200 Hibernians Come to Fairfield to Celebrate Irish Heritage

About 200 members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, John F. Kennedy Division #1, the oldest Catholic lay organization in America, celebrated mass at St. Theresa Church on March 1, 2020 in preparation for the Feast of St. Patrick later in the month. The group is a fraternal organization with a women's auxiliary. The mass was celebrated by their chaplain, the Rev. Charles J. Allen, SJ of Fairfield University, and Rev. Brian P. Gannon, pastor of St. Theresa Church. The mass program was organized by Mark Smith and Thomas Donohue.

Following mass, the Hibernians met at the Gaelic American Club in Fairfield for breakfast and a program. The Master of Ceremonies was Raymond Baldwin, former First Selectman of Trumbull. The program featured Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick, Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, Shelton State Rep. Ben McGorty, Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti and State Senator Tony Hwang. Ryan D. Mahoney, Executive Director of Ireland's Great Hunger Museum in Hamden was among the community leaders on the dias. A memorial service for deceased Hibernians was organized by Division President Mark Ryan, DMD assisted by past Division President Tom Keane.

The keynote speaker was former New York Assemblyman John C. Dearie. Dearie was instrumental in the Northern Ireland peace process. In 1992 he organized a forum on Irish issues in New York City for Democratic hopefuls Jerry Brown and Bill Clinton. The U.S. had thus far maintained a hands-off approach to the tense situation in Northern Ireland, citing the U.S.'s special relationship with Great Britain. That is why it was so remarkable that these forums Dearie arranged got then-Governor Clinton to say that as president he would appoint a peace envoy to Northern Ireland, authorize a visa for Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, and endorse the MacBride Principles. Many credit these forums with putting Northern Ireland on the U.S. political agenda.

For more information about the Ancient Order of Hibernians, visit www.aohjfk.com