(above) The 6th Annual St. Patrick's Ceili, March 5th, at the SC State Museum, featuring
Rince na h'Eireann dance troupe. Organized by the St. Columba Division of The AOH, Columbia SC.
Videography & Editing by Alan C. Geoghegan
The Ancient Order of Hibernians in Washington D.C.
Pictured at the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform lunch at the Hay-Adams hotel were
(from left) Danny O'Connell, Ohio; Jim Lawracy, South Carolina; Bill Young, New Jersey; Seamus Boyle, AOH National President; Patrick Giblin, Irish American Democrats New Jersey; Jere Cole, New Jersey; Sean Pender, New Jersey, and Joseph Casey, Ohio.
January 20, 2010 The Irish got their "spoke in" on the immigration reform debate last week when a varied and far flung delegation of Irish American leaders and community activists gathered in Washington D.C. at the invitation of the White House.
The more than fifty visitors came to the nation's capital from both coasts and the heartland of the Midwest to listen to briefings from three top staffers in the Obama administration who work in the areas of both domestic and foreign policy.
The briefing, which was designated as a background one by the White House, was preceded by a very much on the record one in the nearby Hay-Adams Hotel where the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform hosted a lunch during which the delegation was brought up to date on the immigration reform situation in Congress by former congressman Bruce Morrison, who acts for the ILIR as an advisor and lobbyist.
Morrison said that the first signs of action in the Senate could be expected soon, as early as February or March. The subsequent briefing at the White House, which lasted over two hours, and which was set in train by Stella O'Leary of the Irish American Democrats, was an opportunity for delegation members to ask a wide variety of questions.
The ILIR's Ciaran Staunton said it was a groundbreaker in that for the first time, the Irish were raising their immigration concerns directly with the White House.
In addition to questions on immigration reform, the visitors asked a wide variety on other issues of Irish American concern, most notably Northern Ireland.
Oct 15: Reception at the Irish Consulate in New York for the Irish Foreign Minister Michea'l Martin T.D.
(L-R) Jim Lawracy, Nuala Gallagher (visiting from Donegal), and Michael Collins, The Irish Ambassador.
National President's Dinner
Saturday, October 31, 2009 A dinner will be held at the Radisson Hotel,
in honor of Seamus Boyle, (photo, bottom right) National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
photo by Alan Geoghegan
AOH St. Columba Division, Richland County, Columbia, SCOFFICERS 2010: (Click name to e-mail)
History was Made at The Dedication of the SOUTH CAROLINA IRISH MEMORIALheld on Saturday Sept. 6th at
Riverfront
Park in Columbia, SC. A special mass was celebrated Saturday morning at St. Peter's Church, followed by a wreath laying ceremony in the church grave site honoring the Irish buried there. At 11am the unveiling of the memorial itself was held. Afterwards, guests enjoyed music from Corner House and the Rince Na h'Eireann Step Dancers.
Scroll down for photos and visit our events page for all photos. Photos by Alan Geoghegan.
The Keynote Speaker at the dedication was Consul General of Ireland, Niall Burgess.
(L-R) AOH St. Columba (Columbia) President Jim Lawracy with Consul General Niall Burgess, AOH National President Seamus Boyle and AOH National Vice-President Brendan Moore.
Onlookers view the South Carolina Irish Memorial.
AOH Columbia President Jim Lawracy addresses the crowd.
Graveside Ceremony and Wreath Laying at St. Peter's Church.
This video presents the history, goals and mission of the AOH.
EVERY member should view this video.
ALL pledging members should view this video before taking the oath.
Director/Writer: Raphe O'Geaney
Narrators: Finnbarr Dunphy & Raphe O'Geaney
Videographer/Editor: Alan C. Geoghegan
Donate to The Hiberian Charity which had helped over 300 AOH members in the New Orleans area Disaster Relief .Effort.
The Hibernian Charity is the charitable fund of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and is Incorporated as a 501(c)3, tax deductible, public charity. The Hibernian Charity is comprised of three programs; Hibernian Hunger Project, Project St. Patrick, and the AOH Scholarship Fund. The projects represent the very icons the Ancient Order of Hibernians, a fraternal organization that is almost 170-years old, and whose labor of love is grounded in the Christian Charity portion of the Motto, but incorporates the Loyalty and Friendship of its membership.
