Who are the Hibernians?The Ancient Order of Hibernians is America’s oldest Irish Catholic fraternal organization founded concurrently in the coal-mining region of Pennsylvania and New York City in May, 1836. The Order can trace its roots back to a series of similar societies that existed in Ireland for more than 300 years.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, Inc.. (AOH) of today continues to evolve in an effort to meet the needs of today’s Roman Catholic Irish American males. Active across the United States, the Order seeks to provide its members with divisions and club facilities where a common brotherhood is shared. Here, participation in our religion and Irish culture —art, dance, music and sport are encouraged, fostered and preserved; all the while staying true to our ideal of providing aid to the newly arrived Irish, both socially and politically. The AOH in America continues to stay in the political forefront of issues concerning the Irish and Irish-Americans. In addition to our efforts to aid in a peaceful and just solution to the issues that divide Ireland, issues such as Immigration Reform: Right to Life; human rights issues addressed in the McBride Legislation and other relevant causes continue to make up the core of our local, state and national agendas. Information about the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Connecticut can be found on the Connecticut State Board Website, www.ctaoh.com. More information can be found on the Ancient Order of Hibernians National website, www.aoh.com. |
Hartford AOH Division #2Though Hartford Division #2 was established in 1954, the AOH has been established in Connecticut since 1869. Bridgeport, in Fairfield County was the birthplace of Hibernianism in Connecticut. On March 14, 1869 the Bridgeport Division was organized with seventeen charter members.
Though Fairfield County was the birthplace of the AOH in Connecticut, it would not be the area where the organization would first prosper. In the early years of the 1870's the AOH would experience a rapid growth in the central and eastern portions of Connecticut. Many new divisions were founded in and around the cities of Hartford and New Haven and in New London County. By the time the first State Convention was held in Hartford in April of 1872, the city already had three active divisions. Only a few weeks before the State Convention, 480 Hartford Hibernians from its three divisions had marched in Hartford's St. Patrick's Day Parade. Throughout the years, Hartford Hibernians have continued to play a significant role in the history of the AOH in Connecticut. Between 1871 and 2013, Hartford Hibernians have acted as hosts of a total of 9 Connecticut State Conventions, a National Convention in 1890, and have provided some of the Order's most prominent leaders, including two state presidents (Patrick Daly in 1872 and Owen McCabe in 1881) and two state treasurers (Edward Lyons in 1902 and William McCarthy in 1973). The Hartford Hibernians today meet the first Thursday of each month at the Irish American Home in Glastonbury. Here, the participation in our religion an Irish Culture --- art, dance, music and sport are encouraged, fostered and preserved; all while staying true to our ideal of providing aid to the newly arrived Irish, both socially and politically.
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