Treasurer’s Report

June 6, 2012 by

Brothers, this is the last article for the Hibernian Digest that I will be submitting as your treasurer.  Some days it seems like just yesterday that I started this job and other days it seems like 10 years.

The Order is in better financial shape than it has ever been. This has a great deal to do with the per capita increase that we secured in New Orleans four years ago as well as reorganizing our stock portfolio, which now seems to be on a firm financial and conservative base.

We are still suffering through the new IRS regulations requiring each Division to have a current EIN tax exempt number allowing them to file their 990 forms on a yearly basis. Many of our Divisions are in compliance, however some are not. This is a very frustrating experience for many of the Division’s financial secretaries. I have attempted to preach patience and tenacity dealing with the IRS and I know slowly but surely all the divisions of our order will be in compliance. We continue to be, as we have in the past 15 years, in good standing with the IRS and have diligently filed our tax returns in a timely manner.

I have been fortunate to be associated with one of our Order’s most historic projects in recent times, the erection of the Commodore Barry gate in Annapolis, Maryland. It is still an ongoing project and I think by the time you read this article we will have attained or be close to attaining our monetary goal. This is the type of brick-and-mortar endeavor of our Noble Order that will stand the test of time. Our grandchildren and great grandchildren will be able to read in stone what their Hibernian grandfathers and great grandfathers did on behalf of a great Irishman, John Barry, father of the American Navy.

Hope to see many of you at our National Convention in Turning Stone, New York.

God Bless,

Jim McKay

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Chaplain’s Message

June 6, 2012 by

This year 2012 is another Presidential Election Year. There has been much controversy especially about the Health and Human Services Mandate, which seems to be a clear violation of Religious Freedom and a clear violation of our Constitution. As National Chaplain, I have received many inquiries about what the posture of the Ancient Order of Hibernians should be with regard to Catholic Politicians who seem to support legislation that is patently against Catholic teaching and morality. I originally delivered the following article as State Chaplain at the AOH Penna. State Board Meeting in the election year of 2004.  However, the article is as relevant in 2012 as it was in 2004.

 

“In recent years there has been a good deal of talk and controversy about personal, religious, moral and ethical values impacting political positions. There has been much discussion in theological, Canon Law and even AOH circles because of a proposed amendment to the National AOH Constitution.

As Pennsylvania State Chaplain I felt that it is necessary to provide some insight into the moral and ethical problems of this question.

In recent weeks the question has arisen: Should Bishops discipline, perhaps even by denying Holy Communion to those members of the Church in public office who do not support the Church’s teaching on basic moral values? Many of my remarks today are a synopsis of a lecture given by the Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl, when he was the Bishop of Pittsburgh. Cardinal Wuerl has been recognized all over the world as one of the theological and moral voices of our age. Some of my remarks will also be fortified by personal conversations that I have had with my classmate, Bishop William Skylstad, formerly the Bishop of Spokane, Washington. Bishop Skylstad was also the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2004.

A society, which is based on a democracy, is able to fashion laws that govern how we conduct ourselves in a political community.  While some laws may have very little moral content, others are laden with grave implications. It is one thing to determine a speed limit for an open stretch of highway and all together different to vote on right to life legislation. Deep within our heart and our conscience is the recognition that you simply cannot kill others anymore than you would want someone to kill you. Civil law, in its order to regulate human activity, has always been presumed to be a reflection of, or at least in conformity with, the natural moral order. Every citizen must accept some responsibility for the direction of our country. Thus it is that when a person, in a democratic society, votes that person is called to bring his or her moral values and vision to the process. Otherwise public policy can soon be emptied of any moral content. This we see so clearly in the political posture that approves of terribly wrong actions by claiming to support freedom of choice. But the right to choose brings with it the corresponding responsibility to chose the moral and ethical good.

In making judgments about public policy every Christian, every person, should consider the primary basic directives of the moral law as the ultimate norm – a norm that cannot be contravened. Thus, to take an innocent life should always under all circumstances be prohibited. The right to life is the most fundamental of all human rights. Our heavenly Father has the ultimate sovereignty over creating or terminating life. The dignity of human life is not just Catholic teaching; the value of human life is both revealed wisdom and human reason. Sometimes a single issue will be so important that it overrides a whole range of issues. The taking of the life of an unborn child is wrong, terminating the life of the elderly or handicapped is wrong, capital punishment has been condemned by the Church as wrong, killing in an unjust war is wrong, wealthy nations not providing food for starving nations is wrong. Thus right to life issues are more than just anti-abortion issues.

However, the defining issue of our time is respect for human life. One hundred years from now people may look back on our generation and wonder how it was possible that some people deluded themselves into making a law in the land that the right to life is arbitrary and protected only for those whose lives are deemed convenient.

Just as voters are not asked to set aside their most deeply held moral convictions when they enter a voting booth so elected officials are not asked to deposit their moral and ethical convictions at the door of Congress. In fact, we assume that those, whom we elect, will vote their conscience. However, if an act such as abortion is intrinsically evil, then legislative support of it is also wrong. Thus we come face to face with what every Catholic politician must address. Empowering abortion is not a political action with light or minimal consequences. Pro-abortion legislation creates the legal environment that enables huge numbers of unborn children to be deprived of their most basic and fundamental right – the right to life.

Now we come to the question: “How should the Church and the Bishops respond to those legislators who are members of the Church and at the same time support legislation that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith says they have a clear and grave obligation to oppose? The standard response of the Church, when dealing with grave moral issues, is to teach. Bishops and Priests have the responsibility of instructing the faithful so that they might have a correctly informed conscience out of which to act. It is the task of the teaching office of the Church to bring the light of the Gospel message to the circumstances of our day. The role of the Church, as teacher, in no way impinges upon the autonomy of the participation of lay Catholic in politics.

The Congregation of the Faith does not speak of sanctions against those in public office who do not live up to the grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life. In fact there seems to be a practice both in Rome and in the Diocesan Churches in Europe of refraining from disciplinary actions in such circumstances. Because of the publicity given to the voting position of Catholic politicians, there is created an impression among Catholics that it is acceptable to reject the clear teaching of the Church. What are Bishops doing to counter this impression? Bishops and Priests must continue to teach that abortion is evil. Abortion takes the life of an unborn human being. For this reason it is intrinsically wrong and is never able to be justified. There is no single teaching position more articulate in the Church throughout our country today than that: “The Catholic Church opposes abortion.” We must also teach with greater clarity that legislative support for abortion is wrong. Catholic politicians today are called to face personal accountability in the forum of conscience and to recognize the moral teaching of the Church that to vote for abortion legislation is also wrong. More teaching must be done not only with politicians but also with all the Catholic faithful.

What in addition to teaching should the Bishops do? In considering sanctions, other serious questions arise. Before taking disciplinary action, there would have to be a clear explanation about what action is being taken, why it is being taken, and how it is justified. This is no small matter. However, historically, the people in the United States, including Catholics, react with great disfavor to any effort of a Church body that tries to tell people how to vote or to attempt to punish people for the manner in which they vote.

There are some who advocate refusing Holy Communion to those Catholics who do not oppose legislation supporting abortion. The refusal of Holy Communion implies, according to applicable Church law, that the person who is not admitted to Communion is one who is excommunicated or interdicted, or obstinately persists on grave sin. We should not be surprised by the length and breadth of interpretations about the application of Church law in the context of political actions. Given the long standing practice of not making a public judgment about the state of the soul of those who present themselves for Holy Communion, it does not seem that it is sufficiently clear that in the matter of voting for legislation that supports abortion such a judgment necessarily follows, The pastoral tradition of the Church places the responsibility of such a judgment first on each individual presenting oneself for Holy Communion. The pastoral responsibility of Bishops and Priests includes making prudential decisions on how to achieve the pastoral goal of conversion of intellect, will and heart,

It seems that on the part of the Church a much greater effort can be made to teach more convincingly why abortion is a primary evil, and more clearly why support of abortion legislation is gravely wrong and also why our Catholic faithful must not be misled into believing that either abortion or support of it is somehow acceptable simply because some Catholic politicians do not oppose pro-abortion legislation.

All of us have an obligation to be informed on how critical the life-death issue of abortion is and how profoundly and intrinsically evil is the destruction of unborn human life. Our political actions, out of which come the laws of this country, must be based on the natural moral law and the most basic of all human rights – the right to life.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians from the national level down to the local division level has always been at the forefront in upholding the sanctity and dignity of human life from the womb to the tomb. Our Order has also been very active in opposing any legislation, which violates the sanctity of human life. We must continue as an Order to educate ourselves about pro-life issues and continue to oppose and defeat any legislation, which is contrary to the sanctity of human life. “

 

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Deputy Chaplain

June 6, 2012 by

It was Sr. Mary who urged me, as a child, to approach the word before me, by getting to the Latin root of the word; I still find myself looking to the origins of words. Recently, I was occupying myself in this regard and came across the word Motto, which is defined as:  “1) a sentence, phrase, or word inscribed on something as appropriate to or indicative of its character or use; 2) a short expression of a guiding principle.” Of course, there were other definitions, including one about a candy wrapper, but I liked these two, especially the second, a short expression of a guiding principle. The origin of this word rests in 15th Century Italy, possibly earlier, and is from the Late Latin muttum, meaning grunt, derived from the Latin muttire, to mutter. Big difference from grunting something to expressing a guiding principle.

Our own motto, “Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity,” contains so many elements, so many things that can direct our lives and our goals to something higher, something beyond oneself, or one’s own agenda. Friendship alone speaks of stepping beyond oneself, of looking toward another human being, as somebody who is worthy of my time and attention; even children, as they mature, recognize that other people do not exist solely for their pleasure, but a measure of sacrifice is needed in all relationships. Unity, one of those lovely Latin-based words that, at its core, means “One.” (Forgive me for not breaking into a U2 song here, but I was never a big fan.) We talk about “Oneness” all the time, the idea that the United States are One and Indivisible, that among our aspirations is that Ireland be One Nation, Free and in control of Its own destiny. Then there is the final, and in my opinion most important part of our Motto, Christian Charity.

The fact that we pronounce ourselves to be a Christian organization means that we subscribe to those Fundamental Doctrines that are held by the Catholic Church, presented in the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds. We state that our common Christian Faith is central to our lives and our organization; moreover, we base our actions on the type of Charity that springs from such Faith. But what do we mean by Charity? Once again we return to the Latin, where the word Caritas, which meant preciousness, dearness or high price, was adapted by the early Christian community to describe the Greek word Agapē, which is the complete self-giving Love that God showered on the human race by becoming one of us, and offering Himself on the Cross for our Salvation. Granted, we are human, and by our nature we are inclined to sin, but that does not mean we do not aspire to live out the type of Charity that God gives us the grace to live.

Now that I have covered that, let me return to two years ago, when we were in Cincinnati for the 2010 Convention. I have to admit that I was disappointed, to say the least, with the results of the elections, but not only because I believe a good friend of mine was burnt, but because I knew what an asset this Brother would have been to the National Board and the Order as a whole. Whether it was anti-New York sentiments, persons with their own agenda, or the mismanagement of delegates by others, that election is in the past, and I am hopeful that as Hibernians we can put our own narrow agendas behind us, forgive any slights that we may feel and bring the AOH forward. When we come together to vote this July, we need to look at what is good for the Order as a whole, not what one state or individual may want. We need to vote for men who do more than shake hands, men who are willing to pull up their sleeves and actually work for the good of the AOH. We need to make sure that those who hold office hold our Motto of Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity as a guiding principle, and not something muttered.

Yours in Christ and our Motto,

Fr. Henry W. Reid

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Immigration

June 6, 2012 by

Where there’s life, there’s hope! Truly words to live by, especially if you are a supporter of the Irish E3 Visa program. The considered opinion of Irish immigrations advocates and representatives in both US and Irish governments, and yours truly, is that we can still achieve the Visa in this Congress. Our work towards attaining this visa has been extensive and I thank all of you who have pitched in and put your backs into this effort. Be one of the many Hibernians who have made the call and say to the legislators that are helping us, let them know “We will never forget!” If they tell you that they can’t, or worse, won’t help, let them know, “We will never forget!” We might have to change tack politically, but the ask to your legislators is the same, tell them, again and again, “We need you to support the Irish E3 Visa now! We need you to urge your colleagues to support the Irish E3 Visa as well!”

 

The Irish E3 Visa program would greatly increase the amount of renewable visas to the United States from Ireland by 10,500. The Irish E3 would create a much needed avenue for young Irish people to seek employment, gain experience, and enrich our cultural exchange with the Irish. The prospect of educated, energetic Irish visa holders helping Irish Americans like yourselves to increase and expand our communities and invigorate the Irish American culture across the nation is far too important to write off. It is important that like many generations before, but not recently due to lack of visas, these people would return to Ireland with their “Made In The USA” experiences and help economic growth and goodwill towards America at home; Or they would have the right to stay in the US and help invigorate our own economy, organizations and communities.

Irelands jobless rates remain among the highest in Europe, yet the Irish are credited by economic with their efforts to address the situation. The highest levels of Irish diplomatic and political leadership have asked the highest levels of US leadership to support the Irish E3 Visa. Our National and State AOH leadership request that you do what you can to get this one OVER THE BAR!

 

Thanks again to NYS Treasurer Tim McSweeney for his aid with those unfortunately tangled in the web that our Irish undocumented and legal immigrants face. Tim’s work for detained Irish nationals extends across the ocean and has made a positive impact in many ways. I continue to work with Sean Pender on helping Relatives for Justice Families Inc and other families, attorneys, legislators and activists to the US for hearings and meetings as we did this past St. Patrick’s week. My work on immigration reform and other immigration issues has brought me to the Irish Embassy and the US State Department in Washington to address the issues of Irish E3 VisaThar Saile, detainees, and many other issues. I am happy to report that we have made tremendous strides in our work with Thar Saile and detainees and former prisoners. This year, Matt Morrison was able to visit his home in Derry for the first time in many years. I hope that at the National Convention more good news will arrive.  Please sign up for Immigration of you are planning to attend the convention!

 

During his address at several occasions in New York Irish President Michael D. Higgins singled out the AOH for its aid to the Irish immigrants over our history and more specifically our work on securing legal paths for Irish immigrants today. He also praised our support for the Irish Immigration Centers at his visit to the Emerald Isle Immigration Center in Woodlawn.

 

I urge you to reach out to the Irish Immigration centers across the U.S. and volunteer either funding or sweat equity to the vital services they provide to Irish elderly and young immigrants alike. The Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers site has information on all the centers and their programs www.ciic-usa.org I have worked with all of these centers over the years and they really deserve our help. I have visited the three centers in NY over the past few months and marvel at the great work they do and how they offer so many great services. New York County Division 4 met at the NY Irish Center in Long Island City. Westchester Division 1 Yonkers continues to support the Aisling Irish Center. In turn, the Aisling Center helped to fete the 100th Birthday of Bronx Division 5 member, Joe Cunningham during a visit of Irish President Michael D. Higgins. Joe and  Kitty Geissler, LAOH Tarrytown, were also honored by NYS Director Brian Kelly at the AOH/LAOH Westchester County Board Dance at the Hibernian Hall at the Hudson Valley Irish Center.

 

As your immigration chair, it gives me great pleasure to announce the greatest single effort to aid an Irish immigration center by Hibernians:

The Celtic Cruise aboard the Spirit of New York run by AOH NY County Division 7 to benefit the Emerald Isle Immigration Center on Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at 6pm. This promises to be the event of the year with music, dancing, great food and fun. Music on all decks provided by Celtic Cross, the Cunningham Brothers, Shay Mac Band, Chris Kelly Band and more! For more info and tickets contact www.celticcharity.com or call (212) 717-9955.

 

Below is a partial list of Senators that need to help with the Irish E3 Visa. You may notice that the listed are GOP senators. That is because the entire Democratic and Independent delegation have committed to the Irish E3 according to Senate leadership. What we need is GOP support for this bipartisan effort.

Arizona: John McCain – (202) 224-2235 and John Kyl (202)224-4521,

Alaska: Lisa Murkowski (202)224-6665,

Florida: Marco Rubio (202) 224-3041,

Kentucky: Mitch McConnell  (202) 224-2541,

Louisiana: David Vitter (202) 224-4623,

Maine: Olympia Snowe (202)224-5344

New Hampshire: Kelly Ayotte (202) 224-3324

OH: Rob Portman (202)224-3353

South Carolina: Lindsey Graham – (202) 224-5972, Jim DeMint (843) 727-4525

Texas: John Cornyn 202-224-2934, Kay Bailey Hutchison (512)916-5834

TN: Lamar Alexander (202)224-4944,

Utah: Mike Lee (202) 224-5444

WI: Ron Johnson (202)224-5323

 

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Freedom For All Ireland

June 6, 2012 by

It has been a great honor to serve as FFAI National Chairman under the leadership of National President Seamus Boyle. Seamus is an unrepentant Fenian who as someone who grew up and lived in South Armagh saw first hand what the British government and her henchmen did in the North of Ireland. Seamus never shied away from helping shed the light on what really happened in the North during the troubles; as someone who lost friends and neighbors in the troubles he has served as a champion to the victims who still today search for justice and truth.  Seamus on behalf of all the people in the North: Go raibh maith agut.

In the last few months I have been a part of several events that have made me proud to be a member of the AOH and even prouder to know that our efforts are making a difference. These events served to fortify my resolve for our continued support of the full implementation of the Good Friday agreement and the need for an independent vehicle to address the past in the North of Ireland.

In March I spent a week with family members who lost loved ones in three collusion related murders in the North; despite the best efforts of these families they are still seeking the truth decades later since the British government continues to stonewall their attempts to achieve the truth. The group was led by Mark Thompson the director of Relatives for Justice the Belfast Based victim’s rights group that our Christmas Appeal supports and Niall Murphy of the Kevin Winters law firm also based in Belfast.  We should take pride knowing that the trip was partially funded by Christmas Appeal donations.  Family members of those who lost loved ones in Belfast, Down and Tyrone met for the first time in New York City and spent a week in New York and Washington DC, telling their stories to media, human rights groups, US elected officials, and a Congressional hearing. In New York they were interviewed on the Adrian Flannelly Irish Radio show, interviewed by the Irish Voice and Irish Echo; they attended and were recognized at New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg’s St. Patrick’s Day breakfast at Gracie mansion, and they marched proudly with their counties in the NYC St Patrick’s parade. In Rockland County New York they were featured prominently at the mass and the grand marshal breakfast, where they briefed NY Congressman Eliot Engel. They walked proudly behind their banner in the Rockland County St Patrick’s Day Parade. The great people of the Rockland County AOH,LAOH and St Patrick’s Parade were superb hosts to the families; many thanks to Rockland County AOH and LAOH Presidents Vince Tyer and Joan Moore and Parade Co-chairs Mary O’Sullivan and Bill Lee for allowing the truth to be on display in front of what looked to be hundreds of thousands of people.

In Washington DC the families were able to confront members of the British and Stormont government who were there telling the US how good everything is progressing. They added a much needed dose of reality to the one sided British take on the past.  As the likes of the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Paterson, Stormont Minister of Justice David Ford and PSNI director Matt Baggott were painting an idyllic picture of looking forward the family members were able to highlight the importance of dealing with the past.

The highlight of the time in Washington was the March 21st Congressional hearing entitled “Prerequisites for Progress in Northern Ireland”; the hearing was chaired by past AOH-LAOH Sean MacBride award winner NJ Congressman Chris Smith.  I was proud to have worked with Father Sean MacManus of the Irish National Caucus in making this hearing possible.  Among those that testified was Mark Thompson who entered into the Congressional record the detail pertaining to each of the three collusion based murders and whose testimony  was based on the basis the that the legacy of human rights abuses relating to the conflict in the north of Ireland requires resolution.  Along with representatives of other Human rights groups and Geraldine Finucane all of those that testified highlighted the fact that the English government continues to abdicate its responsibility to address the past and has willfully obstructed the truth.  This hearing set against the backdrop of the continuing Boston College debacle and the absolute injustice of the continued interment in the North of Gerry McGeough and Marian Price highlighted what seems to be the British government’s philosophy of Hypocrisy, Hierarchy and Hubris in its dealing with the past.  The British believe in justice only if it serves there pervasive insidious principle that justice is due to the select few that it deems as worthy. There is no sincerity, magnanimity, fairness or truth in any of their actions and it is about time that our country and others insist that truth be told.

It is my hope at our upcoming convention at Turning stone to highlight the three attacks in Belfast, Clonoe and Loughinilsand; and my intention to use a sykpe type hook up to have both Mark Thompson and Niall Murphy address the FFAI break out session.

In April and May I had the honor to represent the AOH and the people of the North in round table discussions with both the State Department and US Senator Robert Menendez of NJ.  At both sessions I spoke of the issues that confront the people of the North and of the need to deal with the past in a truthful non-obstructed way.  I added my voice to those of other concerned Irish Americans and it is my hope that in some way we have been able to raise the awareness of this issue and will enlist a new reinvigorated concern on behalf of our government.

 

Notes: While in Washington Congressman Richie Neal and Chris Smith were presented by the AOH with framed prints of the Bloody Sunday families’ vindicated poster. The families had signed the prints and thanks to the efforts of Baltimore AOH member Bill Pribyl we were able to have them shipped to the US to be presented to these two Congressmen.

Sincere thanks to Dan Dennehy NYS FFAI chair for his help in hosting the joint NY-NJ State Board Project Crossmaglen at Harbour Lights in New York City in early May.  The beautiful area of South Armagh and its tourism potential was highlighted in a presentation by Fiona Kernan and Colum Murphy of the Cross Square Hotel and Matthews tours of Crossmaglen, County Armagh

 

 

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Director’s Report

June 6, 2012 by

It is important for us a Hibernians to fight against those who defame our faith and our heritage. Not just around St. Patrick’s Day but all year round. We as Hibernians need to be vigilant and not support businesses that continue to ignore our request to not insult our Irish ethnicity. These businesses will listen when sales decline.

This past spring I had the honor to represent the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Waterford, Ireland. The 1848 Tricolour Celebration Committee was putting on their annual gathering to commemorate the unveiling of the Irish Tricolour by their native son Thomas Francis Meagher in 1848 in Waterford City, Ireland. The Committee invited me and my fellow AOH brothers Brian Schweitzer, Montana’s Governor, and Jim Hammill, past Division President of the Thomas Francis Meagher Division in Helena Montana.

Governor Schweitzer was the Guest of Honor and guest speaker during the event. I would like to thank the all of the committee members of the “1848 Tricolour Celebration” for putting on wonderful event and showing us the “Irish Hospitality”.  My hope is that we can return the favor soon.  It was good to see that past history is remembered and the Tricolour was not forgotten as a symbol of peace and its message still prevails today.

I’m looking forward to seeing all you at Turning Stone in July.

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Historical Happenings

June 6, 2012 by

Did you know that Irish and Irish-American veterans of the American Civil War invaded Canada?  They were members of the Fenian brotherhood – an organization founded from the Emmet Monument Association – a committee of the AOH.

From the time of the Great Hunger, many Irish in America believed in the militant overthrow of the British in Ireland.  To that end, the Emmet Monument committee was formed within the AOH to support those ideals.  It was publicly advertised as a fund-raising activity to erect a monument to Irish patriot Robert Emmet.  Those who knew their history however, knew that in Emmet’s speech before his execution he said “Until Ireland takes her place among the free nations of the earth, let no man write my epitaph”.  AOH Members of the Emmet Monument Association like John O’Mahony and Michael Doheny, formed a militant organization and called it the Fenian Brotherhood with James Stevens in Ireland as leader.  The Fenian Brotherhood grew as a separate organization from the AOH, and became the largest Irish nationalist organization in the world.  Some Fenians developed a plan to invade the British province of Canada and trade it back to England for Ireland’s freedom.

On June 1, 1866, an army of Fenians, recruited mostly from veterans of America’s recent Civil War, crossed the Niagara River at Buffalo, NY under General John O’Neil, and captured Fort Erie.  They raised the Fenian flag to the frantic joy of the Irish around the world.  The following day the Irish marched to Ridgeway where a British force attempted to stop them and were routed.  The Fenians camped to prepare for the following day’s advance.  In the interim, the British appealed to the United States government which cut off the Fenian supply line and halted the reinforcements waiting to cross the border.  On June 3rd, Canadian militia were gathering to attack the Fenians and O’Neill felt it prudent for a strategic retreat back across the border to pick up the several thousand Irish volunteers who had gathered in villages and towns all along the New York border.  Once back over the river, O’Neill, his officers and about five hundred men were arrested  and incarcerated.

In the meantime, Lt. General U. S. Grant ordered the border closed preventing 4,000 other Fenian troops from crossing at Fort Erie.  Grant then ordered that incoming carloads of Fenian arms and ammunition be captured by US authorities throughout the region.  Despite the Fenian Army’s numerical superiority, once deprived of the means to sustain a fight and Grant’s closing the border, the invasion collapsed.  On June 6, President Johnson issued a Proclamation forbidding any further Fenian attempts to break the neutrality laws of the United States.  By June 6, the Fenian officers had all been released on their promises to appear later before the Federal circuit court. Their soldiers were paroled and given free railroad transportation back to their homes, on their promises not to again illegally cross international borders.

Now, in 2012, NY State Senator Timothy Kennedy, supported by the local AOH, successfully completed a two-year campaign to raise an 8′ by 4′ monument of Wicklow Granite in Buffalo’s Tow Path Park – the Niagara riverside launching point for the invasion.  The monument was officially dedicated by Kennedy and local politicians on March 16.  Kennedy noted,  The Fenian invasion has a unique place in Buffalo’s history.  The Fenian Brotherhood, battle-hardened American veterans, first fought to keep our nation united and strong in the Civil War. Then, by launching this invasion, they significantly contributed to the national independence of Canada and eventually Ireland. The Fenian invasion demonstrated that freedom and democracy are forces that no amount of oppression can stop.  The AOH held their official dedication of the memorial on June 2, the day after the 246th anniversary of the actual Fenian Invasion and we congratulate all the Hibernians who participated, especially President Tom Lambert (Div 1, Buffalo) and President Mike McNerney (Div 1, Niagara) and all on the committee.  After the stone was received, it was carved and etched by American stonecutters in English and Irish.

We only came in second!  The British National Army Museum in London recently held a public on-line vote to determine England’s worst military enemies.  Among the top five finalists were Mustafa Kemal Atatuurk (head of the Turks at Gallipoli), Erwin Rommel (Germany’s Desert Fox) and Napoleon Bonparte.  Coming in at number two was the Great Michael Collins, which was a bit of a shock; I would have thought he’d be number one!  However, number one was not a disappointment; it was none other than our own George Washington!  The final vote concluded a hard-fought contest launched by the Museum back on February 13 and by its close on March 31, the online voting site attracted almost 8,000 write-in votes and over 300,000 web hits.  If the Irish ever sponsored such an enemies list, it would look like a Who’s Who of English leaders.

Many thanks to Sean Patrick Duffy of Bishop Whelan Div 1, Wheeling, West VA.  Sean sent in a complete and detailed history of the AOH in West Virginia for the archives.  Starting before the first Division in 1868, Sean lays out an account of the growing Irish population, Know Nothing atrocities and the need for our Order in West VA.  His well-done writeup will join those of  Phil Gallagher and J.C. Sullivan.

Don’t forget to check out the monthly histories on AOH.COM and NYAOH.COM; it’s your heritage, keep it alive!

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Director’s Report

June 6, 2012 by

What a marathon this St. Patrick’s season was. Since our blessed day was on a Saturday this year the events ended up being stretched over a three-week period. I attended a Northern Ireland Bureau St. Patrick’s Day breakfast at the Ronald Reagan Center in DC. While there were many U.S. politicians in attendance, the event centered on the promotion of Northern Ireland as a place to do business and to visit.  The keynote speakers included First Prime Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness (who mentioned to me that he looked forward to seeing us in July at the Convention in New York).

My wife, Ann, and I attended the Irish Embassy St. Patrick’s Day Reception at the Fairmont Hotel in DC with a number of other National and local Hibernians. The Barry Gate was proudly raised at the entrance to the ballroom. Ambassador and Mrs. Marie Collins hosted a large and enjoyable reception for the Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny and his wife, Fionnuala. The Collins’ and the Kenny’s only stayed for a short while at the reception before they were off to the annual White House St. Patrick’s reception at which President Obama was presented with a Certificate of Irish Heritage. President Obama was honored to receive the certificate and I was told that he commented that he would hang it proudly on the wall next to a copy of his birth certificate – ahh, Washington humor.

I attended three St. Patrick’s Day masses, one a beautiful Gaelic Mass celebrated each year by my Arlington, Virginia, brothers; the Washington DC Mass at St. Patrick’s Church downtown with Cardinal Wuerl celebrating; and on St. Patrick’s Day proper, with my family, at the fabulous Mass held on Capitol Hill at St. Peters Church. I would note that each Mass also had a representative of the Irish Embassy in attendance, often with members if their family.

I was honored to present, along with Senator Mark Daly of Ireland, the Certificate of Irish Heritage to Mr. John Garvey, the president of Catholic University here in DC, and to Congressman Rooney of Florida (who commented about the great work the AOH is doing in Florida). The Irish Government is extending a unique offer to the AOH with discounted pricing and a streamlined process of proving heritage in an effort to provide the AOH with unique gift opportunities as we honor our members and guests who get involved with our Divisions, Counties and States. If you are interested in presenting a Certificate of Irish Heritage to one of your members or honored guests please call me at 202-320-8351 and I will be happy to provide you with details about the program.

It was a great honor to attend a breakfast of the Washington Ireland Program. This is a fantastic organization, which brings Irish college students to the Washington and New York metro areas. The greatest success of this program is that at least 12 alumni of this program (who worked as interns here in DC through the program) are now Members of the Dail in Ireland.

I was happy to attend a concert at Pat Troy’s Pub in Alexandria, VA, with Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones.  What a fantastic concert he put on. Derek just released a new album called “Washington’s Irish” with Irish songs during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, with an especially fine song about Commodore Barry.

I attended the annual “Planting of the Shamrocks” at the Custis-Lee mansion at Arlington Cemetery co-hosted by the AOH and the National Park Service and always attended this year by Kevin Conmy, Chief of Missions at the Irish Embassy along with his son. The DC Hibernians gave our annual “Friend of Ireland Award” to Ms. Geri Garvey, the Administrator of the Irish Apostolate USA. This was truly a well-deserved award for her fine and tireless work on behalf of Irish immigrants here in the U.S.

I marched in the annual Washington, DC, St. Patrick’s Day Parade with my Division and our DC Brothers. I am proud to announce that under the direction of DC State Board President Ralph Day (The Commodore himself) we won the Best in Show for our float this year and brought home a big trophy to prove it. As with every year, we had a tailgate party after the parade hosted by Jenny Day who puts on the best spread of food any Irishman could request. Thank you, Ralph and Jenny, for your tireless work on behalf of the DC AOH.

One of the most interesting events I attended was a dinner at Father McManus’ favorite Thai-rish restaurant on Capitol Hill with members of Relatives for Justice who were in town to attend and some testify at a hearing in Congress the next day. What tragic and amazing stories these people from Northern Ireland have had to endure.  Injustice after injustice at the hands of the RUC and the British after members of their families were murdered, they were in the United States seeking some hope that some type of fair investigation can be made and they can get some closure in their lives. As I conversed with a woman whose brother had been assassinated in 1994, she showed me the color brochure that they were handing out describing their tragic stories so the world could bear witness to these horrific events they have had to endure. Pointing to the brochure, she said, “This is thanks to the AOH that we can bring these. It is your support through Sean Pender and your Freedom for All Ireland campaign that makes this information we have possible. Your generous donations make this printing possible.”

I attended the Helsinki Commission hearing on Capitol Hill, which was chaired by our good friend from New Jersey, Chris Smith. The hearing was about Northern Ireland and why justice in individual cases matters, with the focus on what can be done to ensure that peace is sustained there. Witnesses included Mrs. Pat Finucane, Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice, and Christopher Stanley of British-Irish Watch. Amazingly during the hearing, a guest panelist – Rep. Elliot Engle from New York – held up the three brochures documenting the killing of these innocent people and said, “I was given these pamphlets and have been reading them… I hope we can give copies to every member of Congress so they can read them.” This is the same brochure that the family member from Relatives for Justice thanked me, the evening before, for the AOH’s support for making its creation possible.

I attended a State Department briefing on Ireland in which six of the 25 people attending were members of the AOH. I can’t express how important it is to our Order that we garner that much respect from the Department of State to have over 20 percent of the representation at that event. The event was considered “off the record” and was hosted by Jake Sullivan, Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Kathleen Dougherty – Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe.  The meeting was about Ireland and Northern Ireland but the primary focus of the meeting centered on injustices and economic issues in the North.

I had the pleasure of attending a newly formed Division’s meeting in Rehoboth Delaware – The Commodore John Barry Division with 24 new members and 19 transfers from the Ocean City Maryland Division.  What a wonderful and anxious group of Hibernians.  They are hitting the ground running and I wish them the best in success and congratulate them on a fine meeting.

I would like to express my deep sympathy over the recent death of Congressman Donald Payne (NJ) has passed away at the age of 77 after a brief battle with colon cancer. Congressman Payne has been a great supporter of the Irish cause and a true friend of the AOH.  At a recent fundraiser I attended he admitted to the audience that he was of Irish decent – something he never discussed (as an African American) publically but certainly something he directly expressed in his efforts and support of the Irish through his position on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights, as well as a frequent guest panelist on the Helsinki Commission. I would also note the passing of Frank Fitzmaurice.  He was a fine and long time Hibernian brother from Maryland.  He was one of the best recruiters for the Order because he had 7 sons and if I am not mistaken they all became Hibernians. He loved being Irish and he loved his family and he loved being a Hibernian.  He will be missed.

Thank the members of this fine Order for trusting in me to be your National Director for these past 4 years.  There was a tremendous amount of time and effort that put into being a National Director, many demands and many compromises with family and the Order to enable us to do our job.  It is not a small undertaking and I hope that I have proven worthy of my efforts. I was proud to be the National Editor for 3 years.  I did my very best to improve the Digest and to keep it to a consistent level of quality while cutting and controlling the budget of the paper to save the Order money.  I was also extremely proud to have created (along with the talent and volunteer efforts of Joe McDonald – a fine Brother from NY) an online version of the Digest at www.hiberniandigest.com.

As I say farewell I would like to say what an honor it has been to meet so many friends throughout the country over my term as Director – it was a pleasure to serve each and every Hibernian. I want to thank my wife, Ann, and my children, Matthew and Kate, who supported me in my efforts and allowed me the time away from home so often to do my job. I would like to thank my counselors Father Hurley, Ralph Day, Kevin Dillon, Pat Troy and the late Admiral Rod Flannery for their confidence in me and their trusted advice to me while I was in office. On an ending note I would again like to thank the greatest Hibernian I have ever met – Brother Mike McCormack; for your great friendship, your unquestioned assistance with the Digest, your guidance and counseling when I needed it the most, and for your unique ability to keep the flame burning through the darkness to show us all the rich history and culture we share as Irishmen.

May Saint Patrick, the Glorious Apostle of Ireland, Bless you all.

 

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Digital Digest

June 6, 2012 by

Brothers, first of all, I must apologize with being lapse the last few months with the Digital Digest, my business has taken me away from some of my duties, but hopefully everything is returning to normalcy.

That said, I wanted to discuss with you something I wanted to mention last issue, but didn’t have the time to write. Back in January, Brother Tom Lilly received his National Life Membership at the Nassau County, NY, Division 8 Installation Dinner. During his speech, he mentioned about being an “Ordinary Hibernian” and humbly felt he didn’t deserve the honor.

With all due respect for Tom – and I will not go over his credentials here – we don’t have the space – Brother Tom Lilly may have been an “Ordinary Hibernian” but frankly he did extraordinary actions. He used his skills as a lawyer and political connections to gather freedoms for prisoners in Ireland during the late 1970s and also honed those skills for the Pro-Life movement.

Much like Brother Lilly, we are all “Ordinary Hibernians” and we are all capable of doing extraordinary actions, simply by using our everyday skills to benefit the Order. Our editor, John O’Connell, does a tremendous job with the Digest because of his newspaper experience. Immigration chair Dan Dennehy has numerous connections with the Irish government and uses that for his job in the Order. I am very good with the web and I can create beautiful looking sites (at least I’m told), which helps all levels of the AOH.

I can go on and on with examples, but my point is this: You, too, can do what many perceive as extraordinary actions, but to you they are just your everyday tasks. Everyone has a job, be it lawyer, financial consultant, web designer, newspaperman, carpenter, stone mason, or even law enforcement. Any of the skills from these jobs can benefit the AOH.

So as we go into Convention in July, I want you to ask yourself what can you do for this Order. If you are giving all you can, then great. But if you have a certain skill that may benefit the AOH, many will perceive it as extraordinary.

And together these extraordinary actions will make the AOH the Order it should be.

Hope to see all at Turning Stone.

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Director’s Report

June 6, 2012 by

My second term of National Director comes to a close in July and I can’t help but to think I should be receiving a graduate degree in Turning Stone this summer. You have given me the opportunity to learn so much about Irish Immigration, Northern Ireland and Ireland politics, Pro Life issues in the United States and Ireland, and so much more on the issues of Irish America. The assistance we have received from our pears on the National Board, our State Presidents and most importantly our AOH Brothers from around the country has been invaluable to the success of the National Board over the last four years. Thank you all for the assistance.

As I prepare for the National Convention I have reviewed several articles on recruiting for fraternal organizations around the country. Our current membership target group, “Generation Y” range in age from 30 to 45.  “Gen Y, sometimes referred to as the Echo Boomers because of their huge numbers (according to the US Census there are three times as many Gen Ys as there are Gen Xers), has a reputation for being extremely peer-oriented due, in part, to its reliance on instant communication technologies and the Internet, including email, IMs, texting and social media components like YouTube, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.” (from Yourmembership.com)

What does this information tell us about recruiting for the AOH. First, we have a large pool of new potential candidates. These candidates are going to need one-on-one recruitment, and when we land one new candidate from this group we can expect him to bring along his qualified pears.  It is also going to be important to communicate and involve the new recruits outside the conventional formats. For many in Generation Y they have moved beyond telephone voicemail and rely on even more instant communication. The good news is a simple search of Facebook reveals a large number of Division, County and State AOH pages designed to recruit and inform our members. Great Job everyone.

Our continued success as an order is going to depend on you. With the above information in mind we need to work together to recruit as many new members as possible. We need each member to make a commitment to recruit at least one new member this year. They are out there, and you will most likely find them this summer during the festival season.  Have your AOH business cards in hand at all times, make the personal contact, follow up with e-mails and even texts, deliver the new recruit and then Involve the new member. New member involvement is critical to our retention. Remember, your job doesn’t end during the installation of your recruit, your job ends when your new recruit becomes the new recruiter for our order.

On the recruiting front, the on-line application flow has begun to slow down as we move beyond St. Patrick’s Day. We had great follow up from our State Presidents with regard to these. Now we need you to beat the bushes for your next recruit.

Director Keith Carney joins our Brothers in NY, PA , NC and around the country who have created new divisions with the initiation of not one but two new divisions, one in Delaware and one in Maryland. Brother Carney also expects a new college division in Maryland likely prior to the convention. This again demonstrates to me the success of the AOH depends on Team Work and a commitment to recruitment!

 

In addition to my duties as organizer, I also had the opportunity to represent President Boyle in Washington DC for a State Department round table. I joined FFAI Chair, Sean Pender; Immigration Chair, Dan Dennehy; Director Keith Carney; and 20 other Irish American leaders from around the country. This invitation again demonstrates the role in the AOH in America goes far beyond the confines or our Order.  I’m sure this meeting will be addressed in more detail elsewhere in this digest however I would be remiss not to mention the great work of our brothers in attendance. Sean Pender and the AOH have become the American voice on Northern Ireland and Dan Dennehy found a way to tie immigration into the brief of the state department. Great Job brothers.

In closing, I want to again than everyone for your continued support, work, and success. Without the help of our brothers AOH success on any level would be impossible. We continue to demonstrate every day the TOGEATHER EVERYONE ACHIEVES MORE. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at DJOCONNELL@YSU.EDU or call on 330-518-4450. Thank you and God Bless, Danny O.

 

 

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