The Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians

You are here: Home / About the AOH

About the AOH

Membership in the Ancient Order of Hibernians is open to men who are practicing Roman Catholics of Irish birth or descent.

ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS

  • Participation in local, regional and national fraternal organization networking.
  • Community involvement in socials, such as dinners, dances, picnics, festivals, parties, sports and theatre.
  • Assistance in cases of bias and bigotry through the vigilance of a national anti-defamation committee.
  • Representation on issues of Irish-American concern.
  • An influential voice in local, state and national government.
  • An opportunity to experience Irish culture by promoting lectures, films, discussion groups and music and dance
  • Activities and programs for the entire family.
  • The A.O.H. provides a unique opportunity for its members to become involved in issues that are of interest to Irish American Catholics today.
  • The Order established the first chair of Celtic Studies at Catholic University in 1894.
  • The A.O.H. promotes the rightful recognition of Commodore John Barry as the Father of the American Navy and has established September 13 as a legal holiday of the Order.
  • The Order has sponsored and supported Feises, as well as traditional Irish music, dance and song.
  • The A. O. H. has recognized, honored and supported Irish American achievement in theater, education, law, science, music, business and the arts.
  • The A.O,H. has encouraged tourism to our ancestral homeland, Ireland.
  • The Order has supported the G.A.A. and the traditional ancient sporting games of Ireland
  • The A.O.H. through monetary, political and other means has supported vigorously humanitarian, and civil rights work in Northeast Ireland.
  • The A.O.H. has recognized the contributions of the Irish in the Civil War through history, lectures, films and monuments.
  • The A.O.H. has assisted in the reforesting of Ireland through the Trees for Ireland program.
  • The Order has fostered the instilling of our Irish culture, history and traditions in our youth through the A.O.H.
    Irish Way and Study Abroad Scholarship Programs for the sons and daughters of its members.
  • The A.O.H. has recognized the contributions of Irish Americans and Irish born who won the Medal of Honor and has erected a monument in their honor at the Valley Forge Medal
    of Honor Grove.
  • The A.O.H being composed of loyal Americans has recognized July 4th as one of the legal holidays of the Order.
  • The A.O.H. has consistently promoted and tried to preserve our ancient language, Gaelic – Irish.
  • Monument to Great Hunger victims, County Clare, Ireland.
  • The A.O.H. recognized March 17 as one of the legal holidays of the Order, thus preserving the teachings and ideals of Saint Patrick and the Catholic Church.
  • Project Saint Patrick Scholarship for Seminarians and the religious life.
  • The A.O.H. through its many monetary donations to various charitable organizations has shown that the motto of our Order, “Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity” is as important today as it was 175 years ago when our Order was first founded in America.