Welcome to the AOH Division 21
Rockaway Beach/Breezy Point, NY
The AOH Division 21 has been serving the Rockaway Beach/ Breezy Point Communities for over 40 years. The AOH is a non-profit organization and its purpose is to promote Irish culture and foster, and perpetuate the history and traditions of the Irish people. Along with fostering our culture and history, our division holds annual fundraisers that benefit local charitable organizations.
We also march in the Rockaway, and New York City's St. Patrick's Parade's. We are always looking for new members; if you are a practicing Catholic of Irish desent and want to celebrate your Irish heritage and help your local community, please click our join/contact tab
About The Ancient Order of Hibernians
The Ancient Order of Hibernians is America’s oldest Irish Catholic Fraternal Organization founded concurrently in the coal-mining region of Pennsylvania and New York City in May,1836. The Order can trace its roots back to a series of similar societies that existed in Ireland for more than 300 years. Today the AOH exists in America, Canada, Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland, however, while the organizations share a common thread, the American AOH is a separate and much larger organization.
The Pin In My Lapel
Written in 1987 by Brother Denis P. McGowan
AOH St. Columcille Division 4, Staten Island, NY
Dedicated to the Memory of his Beloved Da, Brother Hugh P. McGowan
In the lapel of my tweed jacket,
There’s a pin of brightest gold,
No bigger than my thumbnail,
But it’s worth cannot be told.
‘Tis the Emblem of an Order
Of Irish folk proud of their land,
And their glorious religion,
Under the Lord’s command.
In Friendship we are gathered,
We strive for Unity,
To serve our Church and brethren
In Christian Charity.
We maintain Christ’s own teachings,
We guard the Irish race,
We help the sick and fallen
With the aid of God’s own grace.
Proud to be called Hibernians,
From Erin’s ancient Latin name,
By defending Catholic priests and nuns,
We earned undying fame.
This Ancient Order of whom I speak
I proudly wear their pin,
As did my loving father,
And his father before him.
That Emblem of the Order
I think is simply grand,
Has ancient Irish symbols,
To remind us of our land.
It bears the letters “A.O.H.,”
Its shape is like a shield.
It bears our famous Irish harp,
Upon a shamrock field.
The two hands clasped in friendship
In the centre of this crest,
Reminds each A.O.H. man
That brotherhood is blessed.
Rising o’er the hills of Ireland,
In the crest is the sunrise,
‘Tis the dawn of Irish freedom,
‘Tis the cause that never dies.
The four largest green shamrocks,
Symbols of the Trinity,
Remind us of the provinces
Of Erin’s antiquity.
Four mighty Irish kingdoms,
Proud and most beauteous lands,
One breaks the heart of Ireland,
Remains in Sass’nach hands.
Yes, shining bright in my lapel
Of which I’ll proudly tell,
‘Tis the Emblem of the A.O.H.
Worn in my heart as well.
Interested in Joining?
Click here for membership information.
Watch the video: "The Way Home".
