The month of March is Irish American Heritage Month in the United States, and Irish-Americans across the country will use this time to reflect on the history of their heritage and take time to appreciate Irish cultural traditions and celebrations passed down through the generations. The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) is celebrating Irish American Heritage Month by hosting community events through their local divisions and launching a national campaign to promote the rich Irish history and culture in the United States on www.aoh.com and via social media.
Famous Irish Americans for Irish American Heritage MonthFrom the inventor of the submarine to the first modern Olympic champion, from the father of the US Nacy to labor leader Mother Jones, the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America salutes these extraordinary Irish Americans this Irish American Heritage Month.
Posted by IrishCentral.com on Wednesday, March 7, 2018
This St. Patrick's Day will be extra special in one of America’s oldest Irish communities, Breezy Point, Queens, New York, where a new division has formed under the namesake of Lieutenant Kevin C. Dowdell, of FDNY Rescue 4, a hero who lost his life in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Lieutenant Dowdell’s two sons, Patrick and James, are charter members of the new division. The pride and respect the community has for their father will forever live on in the future of the Hibernians of Breezy Point.
The Dowdell brothers.
In Columbus, Ohio, Hibernians will gather with state elected officials to ring in Irish American Heritage Month with the celebration of Proclamation Day, where city officials ceremoniously recognize St. Patrick’s Day and the Columbus Irish community. Across the city, the day is filled with the Painting of the Shamrocks along the parade route, Unity Mass, Irish dancing and plenty of traditional music.
On March 4, 2018, members of the John F. Kennedy, AOH Division 1, Greater Bridgeport, Connecticut, kicked off Irish American Heritage Month with their annual Communion Breakfast. A crowd of approximately 200 members and local political leaders heard the proclamation of Governor Malloy proclaiming March as Irish American Heritage Month in the first state to ratify the U. S. Constitution, followed by a talk by AOH National Irish American Heritage Month Chair Neil F. Cosgrove.
The St. Charles County, Missouri, Division 1 AOH commemorates Irish American Heritage month honoring those who suffered during the Great Hunger in Ireland by raising funds for the less fortunate. Every Sunday during March they distribute green carnations at Mass. Proceeds go to the St. Vincent DePaul society. This promotes our Irish heritage while creating an avenue for us to give back to our parishes and be a part of the community.
In Georgia, the Savannah AOH is celebrating IAHM in part with their unique tradition hosting the 2018 annual Spring Irish Road Bowling event on Saturday, March 24, beginning at 8 a.m. The Irish will take over Hutchinson Island race track to promote Irish culture, raise money for multiple charities, and have a generally great time. You can learn more at www.aohsavannah.com.
The AOH has benefitted from a new resurgence of Irish Americans looking to embrace their Irish heritage and join a community to share that appreciation. This has led to growth in divisions across the country, and newly established divisions in such places as Olympia, Washington; Knoxville, Tennessee; Reno, Nevada; and Burlington, Vermont, among others, as Irish Americans are uniting in every corner of the country.
Take the opportunity to be a larger part of your Irish American community and Embrace Your Community by becoming a member of the AOH, America’s largest Irish American organization. Open to Irish Catholics age 16 and older, the AOH was founded in 1836 to support the Catholic Clergy and all Irish Immigrants. These two original pillars of the AOH remain key roles of Hibernians today. WWW.AOH.COM/JOIN
Each of the more than 370 Hibernian divisions serves as an Irish American Cultural Center, Immigration Center, Social Center, Community Center and more. The umbrella of the AOH covers all Irish, Catholic and American interests.
Find your local AOH at WWW.AOH.COM and celebrate Irish American Heritage Month and St. Patrick’s Day with the Irish in your community this year!
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