Ancient Order
Shamrocks and shiny garland brightened up the basement of a Ross Township eatery last week, with people wearing all varieties of green.
Making merry to the music of an Irish band, members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians were observing an early Saint Patrick's Day.
But under the hype of the celebration, these Irish Americans do much more.
An Irish Catholic fraternal group, AOH undertakes a variety of charity projects while maintaining a link to its ethnic roots.
Meetings might include educational talks on Irish history or rudimentary lessons on speaking Gaelic.
"Music brings a lot of us together," noted Pat O'Brien, president of Allegheny County's District 4 division that joined for the annual party last week.
O'Brien said the importance of music is evident in Ireland, where families commonly crowd into pubs simply because bands are playing.
Like many members of AOH, O'Brien has learned about Ireland by traveling. But sharing stories is also a means for members to learn and form friendships.
"I've learned a lot about the Irish people, and a lot of our members have been to Ireland," said Mike Roach of Cranberry Township.
"The guys love it," agreed P.J. Gondringer, also of Cranberry. "They love the camaraderie — the whole Irish connection."
Roach and Gondringer both have belonged to AOH for about five years, since the District 4 division was formed.
That division, comprising more than 75 members, is one of eight in the Pittsburgh area. Their combined population exceeds 1,000.
With 85 districts and about 10,000 members, Pennsylvania's AOH population is second only to New York, which maintains 86 districts.
There are about 100,000 members in the nation.
When AOH is not engaged in kinship and education, it turns its attention toward social causes.With the motto "Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity," striving to meet community needs is an important part of the group's agenda.Recent examples, said Steve Gilliland of Butler, include helping a family in Allegheny County whose child was diagnosed with cancer. Gilliland also belongs to the District 4 group."They're not even Catholic," he noted, describing how AOH was ready to help when it learned of the family's situation."Some of the members went down and worked on their home. We donated money and helped get their car fixed. Anybody that knows someone within the organization: If you bring your plights before (us), we try to address them if we can."We are constantly doing some sort of fundraiser," he said.Other projects include a countywide effort over the past two years to restore St. Patrick's Catholic Church in the Strip District, founded in 1808 by Irish immigrants.AOH divisions also contribute to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, The American Diabetes Association and The American Cancer Society.One group gives generously to St. Joseph's House of Hospitality, a men's homeless shelter operated by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.Members of Division 4 participated in this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade Food Drive — and in Philadelphia the AOH launched The Hibernian Hunger Project, now a nationwide effort to feed the needy throughout the year.The food projects allow AOH to fulfill its goal of charity while observing hardships of Ireland's past."Our people have roots in starvation," said AOH state board president Jim Green, referring to the Great Famine of the 1840s in which a potato blight prompted many Irish to emigrate."To the AOH it is also important to preserve our culture and heritage," O'Brien said."We have donated to help send a group from a local Irish dance school to the national finals in San Diego. We donate to ceili dance clubs, the Pittsburgh Irish Rowing Club and the Pittsburgh Irish Football Club. Many of our members' children and wives are involved in Irish dance."In addition to social causes at home, Gilliland says AOH hopes for political changes in Ireland.As chairman of the district's Freedom for All Ireland committee, Gilliland supports the idea of peace and unity for Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is a predominantly Protestant region comprising six counties under British rule.The Republic of Ireland, a predominantly Catholic population that occupies the bulk of Ireland's landscape, is independent.The Freedom for All Ireland committees track and report on progress in the north, where a population divided into Unionists and Nationalists have not yet successfully adhered to the Good Friday Agreement of 1998.That agreement aims for equal social and economic rights for all citizens through a shared Irish and British government.A March 26 deadline looms for a newly elected assembly to institute the shared government."We seek freedom and justice for all sides involved in the conflict — not just Catholic," Gilliland said."Because death and destruction on either side does not lead toward peace."Despite its hope for unity, the Free For All Ireland committee has no political ties in Ireland, O'Brien said."They do meet with U.S. senators and congressional representatives regarding solutions and votes that may come up in the houses."There is an Irish Caucus in both houses. Congressmen Mike Doyle and Tim Murphy from Allegheny County are traveling to Northern Ireland at the end of the month. They do give our committees feedback when trips and meetings are held."
Political division in Ireland is nothing new: The AOH was formed in the 1600s in Ireland, when the British ruled all of Ireland.The name derives from Hibernia, the Latin name given to Ireland by the Romans.During the 1600s, the British outlawed speaking Gaelic, Ireland's native tongue. It also outlawed educating children and practicing Catholicism."Priests had a bounty on their heads," Green said, explaining secret societies like AOH sought to protect priests as well as preserve Irish culture.The AOH in America was formed in 1836 to provide assistance and support to Irish immigrants."It was a place to go where you had mutual understanding," Green said.Although AOH membership was available to men 16 and older who were practicing Catholics and of Irish birth or descent, a women's group was soon to follow.The Ladies AOH began in 1894 in Nebraska as Daughters of Erin. In 1906, the name was changed to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and in 1984 to the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians. In 2004, the LAOH was incorporated.Cathy Coyne, District 4 president, said that chapter formed a year after the men's District 4 group.With 25 members, Coyne said the LAOH participates in many of the same events and supports the same causes as the AOH.
In addition, some of the women belong to the Bell School of Irish Dance, with several taking lessons in traditional Irish ceili dancing.Although no members of District 4 LAOH reside in Butler County, several commute from the county in the men's group."Our organization is still growing," O'Brien said, optimistic new branches will continue to form.Green said the state's goal is to surpass membership of its rival New York, where AOH in America originated.For information about the District 4 group, contact O'Brien at 412-977-8991 or aoh.divfour@verizon.net.To reach the AOH state board, contact Green at seamus.green@verizon.net.For information about the District 4 group, contact Coyne at eg.co.laoh@comcast.net.To reach the LAOH state board, send an e-mail to judicoyne@verizon.net
