Long-dormant Hibernians group again active in Fayette County
BROWNSVILLE – The Ancient Order of Hibernians once again is alive and well in Fayette County. The Irish Catholic fraternal organization boasted 16 divisions in the county back in 1910, including divisions in Uniontown, Connellsville, Fayette City, Leisenring and Dunbar.
All 16 divisions eventually died out, leaving Fayette County Irishmen seeking brotherhood with the Charleroi Division of the AOH.
Shortly before St. Patrick’s Day, a small group of men from the Brownsville area announced plans to start a division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Fayette County and their efforts were featured in an article in the Herald-Standard.
“After the story ran on St. Patrick’s Day, I got a couple of calls at home,” said Ron Barry, one of the Fayette County AOH organizers.
Barry said 18 new members were inducted at the group’s first meeting a month ago, plus five members transferring from the Charleroi division. Among the inductees is a retired Treasury agent from Fairchance, a priest from Fayette City and Tom Harkless, the executive director of the Fayette County Housing Authority.
The priest, the Rev. Leonard McAlpin of Holy Spirit Church in Fayette City, is now the organization’s chaplain.
Marty Redigan was elected vice president, with Tim Sheehan as the financial secretary, Rick Barry as the recording secretary and Bill Bailey as the treasurer.
Tom O’Connell will serve as marshal, and Dan Wheeler was named sentinel.
Barry, who was elected president of the fledgling organization, said officials from both the state organization and the AOH board in Allegheny County participated in the induction service.
“I’ve got congratulatory e-mails from all over the state, from different divisions,” Barry said.
He said the Fayette County division of the AOH is still setting up its committees and deciding the direction it will take.
“The AOH is involved in numerous charities, including right-to-life and St. Vincent DePaul, and I’m sure our division will be, too,” Barry said.
“The International Special Olympics are being held in Ireland. The state division is encouraging all divisions to raise money to send Special Olympians from Pennsylvania to the international competition.”
Barry said the AOH has its roots in Ireland in the 1500s, when it was formed to protect Catholic priests during the Protestant Reformation.
The first American division was formed in 1836 in New York City, with an emphasis on helping Irish immigrants.
The current focus of the organization is to do charity work and to promote Irish culture, and Barry said new members are always welcome.
“All good Irish Catholic men 16 and older are encouraged to join,” he said.
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For more information, call Barry at 724-785-4566 or check the national Web site at www.AOH.com.