IRISH HISTORY

 Captain Michael Keenan of Friendsville and the Irish in the Civil War

        A sometimes often overlooked statistic is that over 150,000 Irish immigrants and many thousand more of Irish descent fought for the Union in the American Civil War. It is also recorded that over 30% of the Union Navy were Irish born. Official records of how many Irish died do not exist, but estimates are between 10 and 20,000. One of these men was twenty-six-year-old Captain Michael Keenan of nearby Friendsville, Pennsylvania.
       Captain Keenan belonged to Company H of the 143 Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers. In early May 1864 the Regiment was sent to fight in Virginia at what came to be called the Battle of the Wilderness. The battle was described as a fight in rough terrain that was savage and disorienting. There were over 17,500 Union casualties over two days. Michael Keenan was one of them. Michael was wounded in the battle and died 27 days later. We know that medical practices of the day were elementary and crude. It was likely an agonizing and long 27 days for Captain Keenan.
       The Irish Catholics at the time were slandered and discriminated against.  They were called Papists, Romanists, and drunkards.  So why did so many American Irish enlist to fight?  We can only speculate, but most were unskilled and uneducated. They could only find jobs that were dangerous and difficult such as coal mining and digging canals with picks and shovels. So, when the war came many may have seen it as a chance for a better life.
       And enlist they did. Irish units came from many states. The famous Fighting 69th of N.Y. was led by the well-known General Thomas Meagher. Pennsylvania had units such as the Hibernia Greens, the Irish Volunteers, the Mongomery Guards, and the Irish 69th Volunteer Infantry. Wisconsin had the Mulligan Guards, and the Wisconsin Irish Brigade. Massachusetts had many mostly Irish militias such as the Columbian Guards, the 9TH Massachusetts, and the 28th Massachusetts. There were also seven Union generals who were Irish born.
       The victory of the United States over the Confederate States preserved the Union and ended slavery, but it was also a major victory for the progress of the Irish in America. Prejudice still existed, but the patriotism of the Irish in America would now be very hard to question. So, if you are in the neighborhood of Friendsville you may want to stop at the gravesite of Captain Michael Keenan, give him an honorable nod, and say a prayer of thanks. - Submitted by Bill Burke.                           
Sources:  Tim Keenan of the Binghamton Fire Department/ The Michael Keenen Gravesite, Friendsville, Pa./ Tracing the Irish in the American Civil War, F. Fitzsimmons 2014. /Blue and Gray: How the Civil War Turned the Irish into Americans, A. McGrath 2017.

​ hooley commitee

Thank you to everyone that supported our LAOH 20th Hooley. Whether you bought a ticket to the Hooley, the 50/50 “I Can Ride, Inc.”, donated a basket or a gift card, volunteered in any way or simply prayed for a successful Hooley we greatly appreciate your support.
See you next year, Friday September 12, 2025.
Sincerely,
The Hooley Committee

​ CORPORATION NEWS

Next Corporation Meeting Oct. 28 at 7:00. This meeting is open to all AOH/LAOH members in good standing. Nominations will be accepted for two(2) positions on the Board of Directors- each a three(3) year term. You can inform your AOH/LAOH president-if you are interested in running or nominations will be accepted on Oct.28 and up to10 days later (Nov.7). Elections will be at the Corporation Meeting Nov. 25. No Nominations Accepted After 11/7/24. Tom Kelly- Corporation President  

2024 Event Pictures, click here.

 Parade Committee.

Parade Day 2025 is March 1, 2025

: Parade News- Nominations for: Grand Marshal- in writing with your reasons for selection, submit to Tom Kelly- further information 607-760-8351.Maid of Erin - application available at the hall or from Meryl Deemie 607-237-6879. Deadline for both is Nov. 15, 2024. Tom Kelly co-chair.  

​ AOH FINANCIAL NEWS

The 2024 AOH membership cards will be arriving soon. We’d appreciate you paying your dues at your earliest convenience. The dues are $40.00. Drop off or mail your payment to: AOH Hall, 148 Main St., Binghamton, NY 13905. Attn: Mark Kadlecik. If you have an address change, please let us know. It’s the only way we can keep our records straight and ensure you’ll get all the mailings.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS

  Membership in the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Inc. is confined to men 16 years and older who are practicing Roman Catholics of Irish birth or descent and who are citizens of United States of America or who have declared their intentions to become citizens of the United States of America.

Associate memberships are also available to those who do not meet the aforementioned qualification.

It is a standing rule that Applications for Membership that languish without action for longer than 6 months are discarded.

Notifications for induction dates and times, through the Shamrock Degree, are sent to all applicants.
Those who have applied prior to this 6 month period, and are serious about joining the A.O.H., need to reapply for admission and make arrangements to attend a Shamrock Degree ceremony within the next six month.

Those interested in membership must stop into the Hall to submit an application as they must have an active member sponsor them and sign the form.

Please check the Bartender Schedule page here for days and times the hall is open.