United States Ancient Order of Hibernians

st. james church, new york city



helena, montana chapter of ancient order of hibernians banner

the order founded in united states on 4 may 1836, @ st. james church in new york city, near old 5 points neighbourhood. branch formed same year @ pottsville, pennsylvania. existence , activities of order concealed years.

during late 1860s , 1870s many of lodges of order in pennsylvania infiltrated molly maguires. molly maguires , criminal activities condemned @ 1876 national convention of aoh , order reorganised in pennsylvania coal areas.

in 1884 there split in organisation. order had been governed board of erin, had governed order in ireland, great britain , united states, composed of officers selected exclusively organisations in ireland , great britain. majority left in 1884 , became ancient order of hibernians of america, while small group called ancient order of hibernians, board of erin. in 1897 ancient order of hibernians, board of erin, had approximately 40,000 members concentrated in new york, new jersey, ohio, illinois , michigan, while ancient order of hibernians of america had 125,000 members scattered throughout every state in union. 2 groups reunited in 1898.

a female auxiliary, daughters of erin, formed in 1894, , had 20,000 members in 1897. attached larger, american version of order. aoh had 181,000 members in 1965 , 171,000 in 736 local units of divisions in 1979. john f. kennedy joined aoh in 1947.

the ladies auxiliary of ancient order of hibernians raised $50,000 build nuns of battlefield sculpture in washington, dc, united states congress authorised in 1918. irish-american sculptor, jerome connor, ended suing order non-payment.

aoh shield without flags

in 1982, in revival of hibernianism, thomas francis meagher division no. 1 formed in helena, montana, dedicated principles of order , restoring historically accurate record of brigadier general meagher s contributions montana. after, 6 additional divisions formed in montana.

the order organised new york city st. patrick s day parade 150 years, emphasising conservative catholic interpretation of irish holiday. in 1993 control transferred independent committee amid controversy on exclusion of irish-american gay , lesbian groups.

the brothers of st. patrick division of ancient order of hibernians in america established @ brother s of st. patrick in midway city, california, in 1995.

in 2013, ancient order of hibernians raised , distributed on $200,000 aid victims of hurricane sandy.

in 2014, aoh called boycott of retailer spencer s selling products aoh says promote anti-irish stereotypes , irresponsible drinking.

on 10 may 2014 memorial commodore john barry, immigrant wexford naval hero of american revolution , holds commission number 1 in subsequent u.s. navy, dedicated on grounds of united states naval academy. memorial , associated barry gate presented academy members of ancient order of hibernians.

several buildings of ancient order of hibernians listed on u.s. national register of historic places or otherwise notable.