Connected to our past…looking to our Future.
Growing in the Present
Our Irish Roots
The Order can trace its roots back to a parent organization, of the same name, which has existed in Ireland for over 300 years. While both share a common thread, the North American AOH is a separate and much larger organization.
Our American Founding
Similarly, the AOH in America was founded May 4, 1836 at St. James Church in New York to protect the clergy and Church property from the "Know Nothings" and their followers. Anti-immigrant sentiment was high at that time and the Irish would soon be arriving in peak numbers, escaping the Great Hunger and other persecution in their native land. Many Irish social societies sprung up and grew during this period, but the largest was, and continues to be, the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Our Original Purpose
The Order evolved from a need in the early 1600's to protect the lives of priests who risked immediate death to keep the Catholic Faith alive in occupied Ireland after the reign of Henry VIII. When England implemented its dreaded Penal Laws in Ireland, various secret societies were formed across the country to aid and comfort the people by whatever means available.
The AOH Today
Nationally, the Order has traditionally been among the first to welcome new Irish immigrants. The many facets of Irish culture- from art and dance to sports and music - are fostered and preserved. The AOH has advocated on the Federal level for issues such as Immigration Reform; economics, human rights, the Right To Life, and for a peaceful resolution to the centuries-old conflicts that divide Ireland and her people.