real competition this year. They challenge any Hibernian team for the 2014 award.

Indiana Sisters take pilgrimage to Rome For eight days in late June, 2013, Kathy Kaplan, Mary Ann Klein, Trish Condon and Peggy Fowley, all member of the LAOH, along with their younger sister, Cecelia Parker, journeyed to Italy for a Pilgrimage. The Pilgrimage was hosted by Archbishop Joseph Tobin. The highlight of this trip was to witness the conferring of the Pallium upon our new Archbishop. This ceremony took place on June 29 at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. A Pallium is conferred on an Archbishop within the first year of his term on the last Saturday of June. This symbol signifies that he is the shepherd of the five dioceses of Indiana.

Our pilgrimage led us to the Catacomb where many years ago 100,000 men, women and children were entombed; Day Two we headed to Orvieto where we attended Mass that was celebrated by the Archbishop, Fathers Rick Ginther, Larry Richardt and Frank Eckstein in the most renowned Gothic cathedral. Displayed on the altar was the corporeal of the Miracle of the Eucharist in Bolsena. This is where the feast of Corpus Christi began; Friday began with a Mass celebrated by the Archbishop at the altar of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Basilica. We then toured the Basilica and the Vatican Museum; Saturday we witnessed the Pallium ceremony. We were lucky enough to have prime seats on the aisle. The ceremony and Mass were absolutely beautiful as was the church. We then went to a reception at North American College. On Sunday we headed to Siena, the home of St. Catherine. Our final day began with a Mass at St. Alphonsus Liguori. This church is the headquarters of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorist Order) of which Archbishop Tobin was their leader for 18 years. We then headed to Subiaco where the monasteries of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica (twins) were founded. Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove is a monastery affiliated with them.

Columbus LAOH Sisters serve at the Dublin, OH Irish Festival Marilyn Madigan, National Fundraising Chair, is not just blowing smoke. She is actually master of the grill on her and fellow sisters’ visit to the Dublin Irish Festival just outside of Columbus, Ohio. They have been coming for the weekend for at least 10 years, having come for just the day before that. Traveling 150 miles, this year 11 ladies of Our Lady of the Rosary Division from Cleveland made the trip for a 3 day weekend of Irish music, food, drink, and all around good-spirited fun.

2013 saw the 26th anniversary of the Dublin Irish Festival in Dublin, Ohio.

Named a top 100 event in North America, the event is set on 29 rolling acres in Coffman Park, features more than 60 musical acts from the U.S. and Ireland performing music on seven stages (from Celtic rock to traditional ballads). Cultural stages include storytelling, and folklore, and there is an endless variety of Irish food and drink. It is one of America’s largest Irish festivals. To learn more about the Festival, visit www.dublinirishfestival.org. I’m sure Marilyn’s reservations for the 2014 trip are already made.

Irish Historian Report

By Sarah Mains, LAOH National Irish Historian Level 1 Irish essay contest for 2013 1st place winner is Wilker Ballantine from North Carolina.. Her name was originally reported as William Ballantine by mistake.

The topics for the Irish History Writing Contest for 2013-2914 are: Level 1 - Grades 6, 7, 8 - GIANT’S CAUSEWAY - Fact and Folklore Level 2 – Grades 9-10, 11, 12 - THE BOOK OF KELLS - its Origin and Present Day Influence The dates for submission have also changed as follows: The contest begins in September; below are the submission deadlines: Division entries must be received by January 15, 2014 County entries must be received by February 15, 2014 State entries must be received by March 15, 2014 National entries received by April 15, 2014 I want to thank everyone for all their hard work.

Michigan News On Sunday September 15, 2013 the Our Lady of Limerick Division of Flint, Michigan held their 6th Annual Hunger Awareness Walk. The event was held on the beautiful trails of Flint Township Park. The trails were lined with Irish blessings and signs honoring family members who suffered through the Great Hunger. Signs also commemorated other family members and businesses.

Irish tote bags, t-shirts commemorating the Walk and Irish pie birds were available for purchase.

Grilled hot dogs, chips and cookies were served for a donation. Several nice baskets were raffled off. This year dogs were invited to the event and a special Doggie Spa Basket was also raffled. Prizes were given to biggest and smallest dogs.

Participates were asked to bring a 5 lb. bag of potatoes or other non-perishable food items. All proceeds were given to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. The Food Bank is located in Flint, Michigan and currently provides food to over 50,000 individuals each week.

The LAOH Lady of Limerick Division is proud to contribute to such a worthwhile cause.

Correction To Irish History Writing Contest Report The name of the first place winner in Level 1 was incorrectly identified in the July-August issue. It should have been WILKER Ballantine not William.

22

LAOH Division hosts successful Garage Sale Our Lady of Knock Division 1, Indianapolis, Indiana has had an active and involved summer. Trish Condon, Catholic Action, is collecting rosaries, medals, holy cards bibles, and paperback books to be sent to the Archdiocese Mission Office for distribution.

The Annual garage sale chaired by Joyce Mc Mullen, her husband, Bob, and with help from Connie Heneghan was very successful. Unsold items were distributed to St. Vincent de Paul Society, a local soup kitchen, and to a parish that helps the needy with household needs. Books were sent to an Oncology Center and to Goodwill.

Freedom For All Ireland

By Agnes Gowdy THE British Government and the PSNI have dropped their High Court bid to block Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín’s (Carol Cullen, Sinn Fein Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure) release of inquest files to a victims’ group and a law firm on three conflict-related killings by British state forces and a pro-British death squad.

The British Government and PSNI had cited concerns about potential security risks in the files – even though the information had already been in the public domain. Early on Friday evening of the 9th of August, Relatives for Justice Chairperson (RFJ), Clara Reilly, and Relatives for Justice Director, Mark Thompson, met with Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister, Carál Ní Chuilín, (Carol Cullen) who personally handed them copies of inquest papers and a trial transcript which RFJ had previously made Freedom of Information requests for on behalf of families. Ms. Chuilín’s department has responsibility for the Public Records Office, where the papers are held.

The files relate to:North Belfast man and IRA Volunteer Patrick McAdorey, shot dead by the British Army in Ardoyne on the night of the raids enforcing internment without trial, 9 August 1971; Michael Donnelly (20), killed by a British Army plastic bullet on 9 August 1980; and 44-year-old mother of two, Sarah Ann Larmour, shot dead by the unionist Ulster Volunteer Force at her home in west Belfast in October 1979.

The British Government’s most senior legal advisers immediately swung into action and lodged a late-night appeal by Secretary of State Theresa Villiers and PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott to secure an emergency injunction against the Sinn Féin minister’s move. After the public outcry and intervention by Sinn Fein politicians who stated, “The irony is that these are public records about public inquest and court hearings, which have already been heard and reported in public yet the Northern Ireland Office now wants to prevent access to them.”. The records release was accepted by the British government and the PSNI. The Relatives for Justice is one of the groups that receive monetary support from the annual AOH & LAOH Christmas Appeal Fund. Clara Reilly was the recipient of the Sean McBride Humanitarian Award on October 8, 2011 at the National President’s Testimonial Dinner. I met Clara and Mark Thompson during the trip to Ireland in March of this year when we presented a check to the Relatives for Justice.

To all my LAOH sisters, this is a reminder that the Annual Christmas Appeal will be upon us soon. When I receive the documentation from Sean Pender, AOH FFAI, I will circulate it to all LAOH National, State, County and Division Presidents.

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

Nassau County AOH Board celebrates Irish culture New York’s Nassau County Board, its Feis and Festival Committee of AOH and LAOH members, put on a fabulous celebration of Irish Faith and Culture on Sept. 16 on the campus of at Hofstra University.

National President Brendan Moore was named the Nassau County Feis distinguished honoree, and Sean O’Rourke, feis chairman and Nassau County AOH Board president, presented him with a plaque.

National President Brendan Moore, center, was presented with a plaque as the 41st Annual Nassau County AOH Feis & Festival 2013 Distinguished Honoree by County President and Feis Chairman Sean O’Rourke, left, and county shanachie Joseph Gleason.

National Board officers, NY State Board President Jim Burke (also a former feis chairman and the current bands chairman) local elected officials, LAOH state president Carol McTigue, and dozens of AOH and LAOH volunteers made the day a big success. There was plenty of competitive Irish dancing, pipe and drum playing and marching, Irish football for kids, soda bread baking, flute and Irish language learning, loads of sunshine and happy faces!

Here are some images of the day. (Photo credit John O’Connell)

The pipes, the pipes, were calling in Nassau in September.

Sunshine and enthusiasm filled the field at Hofstra University, the venue for the Nassau feis.

Waiting for the dance.

Janice brought these two lovely Irish Wolfhounds, Declan, on the left, and Shannon.

Irish Step Dancing competitions brought many dozens of skilled, trained and talented young people to the feis’s stages.

The many onlookers who appreciated her fine talent and training matched this dancer’s wonderful smile.

New York State President Jim Burke, left, and County President Sean O’Rourke led many volunteers to organize a successful 41st.

Annual Nassau County Feis & Festival.

This piper was all tuned and ready to march.

With seeds, or without, may not have been the question for the judges, but for those who partook afterwards, it was, with each having its devotees.

County Chaplain Deacon Tom Costello, left, and State Chaplain Henry Reid said Mass at the feis.

National Hibernian Digest, September-October 2013

The Nassau Firefighters Pipe & Drum band was one of many that competed at the Nassau feis.

It was easy to see the joy so many dancers had in performing with grace and skill throughout the day.

23

Me ee e ett M e iin n St.Lo ou u uiiiss

REGISTRATION Fo Forr c convention onvention events events only. only. Pl Please, ease, one one person p e rs o n per fform. orm. Do Does es not not iinclude n c lu d e h hotel otel rreservations. eservations.

Na Name me _________________________________ _______________________________ Address Ad dress _______________________________ _____________________________ __ City City __________________________________ __________________________________ ____ State/Zip_________________________ _____________________________ State/Zip______________________________ _____

AOH/LAOH AOH/LAOH NATIONAL NATIONAL CONVENTION CONVENTION July July 30 30 – August August 2, 2, 2014 2014 At the the luxurious luxurious Grand Grand Renaissance Renaissance Hotel Hotel In the the heart heart of of Downtown Downtown St. St. Louis!

Louis!

Pho Phone ne ________________________________ ________________________________ complete omplete tthe he ffollowing: o llo w in g : If applicable applicable c am member off ((circle) AOH circle) A OH LLAOH AOH Ia mm em ber o Division Division ______________________________ ______________________________ Co County unty ______________________________ ______________________________

Complete Complete Package Package @ $200 $200 iincludes: n c lu d e s : Icebreaker Icebreaker reception, reception, “Taste “Taste of of St. St. Louis” Louis” buffet, buffet, be er and and entertainment entertainment beer

Ir Irish ish Night Night Dinner D in n e r Select ( ) G Brisket Select Grilled rilled SSalmon almon ( ) Beef Beef Brisket ( ) Vegetarian V e g e t a r ia n

In Installation stallation Banquet Banquet Select lect ( ) TTop op SSirloin irloin ( ) Sole Sole Sele ( )Vegetarian )Vegetarian Entertainment: “Irish Irish America’s America’s Favorite Favorite Son En t e r t a in m e n t : “ Son Andy Andy C Cooney ooney a and nd H His is B Band” and”

Al Ala aC Carte a rte Icebreaker Icebreaker Reception Reception ( ) $50 $50 Irish Ir ish Night Night Dinner Dinner ( ) $85 $85 Select Select ( ) SSalmon a lm o n ( ) B Beef eef ( ) V Veg. eg.

In Installation stallation Banquet Banquet ( ) $95 $95 Select Se lect ( ) TTop op SSirloin irloin ( ) Sole Sole ( )Veg. )V e g .

To Total tal Amount Amount Enclosed Enclosed $________________ $________________ Send Registration and check Se nd R egistration fform o rm a nd c heck payable payable tto o AOH/LAOH National Convention AOH/LAOH N ational C onvention to Ancient Order off H Hibernians Ancient O rd e r o ib e rn ia n s c/o Bill Burns c/ oB ill B u rn s Coliseum 13493 C oliseum Dr Dr Chesterfield, MO Ch e s te rfie ld , M O 63017 63017

Re Registration g is t ra t io n D Deadline eadline July July 10, 2014

Hot Hotel el R Reservations eservations must must be be made b yc ontacting th eh otel: made by contacting the hotel: Renaissance St Louis Grand Hotel 800 W Washington a s h in g to n A Ave, ve, S St. t. Louis, Louis, MO MO 63101 Reservations: 9600 o orr Re servations: ((314) 314) 621-9600 621-9600 236-2427 1 888 236-2427 Sp Special e c ia l A AOH/LAOH OH/LAOH Convention Convention Rate R a te $120 per night $ 120 p er n ight plus plus tax. tax.

Parking with unlimited per Pa rking w it h u nlimited access access $10.00 $10.00 p er day day Pets are allowed.

Pe ts a re not not a llowed. All All rooms rooms are are non-smoking non-smoking code prevents rollaway LLocal ocal fire fire c ode p revents ro llaway beds, beds, so so please p lease do do not not rrequest. e q u e s t.

PERSO N COMPLETE CO MPLETE EVENTS EVENTS PACKAGE PACKAGE $200 $200 PER PER PERSON Icebreaker e b re a k e r R Reception eception Wednesday, We dnesday, July July 30 30th - Ic

and Irish Irish music m u s ic “T “Taste a s te o off S St. t. Louis” Louis” Buffet Buffet with with complimentary complimentary beer beer and

Thursday, Thursday, JJuly u ly 3 31 1st – FFree re e n night ig h t

Fo Forr iinfo n fo o on n St. St. Louis Louis activities activities go go to: to: www.explorestlouis.com www.explorestlouis.com

Fr Friday, iday, August August 1st – ““Irish Irish Night” Night” Dinner D in n e r

Grilled Grilled Salmon Salmon or or Smoked Smoked Beef Beef Brisket Brisket in in a Guinness Guinness Sauce, Sauce, Complimentary C omplimentary beer and and table table wine wine and and entertainment entertainment by Andy Andy Cooney, Cooney, “Irish “Irish America’s America’s Favorite Favorite Son Son Andy Andy Cooney Cooney and and His His Band” Band”

Sa Saturday, tu rd a y , A August ugust 2nd – In Installation stallation Banquet Banquet

Grilled Top Top Sirloin Sirloin of of Beef Beef in in Portabella Portabella Cabernet Cabernet Sauce Sauce or or Herb Herb Crusted Crusted Sole.

S o le .

Grilled St Louis specialties specialties Gooey Gooey Butter Butter Cake Cake and and Ted Ted Drewe’s Drewe’s Custard.

C u s ta rd .

St.. Louis Co m p lim e n ta ry b eer a nd table table w ine and and e ntertainment by

by Andy Andy Cooney Cooney Complimentary beer and wine entertainment All All dinners dinners include include soft soft drinks, drinks, salad, salad, desert, desert, coffee coffee and and tea. te a .

Use attached events.

Use at tached FForm orm to to register register and and purchase purchase ev ents.

NO DINNER DINNER TTICKETS IC K E T S W WILL ILL BE BE SOLD SOLD AT THE THE CONVENTION. CONVENTION.

CH CHURCH URCH S SERVICES ERVICES

OPENING OPENING MASS MASS at at the the Shrine Shrine of of St. St. Joseph Jo se p h 1220 N. N. 11th Street, Louis, MO MO 63106 63106 (www.shrineofstjoseph.org) (www.shrineofstjoseph.org) Street, St. St. Louis, DAILY Hotel in the the Crystal Crystal Ballroom Ballroom of of the the Hotel DAILY MASS MASS in CLOSING MASS, Saturday, Saturday, August August 2nd CL OSING MASS, Cathedral Basilica St. home off th the Ca th e d ra l B asilica of of S t. LLouis o u is – h om e o e world’s world’s largest largest mosaic m o s a ic 4431 Lindell (www.cathedralstl.com) Lindell Blvd., Blvd., St. St. Louis, Louis, MO MO 63106 (w w w . c a t h e d r a ls t l. c o m )

GOL GOLFF OU OUTING T IN G

Wednesday The Golf Forest Wednesday JJuly uly 30, Th e Norman Norman K Probstein Probstein Go lf Course Course in For est Park Park ((www.forestparkgc.com) www.forestparkgc.com) Contact Kevin forr more C ontact Kev in Kehoe Kehoe fo more information information (kevin@aoh2014stl.com). (kevin@aoh2014stl.com).

TR TRANSPORTATION/DOWNTOWN ANSPORTATION/DOWNTOWN ST. SHUTTLE ST. LOUIS/HOTELS LOUIS/HOTELS SHUTTLE

GO BEST BEST Express Express Airport Airport Shuttle Shuttle to to book book online online go go to: to : ((www.gobestexpress.com) www.gobestexpress.com) 1-877877-785available 24 hrs. hrs. daily. daily.

1-877-STL-GOVAN 1 877 STL-GOVAN (1-877-785-4682) (1-877 877 785 4682) C Customer ustomer Service Service available Shared ride ride shuttles shuttles least least airport airport about about every every 15-30 15-30 minutes minutes between between 6 a.m. a .m .

Shared and 1 0 p. m. Service Service begins begins a .m. Outside Outside these these times times requires requires prior p rio r and 10 p.m. att 4 a a.m. reservation. Please Please check check for for availability. availability. Reservations Reservations guarantee guarantee a seat seat for fo r reservation. yo ua nd yo ur p arty. C o st o ne w ay ffor or Go Go Be st about about $21. you and your party.

Cost one way Best Ca bs a re a bout $ 40.

Cabs are about $40.

Metrolink iiss a light light rail rail system system with PU BLIC TTRANSPORTATION: RANSPORTATION: Metrolink with 37 37 stations. stations. It PUBLIC nd se veral su rrounding areas areas iincluding se rv e s d o w n to w n S t. Louis Louis a ncluding tthe he airport. a ir p o r t . serves downtown St. and several surrounding ic k u p a he a irport: Terminal Co st iiss a ro u n d $ 4. P assenger p Terminal 1, 1, Exit Exit door door 1, 1, Cost around $4.

Passenger pickup att tthe airport: ast o m e r ic a n A irlines Credit Credit Union up per level, level, e Union upper east off A American Airlines Terminal, accessible accessible through through the Terminal 2: 2: South South of of Terminal, the parking parking garage garage on on Terminal all all levels. levels. Timetables Timetables and and information information available available at: at: http://tripfinder.metrostlouis.org/ntp/en/timetables/ http://tripfinder.metrostlouis.org/ntp/en/timetables/

FO FOR RA ADDITIONAL DDITIONAL IINFORMATION: NFORMATION:

Ja James m es D Dailey ailey Wahl, Wahl, National National Director, Director, Missouri Missouri (wahljd@aoh2014stl.com) (wahljd@aoh2014stl.com) Kathie Linton, Linton, LAOH LAOH National National Liaison, Liaison, Past Past LAOH LAOH National National President President Kathie (K a t h ie . L in t o n @ a k r o n g e n e r a l. o r g ) (Kathie.Linton@akrongeneral.org) News, updates, updates, information information and and registration registration fo rms: (www.aoh2014stl.com) (www.aoh2014stl.com) News, forms: Fo o n v e n t io n P ro g ra m a db ook iinfo: nfo: (sandi@aoh2014stl.com) (sandi@aoh2014stl.com) Forr c convention Program ad book Sp e c ia l n e e d s / s e r v ic e s p lease c ontact tthe he h o te l a 314) 621-9600 621-9600 Special needs/services please contact hotel att ((314)