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Ancient Order of Hibernians

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Big Night for Fishtown and Port Richmond at Irish Stew Cook-Off

Amateur winner Dan Hazley and second place finisher Phil Bowdren.

Amateur winner Dan Hazley and second place finisher Phil Bowdren.

Dan Hazley has been making his Irish stew for years. “I got the recipe from my aunt Mary, my dad’s sister,” said Hazley. “It’s made with beef. I only get to make it a couple of times a year. I always knew it was pretty good. I just didn’t know whether anyone else would think so.”

So do they? You bet they do. Hazley’s Irish stew was this year’s winner, in the amateur category, of the Irish Stew Cook-Off at Finnigan’s Wake. The savory cook-off is sponsored annually by the Hibernian Hunger Project.

Better yet, Hazley—who represented Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 87 of Port Richmond in the all-you-can-eat event—shared honors with a good friend, chef Mary Kate McCaughey of Fishtown’s great little Irish eaterie called Ida Mae’s (2302 E. Norris St.). Mary Kate picked up a first in the professional category.

Dan may have his aunt Mary to thank, but Mary Kate credits her mother-in-law Veronica. “It’s her recipe,” she said. And it’s as authentic as Irish stew gets. Her husband Feargus, co-owner of Ida Mae’s, is from just outside of Belfast. He’s one of 11 children—the only one to have left Ireland. So when Mary Kate decided to enter the cook-off, she called her mother-in-law. “I said, ‘I need your beef stew recipe.’ She said, ‘Honey, it’s lamb. You don’t make Irish stew with beef.'”

So, like any good daughter-in-law, she listened. Good thing. Her savory concoction was top drawer—and the judges clearly agreed.

Mary Kate can also thank the winner on the amateur side. “I did the air conditioning in their restaurant,” said Hazley. “Their food is just phenomenal. (The Inquirer’s Craig LaBan agreed.) Their chowder is really great. So I suggested that she enter. She’s a neighborhood girl, so it’s nice to see her do well.”

Of course, lots of other folks did well, too. Here are the 2nd and 3rd place finishers:

Professional

2. Finnigan’s Wake
3. Tir na Nog

Amateur

2. Phil Bowdren, AOH Division 51 (Fishtown)
3. Denny Gaw, AOH Division 2 (Horsham, Montgomery County)

Regardless of the objections of Mary Kate’s mother-in-law, more than a few of those stews (including the amateur winner, of course) contained beef.

Probably the most unusual stew was Denny Gaw’s. Denny, the AOH board president, went traditional … but only to an extent. His stew contained lamb as its main ingredient, but his was the only one not gravy-based. “Mine is cream-based,” he said. “I got the recipe 10 years ago. We were in Ireland, doing the Ring of Kerry. We stopped at a restaurant … it was up on a mountaintop, a mom-and-pop place. I ordered this stew, and it was great, so I asked them for the recipe … and they gave it to me! I make it all the time.”

This year’s contestants—six in each category—had quite an appreciative audience. For five bucks, they could sample all the stews in the place. (And a lot of the contestants included a good-sized slab of soda or brown bread.) The place was jammed.

Among the guests sopping up brown gravy out of little plastic bowls was Rowan Fealy, a lecturer in the department of geography at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. He and partner Dr. Laura McElwain, who works for the Ireland meteorological service Met Eireann, had arrived at Finnigan’s earlier in the evening to delivery a presentation on climate change and its impact on Ireland. Happily, they were able to take in the stew cook-off as well. “This is just an added bonus,” Rowan said. “It’s great. It’s got everything an Irish male looks for … beer and food. It’s perfect!”

Another guest was Geralyn Keating, director of the Irish American Cultural Institute in Morristown, N.J. “We came for the lecture, and then we got all this, too,” she said. “It was a winner.”

Of course, the big winner was the Hibernian Hunger Project, which takes the evening’s proceeds and funnels them back into the group’s many local activities, including Aid for Friends. “We do an annual ‘cook-in’ for about 200 shut-ins through Aid for Friends,” said Ed Dougherty the national and Philadelphia county chairman. “Their cooks go away in the sumer, so we go up and do bulk meals for them.”

The ninth annual cook-in takes place at the Aid for Friends facility in Northeast Philadelphia on Saturday, March 29, starting at 9 a.m. and ending … whenever they’re finished. To volunter, contact Donna Donnelly at KDDFAM@aol.com.

March 10, 2008 by
People

There’s a New Marshal In Town

The grand marshal and his family.

The grand marshal and his family.

The Grand Marshal’s Ball for the 2008 Saint Patrick’s Parade in Conshohocken took place on Saturday Night (March 8) at the Jeffersonville Banquet Hall with 230 family, friends and fellow members of the AOH, LAOH and Philadelphia Emerald Society.

The night opened up with Father Bier leading the opening prayer. Sara Agnew sang the Soldier’s Song and led the pledge of allegiance. Pete Hand was then escorted into the hall by Irish Thunder Pipes & Drums.

Once in the hall, after a couple of tunes, Pete was given the honors of Grand Marshal. The 2007 Grand Marshal Ed Halligan turned over the Sash and shillellagh to Pete.

Attending the event were several AOH officers, including Ed Halligan, Jim Murphy, Tom Couglin Sr. and Tom Jr., Kenny Young, LAOH officers Rae DiSpaldo. and Eileen Kaufman. President Harry Marnie and board of directors of the Philadelphia were also present.

The Saint Patrick’s Parade in Conshohocken will take place this Saturday March 15th beginning at 2 p.m., starting at 11th and Fayette.

March 8, 2008 by
News

Bring a Food Donation to the Conshy Parade

“Sharin’ the Green” is the theme of this years Saint Patrick’s Parade in Conshohocken. The parade will kick off at 2 p.m. on March 15.

The Saint Patrick’s Parade Committee of Montgomery County will be collecting food to feed the hungry. The committee asks that participants and onlookers bring a canned or dry good to the parade. These items will be collected, and there will also be drop-off points along the parade route.

Two organizations, the Swedesburg Fire Co. and the Cummings School of Irish Dance, have committed to bringing food. The Swedesburg Fire Co. has a barrel in the Social Room for its members and they also contacted Sacred Heart Church parishioners to help with the food drive.

Jim Gallagher, chairman of the parade committee and a member of the AOH Notre Dame Division, said the food drive is based from the Hibernian Food Project, the AOH project to help the hungry with food collections or working in kitchens making meals for the needy.

The Patricians Society and the Colonial Neighborhood Council will receive the donations collected in the parade. Both organizations help people in Norristown, Conshohocken, Whitemarsh, Plymouth and surrounding areas.

February 29, 2008 by
Food & Drink

Okay Ladies, Let’s Roll

The ladies at my table, from left, Anne Marie Carr-Hanson, Dolores Stevenson, Mary Jane Haughley Hayes and Ellie Zimmerman.

The ladies at my table, from left, Anne Marie Carr-Hanson, Dolores Stevenson, Mary Jane Haughley Hayes and Ellie Zimmerman.

Every year, the women of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH) in Philly make a ton of Irish potatoes.

And in one case, we’re talking literally here. Two thousand pounds of sugary, cinnamon-dusted candy that’s so sweet it makes your teeth hurt and weighs enough to balance a giant scale with a VW Beetle on the other side.

And last weekend, I was rolling balls with the ladies of Divisions 1 (Daughters of Erin, Center City) and 87 (Our Lady of Knock, Port Richmond) at AOH Div. 87’s Hall in Port Richmond, trying to help them reach their appointed tonnage. Just so you know, I’m not trying to be cute—“rolling balls” is the official terminology of Irish potato production in Philadelphia, where the candies originated. At least, that’s what I garnered sitting at a table with six LAOHers whose hands were a blur of activity.

“You gotta keep your balls small,” advised Ellie Zimmerman as she took a pinch of “dough” and started rolling it in her palm. “Or else you’ll get in trouble.”

What kind of trouble I found out rather quickly, when Donna Donnelly of Bridesburg, apparently head of the LAOH Irish Potato Rolling Weights and Measures department, got into it playfully with my table mate, Anne Marie Carr-Hanson. “Ladies,” she announced, after Anne Marie turned in an Irish potato that Donna thought was the size of a Quarter-Pounder, “we’re making our balls too big here. Some people are only going to get six Irish potatoes to the pound.” She hoisted another one from the filled aluminum trays that half a dozen runners were carrying to her from the tables. “We could feed a family of four on this!”

Anne Marie stared at her deadpan, then quickly popped the offending Irish potato in her mouth. “That’s what we do with the big ones,” she explained. “Or else we hide them from Donna.”

“We call her the ‘ball Nazi,’” piped up Ellie Zimmerman with a laugh.

Not only is it all in good fun, but it’s all in a good cause. These women, who often take whole-day shifts, produced enough Irish potatoes last year to give away $5,000 to charity. This year, they hope to earn even more for their ton of candy, which they sell—and by now, have sold out—for only $5 a pound.

“We give money to places like Providence House, which is a shelter for abused families, and the Philadelphia Veteran’s Multi-Service Center,” explained Maria Gallagher, president of LAOH Div. 87. “The rest we give away in smaller amounts, $100 here, $100 there, usually to special projects that come from the ladies who spend so much time here. How can you say no to people who come out two or three days to do this?”

Gallagher herself has been in the seasonal Irish potato business for a decade. She and Donnelly purchase the raw materials from Shamrock Foods (yes, that confectioners’ sugar, coconut, and cream cheese are 100% Irish-American), then combine all the ingredients in an industrial mixer that was donated anonymously. It lives in a small shed, built specially for it by Home Depot, next to the AOH Hall. It’s not heated, so “fold in ingredients” is one of the more uncomfortable directions in the LAOH recipe.

Divisions 1 and 87 aren’t the only LAOHs in the Delaware Valley rolling candy for charity in the weeks leading up to March. So are Divisions 13, 39, 61, 33, and 88. Division 25 makes a scone mix, which doesn’t sound nearly as fun to do. I mean, how do you throw scone mix at someone who’s ticked you off? While I was there, Donna Donnelly dealt with harassment from one table by pitching an extra-large Irish potato at them. This is my kind of charity.

“There’s a lot of camaraderie here,” says Maria Gallagher with a smile. “This is not just a fundraiser. People are making new friends. It’s a lot of work,” she said, wiping her cheek with a cinnamon-dusted hand, ”but it’s a lot of fun.”

February 28, 2008 by
Food & Drink

Wanted: The Best Irish Stew in Philadelphia

The 4th Annual Great Irish Stew Cook-Off, sponsored by the Philadelphia Hibernian Hunger Project will be held on Thursday, March 13, from 6 p.m. ‘til 9 p.m. at Finnegan’s Wake on Spring Garden Street. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Hibernian Hunger Project’s Cook-In, being held on Saturday, March 29, at the Aid for Friends facility in Northeast Philly.

The Hibernian Hunger Project got its start right here in Philadelphia in March of 2000 and, since that time, more than 67,500 individual and bulk meals have been prepared, packaged and delivered to organizations like Aid for Friends, the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center, St. John’s Hospice, and others that feed the elderly, homeless and less fortunate. The Hibernian Hunger Project is now a national charity of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
 
We are challenging Philadelphia area restaurants and pubs to join in the Spirit of Saint Patrick’s Day and help the less fortunate, while competing for the bragging rights to “Philadelphia’s Best Irish Stew. Previous winners have included the Plough and the Stars Restaurant (2004), McFadden’s Restaurant – Old City (2006) and Chef Josh Landau of Colleen’s on the Parkway (2007).

Amateur winners have included Jude Fanning of AOH Division 39, Phil Bowdren of AOH Division 51 and Ann Marie Parkinson & Kathy Higgins of LAOH Division 1. Past Celebrity Judges have included CBS 3’s Larry Mendte & Bob Kelly.
 
The event is open to the public and, for a $5 donation; you will have the opportunity to sample some of the greatest Irish Stews made in Philly.
 
For more information on the event or to register for the competition, please contact:
 
Ed Dougherty – Hibernian Hunger Project National Chairman @ 215-338-4315
Donna Donnelly – Philadelphia Hibernian Hunger Project Cochairperson @ 215-964-7830
Phil Bowdren – Philadelphia Hibernian Hunger Project Publicity Chair @ 267-254-2219 or philly.hibernianhungerproject@verizon.net

January 29, 2008 by
People

For Conshy Grand Marshal Pete Hand, the Third Time Was the Charm

Drum majoring at a recent AOH tribute in honor of fallen Philadelphia police officer Chuck Cassidy.

Drum majoring at a recent AOH tribute in honor of fallen Philadelphia police officer Chuck Cassidy.

You’ve been very active in the Ancient Order of Hibernians for quite some time. Obviously, it means a lot to you, but why?

The AOH means a lot to me because our organization has really grown over the years to helping people, schools and churches in need. The Notre Dame Division of which I’m a member received the AOH National Charity Award at the last national convention two years ago. This was a great moment for our division.

To be in the AOH, you have to a.) be a Catholic guy, and b.) come from an Irish family on one or both sides. What’s your background? What generation are you? Do you know where your family is from and how they wound up in Philadelphia?

My Irish roots come from my father’s side of the family, Bill Hand. His grandmother on his mom’s side, Jane McCann, whose maiden name was Tierney, came here to America from County Mayo. His mom’s name was Jenny and was cousin to the past mayor of Philadelphia, James Tate, who was a great Irishman himself.

On my father’s dad’s side, his roots go back to beyond the Revolutionary War. A Hand has served in every war up to Vietnam. My great, great uncle Christy lost his leg in the Civil War. My grandfather Jim Hand, who lived in Philly, lost everything when the Market crashed. He had a garage down off the Parkway around 22nd street. He owned just about the whole block and had the city contacts for vehicle repairs, along with other contracts. Well, he lost everything and to get by they began making their own beer and selling it. The neighbors used to call them the Irish Mafia. My dad used to say they had to eat corn flakes three times a day at times, just to have something to eat. A loaf of bread was only a nickel … but nobody had a nickel.

What do you do when you’re not being president of the AOH Division in Swedesburg, drum majoring for the Irish Thunder pipe band, chairing the Conshohocken St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, putting out fires with the Swedesburg Fire Company, going to church, and generally hanging out with Bernadette, your wife of 32 years, and your four kids Jeannie, Denise, Pete and Patrice? (Oh, and sleeping from time to time.) In other words, what do you do for a living? Tell us a bit about that.

Well, you’re right about that sleeping. Seems like when I hit the lounge chair I have no trouble falling asleep.

I’m an employee of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission . I have been with the turnpike for 27 years. I collected tolls for 25 years and now I work in the maintenance office at Plymouth Meeting. I’m the production control clerk, which involves keeping track of the trades people, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and welders, and of their work, material, purchase of materials and time.

By the way, I’m an active member of the Swedesburg Firehouse, but I do not fight fires. I’m more of a member who supports the firehouse functions.

You’ve been drum major of Irish Thunder Pipes and Drums for quite some time. How did you get involved in that? Why did you want to do that?

Well I always had a liking for bands. I used to live in the Fairmount area by the Parkway and, as you know, there was always a parade for something and my parents always took me down to them. I became involved with the Irish Thunder, first, by marching with the division color guard, which participates with the band in events. Our drum major John Sargent became ill and was not able to return.

After a couple months without John, there was talk of needing a drum major. I told the band members that I would like to try it and Verne Leedom, another past drum major of the Thunder, gave me some lessons to get me started.

I have being drum major for 18 months now and I’m planning to go to my first workshop for drum majors in February down in Baltimore.

Were you surprised by your selection as Grand Marshal of the 2008 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Conshohocken? How did you find out? What was your reaction?

Well, you never know who is going to get the Grand Marshal. I was nominated three times prior to this year and I turned it down every time. I decided to take the nomination at the end of last year’s parade if I was nominated this year. Many members and friends were upset that I turned it down again. My reason was that I was too young. But a fellow member spoke to me after the parade last year and said, if nominated next year, I should take it. You never know what’s going to happen. And that set in after I lost two friends, both in their early 50s. Even with that you don’t know who is going to be nominated. I was very happy as well with my family and friends. At the age 51 I’m the youngest Grand Marshal ever nominated in the Saint Patrick’s Parade in Montgomery County.

January 17, 2008 by
News

AOH Gives Jolly Old St. Nick a Run for His Money

Judge Pat Dugan

Judge Pat Dugan presented a citation from the state AOH to the family of fallen Philadelphia Police Officer Chuck Cassidy. From left: Judy, Colby and Katie.

There are ways in which members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians have a lot in common with Santa Claus. Yes, there are more than a few white beards and little round bellies that shake when they laugh, like bowls full of jelly—but that’s not what we mean.

What we’re talking about is the amazing generosity of spirit that typifies the AOH, and not just during this time of year, but all year-round.

That generosity was in evidence Saturday night at the Pennsylvania National Guard in Northeast Philadelphia as the AOH presented the first-ever Project St. Nicholas. The proceeds of the event benefited several local charities, including the Hibernian Hunger Project, Toys for Tots, Cure Autism Now, Project Children and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

“We raised thousands of dollars,” said master of ceremonies Pat “Paddy” O’Brien, chairman of public relations for the Pennsylvania AOH. “We’ll do it again next year. It’ll be even bigger and better.”

Local Irish who visited the armory throughout the day listened to music by great local bands, including the Bogside Rogues, Ballina, the Birmingham Six, Tullamore Trio and The Shantys. (More than a few weren’t content just to listen—they got up and danced.) There was plenty of great food, including a bit of soda bread. For the kids, Santa Claus showed up about midday. The Celtic Flame Dancers also made an appearance.

As the afternoon gave way to the evening’s festivities, the Hibernians took the opportunity to recognize one of their own. Judge Patrick Dugan presented a plaque from the state AOH to the family of fallen Philadelphia Police Officer Chuck Cassidy. Irish Thunder Pipes and Drums also played in Cassidy’s honor.

For O’Brien the healthy turnout was heartening. “It was good to see the AOH involved in a community event that went outside of the AOH. People came today just because they were Irish. And they came from everywhere. There’s a World War II vet who came all the way down from Scranton.”

Finally, a few other visitors were unexpected … but nonetheless quite welcome indeed.

It seems that four women from Ireland—dancers all—had just gotten off the plane at Philly International. They had an appointment in Southampton, Bucks County, so that’s where they asked the cabbie to take them. They didn’t get that far. The cabbie misunderstood and dropped them off at the National Guard Armory on Southampton Road.

“They were 15 miles of course,” O’Brien laughed. So we asked them to come in and get something to eat and drink, and we arranged for a ride for them back to Center City. I said to them, ‘If there’s any place on the planet where you want to get lost, this is the spot.”

Lost or not, we all felt just the same way.

December 10, 2007 by
People

Hibernians Salute Our Veterans

On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, the Ancient Order of Hibernians of the Notre Dame Division will host its Annual Salute to Our Veterans. The ceremony will begin at 12 noon in front of the AOH clubhouse, 342 Jefferson St. in Swedesburg, Upper Merion Township.

Father Andy McCormick, chaplain of the AOH Notre Dame division and pastor of Sacred Heart Church, will open the ceremony with a prayer. The Irish Thunder Pipes & Drums will provide patriotic music, along with vocalist Sarah Agnew.

Many VFW, American Legion and Marine Corp League veterans will also be a part in this event. Other guests will include Congressman Joe Sestak, State Sen. Connie Williams and State Rep. Daylin Leach, along with many other officials.

Guest speaker will be Christopher Young, who resides in Bridgeport. Christopher Young is a 27-year-old United States Army Ranger who has served in the 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kansas, and the 1st Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, based out of Savannah, Ga. He served honorably in Operation Iraqi Freedom from November 2003 through February 2005. He has attended Army Infantry School, Airborne School, Combat Lifesaver Course, Ranger Indoctrination Program, Pre-Ranger course thru the 75th Ranger Regiment, Ranger School, Advanced Drivers’ School, and Stryker School.

In February 2007, Spc. Young was diagnosed with malignant thyroid cancer and was unable to deploy with his unit due to his condition. After a summer of surgeries and treatment, his cancer then spread to his lymph nodes. Today, Spc. Young’s doctors’ are quite confident that after a massive dose of radiation, his cancer should have been eradicated. You can find out more about Chris’ cancer and his efforts to raise money for children with cancer at http://www.rangerforacure.info

The AOH asks that everyone hang out their American flags in support of our veterans and our troops overseas and take part in this community event.

October 22, 2007 by