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Ancient Order of Hibernians

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Hibernians Present O’Hanlon With MacBride Humanitarian Award

While it was the occasion of his wedding anniversary, Editor-in-Chief of the Irish Echo newspaper Ray O’Hanlon stood without his wife at the podium to accept the Ancient Order of Hibernians Sean MacBride Humanitarian Award. The award was presented in Philadelphia at the annual president’s dinner presided over by AOH National President Seamus Boyle.

The award is named for Dr. Sean MacBride, the Irish statesman and Nobel Peace Prize winner whose name is attached to the MacBride Principles on Fair Employment for Northern Ireland. MacBride, who died in 1988, had a long and distinguished life. He fought for Irish independence, was at one point chief of staff of the IRA, later became an Irish government minister, and helped found a number of international organizations, including Amnesty International.

Ray O’Hanlon had been selected as the MacBride recipient based on balloting conducted among National Board members and State presidents of both the AOH and LAOH. The purpose of the prestigious Sean MacBride Humanitarian Award is specifically stated in the AOH National Constitution: “To memorialize the human rights contributions made by Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Sean MacBride and to recognize the efforts of others who make similar contributions in the cause of peace, justice, and the economic well-being of the Irish people…” (Article XXVII).

Ray O’Hanlon has been a most significant force in reporting on the many generations of the Irish Diaspora in the United States, the experiences of the new Irish who have recently immigrated to America, and the ongoing challenges of transforming the North of Ireland.

Having immigrated to the United States in 1987 from his native Ireland, he immediately became recognized as a major voice of the Irish-American press. In 1988 Ray began working as a journalist at the Irish Echo and, coincidentally, was immediately assigned to work on the MacBride Principles campaign. As a direct result of his careful research, Ray quickly became a major promoter for the passage of MacBride legislation in many states. The MacBride Principles gave Irish-American advocates for the North, such as the AOH and LAOH, a solid opportunity to educate legislators regarding the real reasons for conflict in the Six Counties.

Ray became associate editor at the Irish Echo in 2007 and has since risen to the post of editor-in-chief. Over the course of his career in journalism, Ray has reported from three continents, has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows on both sides of the Atlantic, and has found the time to author a book on a subject dear to his heart, The New Irish Americans, which was published in 1998 and subsequently received the Washington Irving Book Award. Amazingly, on the very day that The New Irish Americans was published, May 1, 1998, Ray was sworn in as a United States citizen.

Ray’s writing has consistently reflected the ideals and cultural concerns of Hibernians, always assuring that both the AOH and LAOH have received proper recognition and that our viewpoint has been clearly and fairly represented in the Irish Echo. On more than one occasion O’Hanlon has described the Hibernians as, “The bricks and mortar of Irish America.”

O’Hanlon spoke of MacBride as a man who spoke “Truth” which is important to all of us in the Irish community. Speaking about the Irish-American media O’Hanlon pointed out that “we exist because our (Irish Americans) stories continue to be told. And he concluded by telling a well impressed audience that when it comes to the Irish-American community “The story is still not fulfilled.”

News

Wildwood Daze 2009

Her name is Erin (of course!). She was one of many festival-goers at the annual pipe band exhibition.

Her name is Erin (of course!). She was one of many festival-goers at the annual pipe band exhibition.

Sun and fluffy clouds. A cool breeze off the beach. A band, one of many Irish bands from the Delaware Valley, pounding out tunes in the music tent. Curly fries and pulled pork. Pitchers of beer. Bagpipe bands circling up and playing in the street. Kids (and not a few older folks) in silly hats and green Mardi Gras beads.

For many of us who have been to the North Wildwood Irish Fall Festival, it was groundhog day. We’d seen it all before, this exhuberant farewell to summer at the shore. Which is not to suggest that it was boring, or anything like it. If anything, this Fall Festival was as fun as ever. It might have been one of the better attended, best organized Fall Festivals the local Hibernians had ever put on. If you were there, you know what we’re talking about. (And you can take off the silly hat now.)

We have a pile of pictures and a video to help you remember the day. (You can remember something, can’t you?)

  • News, People

    Remembering Sean Cullen

    Sean Cullen was a union steamfitter by trade, but to his many friends in the Far Northeast, he was a man of many talents and wide-ranging interests.

    Cullen, a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 88, died May 22 in an accident on his beloved Harley motorcycle on Knights Road, in front of Frankford Torresdale Hospital. He was 36. He leaves behind a wife, Alicia—he met her at Archbishop Ryan—and a 7-year-old son, Ryan.

    According to 88’s Paddy O’Brien, who knew Sean for close to eight years, his death leaves a big hole in the community.

    “I knew Sean as a member of Division 88,” he says. “A lot of the other guys knew him longer; they knew him from the neighborhood. Sean ended up being our go-to guy. If somebody needed something they’d say, ‘Call Sean.’ He was our handy man. He’d load up that little red truck of his with tools, he’d come to your house. We built people’s rec rooms…we did all kinds of stuff. Sean was the leader of all that.”

    Sean Cullen was a guy who could have done many things with hs life, O’Brien added. For example, he could just as easily have been a Philadelphia police officer. His parents, Bert and Mary Cullen, were retired police officers, and his brother Jimmy is a narcotics officer. Sean took the department test, but, as O’Brien recalls, the steamfitters union called first.

    Friends recall Cullen as a man who wouldn’t say no. No one was surprised when he became athletic director for Calvary A.A., and recently its lacrosse coach,even though there wasn’t much in the way of participatory sports in his background.

    “We used to say that he was the most unathletic athletic director in the history of sports,” O’Brien laughs. “He never played anything himself. He ended up as one of those people who learned the games and learned to coach. He’d ever picked up a lacrosse ball in his life. He’d just find out what it took. he spent his own money to go to classes to learn about lacrosse, just to teach the kids.”

    Sean Cullen clearly left his mark on the community. Over 1,000 mourners came to his funeral at Our Lady of Calvary Church.

    Friends and family are honoring Sean’s memory by establishing a trust fund to assist in Ryan Cullen’s education.

    On Saturday August 29, Quaker City Yacht Club, 7101 N. Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa 19135 will host a fund-raising event from 12-5 p.m. The cost of the event is $30 and includes domestic draft, wine, soda and food. Entertainment will be provided by popular local band The Cram and DJ Tommy Kuhn.

    Three Monkeys co-owner Gavin Wolfe has partnered with the generosity of Muller Beverage and the Philadelphia Credit Union to sponsor the event. All proceeds will go directly to the family.

    The second event, on Sunday October 4 from 12-4 p.m. will be hosted by Joe Santucci at his Woodhaven Road location. There will be an outdoor tent available in case of inclement weather. The $25 event donation includes domestic draft, wine, soda and food samplings of Joe’s original Best of Philly menu items. Again, all proceeds will directly benefit the family. There will also be live entertainment and a DJ.

    News, People

    AOH 65 Recognizes Some Special People

    Tommy Moffit with Vera Gallagher, left, and Kathy McGee Burns.

    Tommy Moffit with Vera Gallagher, left, and Kathy McGee Burns.

    Many Irish Philadelphians of a certain age will remember dancing or singing to the music of Tommy Moffit, the Roscommon man who came to America as a 16-year-old in the 1950s, learned accordian, then started playing at every house party in Philadelphia by the time he was 18. For many years he played every Sunday night in the Fireside Room of the Irish Center then at Emmet’s Place—which closed this year—every weekend, pausing for an hour to do his own Irish radio show on Sunday.

    There are a lot of Irish Philadelphians who know Jack McNamee too. They might have eaten at his Springfield restaurant, C.J. McGee’s, or know him from the many St. Patrick’s day parade events and other fundraisers he’s hosted to raise money for charity. They might not know about all the generosity he’s shown over the years to those charities and his alma mater, Cardinal Dougherty High School. McNamee is the community’s own “quiet man” who prefers his good deeds unsung.

    And anyone who doen’t know Blackthorn, the high-energy Celtic rock band, has been in a coma for years. Blackthorn spells instant success when it’s booked for a benefit–as every Irish organization and charity in the Philadelphia region is aware. John McCroary, John and Michael Boyce, Michael O’Callaghan and Seamus Kelleher make up the band that has recorded five CDs and continues to pack them in wherever they appear.

    On Sunday, May 3, AOH Joseph E. Montgomery Division 65 of Springfield honored these stalwarts of the Irish community at its third annual Fleadh an Earraigh event, held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Springfield, Delaware County.

    McNamee, who is recovering from treatment for leukemia, was represented by his wife, Loretta.

    We were there and took lots of photos.

    News

    Notre Dame Division to Host Irish Festival

    At a past festival, a roving leprechaun hitched a ride.

    At a past festival, a roving leprechaun hitched a ride.

    The Ancient Order of Hibernians Notre Dame Division of Montgomery County will host its annual Irish Festival at St. Michael’s in Mont Clare on June 5, 6 and 7.

    Mont Clare is located off Route 422 and 29 South, just before Phoenixville. The festival site is a large, open space with a very large pavilion that will keep you comfortably out of the sun. The quiet surroundings of the festival grounds will be alive with upbeat music all weekend long.

    Under the pavilion on Friday night at 6 you will be able to dance to the traditional music of Tom McHugh and Company, together with John McGillian.

    At 2 o’clock on Saturday, Timlin and Kane will entertain you at the festival until 5 p.m. Then the pipes and drums of Irish Thunder will come marching in, followed by the very upbeat sound of The Bogside Rogues until 9 p.m.

    Sunday under the pavilion the Rev. Andy McCormick will celebrate an outdoor Mass at 10:30. Sara Agnew will be the vocalist, with Irish Thunder leading the opening procession. Coffee and donuts will be provided by the festival after Mass.

    Oliver McElone will come on right after Mass and perform until 2:30. Irish Thunder will again hit the stage and, to finish off the festival, everyone’s favorite Paddy’s Well will be on until 6 o’clock.

    During the festival there will also be Irish dancers when the bands go on break. Vendors will be on location, as well as a moon bounce and slide for the children. There will be a washer’s tournament during on Saturday and Sunday for the adults.

    Food will available all weekend with $2 pints at the beer wagon.

    Over the years the Notre Dame Division has donated thousands of dollars back to the community, cancer victims, fire companies, police departments, school scholarships and others in need. This festival supports the Charity Account of the AOH. It’s not just a money-maker to fill somebody’s pockets. All proceeds go to those in need. So while you’re having a good time you are also helping someone, maybe somebody you know.

    Entrance fee is $5 on Friday and $7 for Saturday and Sunday. There is also a $15.00 weekend pass. For more info and tickets call (610) 277-4868 or log onto www.aohnd1.com.

    News

    AOH Division Comes to the Aid of Philly Cops

    AOH President Pete Hand extends thanks to FOP members for all they do to "protect and serve."

    AOH President Pete Hand extends thanks to FOP members for all they do to "protect and serve."

    For Pete Hand and Ron Trask, the February funeral of Philadelphia Police Officer John Pawlowski was a turning poit of sorts.

    Pawlowski was the fifth Philadelphia officer to die in the line of duty in a 10-month period. Hand, president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Notre Dame Division in Swedesburg, Montgomery County, had attended all five funerals as drum major of the division’s Irish Thunder pipe band.

    “Ron and I were at the (AOH) clubhouse after that last funeral,” Hand recalls. “Just being down there at all those events moved us to do something.”

    The “something” turned out to be a fund drive to raise cash for the survivors fund of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 at Broad and Spring Garden. “I had heard that their fund was running low (because of so many line-of-duty deaths), and we wanted to help out.”

    So Hand, Trask and a group of other Montgomery County Hibernians put their heads together and came up with the fund drive not long before St. Patrick’s Day.

    The Hibernians started by collecting money at the Conshohocken St. Patrick’s Day Parade, picking up $2,100 from parade-goers. Then came the big event-Police Appreciation Day at the Hibernian Hall in Swedesburg, a well-attended bash that netted a little over $10,000.

    A delegation from the AOH division presented the check to FOP Lodge 5 Tuesday night. The cops, for their part, were appreciative. “This is very substantial,” said recording secretary Jim Wheeler. “The only donation that comes close to it is (what the lodge receives from) Geno’s Steaks.”

    News

    The Sun Shines on Conshy

    Philadelphia on Sunday suffered the weather of the Irish–damp and cool.

    In Conshohocken, on the other hand, the folks who organized the 2009 St. Patrick’s Day parade got all the luck. No one could call it a tropical day on Fayette Street, but at least it was dry.

    The crowds of parade-goers seemed to appreciate it. And there was a lot more than decent weather to appreciate. As always, there were lots of pipers and drummers, and enough curly-wigged dancers to keep everyone well entertained.

    We have the photos to prove it.

    Food & Drink, News, People

    Irish Coffee Upset!

    Bill Pergine, bartender at Screwball's, with his award and the not-so-secret ingredient for his winning Irish coffee recipe.

    Bill Pergine, bartender at Screwball's, with his award and the not-so-secret ingredient for his winning Irish coffee recipe.

    No hat trick for the ladies from the Bridgeport Rib House. The two-time winners of the AOH Notre Dame Division 1 in Swedesburg’s annual Irish Coffee Contest did not go home with the big prize this year.

    Instead it went to relative newcomer, Screwball’s Sports Bar in King of Prussia, for its smooth-tasting recipe made with home made whipped cream and two secret ingredients that even experienced Irish coffee drinkers couldn’t guess—and Screwball’s isn’t sharing. “Ah,” said owner Tom McGrath, wincing. “I don’t think I want anyone to know because we want to win again next year.”

    Bartender Bill Pergine said they came upon the winning recipe on Tuesday, after trying a few concoctions.

    The Bridgeport Rib House did go home with the “crowd favorite” award, while Guppy’s, a Conshy post-parade hangout, came in second, and the Swedesburg Fire Company came in third at the event that happened Thursday night, March 12.

    The winner gets to ride on a float in Saturday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Conshohocken. Clearly, Screwball’s didn’t expect to win: As we left, we heard Screwball’s Tom McGrath on his cellphone saying, “Wow, I’m going to have to cancel everything I was going to do on Saturday.”