Photos that have been collected from around the Tri-States

_ Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} What an opportunity to talk with those that made and remember the Irish history of Dubuque. Hailing from Irish roots on my mother’s side, and after seeing the Dubuque Order of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (A.O.H.) was closing, I made it a point to join the A.O.H. on the last Sunday of October at what was expected to be only a handful of folks for their final meeting and breakfast.

How surprised was the Executive Council – consisting of Tom Reilly, Mike Martin and Bob Feeney – when over 50 men and women of Irish descent showed up to give them a grand Irish farewell.  Joining them were several of the Dyersville A.O.H. members, most likely since several of the remaining members of Dubuque’s Order were transferring to the Dyersville Order.

Doing a little research of the A.O.H. (http://www.aoh.com/) I found that 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 of 1836. The Order can trace its roots back to a series of similar societies that existed in Ireland for more than 300 years. However, while the organizations share a common thread, the North American A.O.H. is a separate and much larger organization (www.aoh.com).

Back in the old country, in the 1600’s, secret societies were formed to protect the values under attack of Protestants on the Roman Church. What history tells us is that continued oppression and periodic crop failures forced many Irish to flee to other lands for survival, many coming to America. The need for a defensive society in America was the same as it was in Ireland. Colonial America was an extension of England in language, customs and traditions; and the spirit of the leading colonists was still intensely anti-Catholic. In fact, many states denied civil rights to Catholics until they swore an oath renouncing the authority of the Pope.

The growing number of Irish, fleeing conditions in their native land, had become a focus of that prejudice. They were driven to the most difficult and demanding forms of labor where even minimal safety and welfare standards were ignored. In Ireland, the bias of their colonial masters made it necessary to guard their activities from public scrutiny; in America the prejudice from nativists and abusive employers made similar secrecy necessary. Gradually, they came together in the same type of secret societies that had protected them in Ireland (www.aoh.com).

The initials AOH may tell the story best. Those who say it means Add One Hour are describing the easygoing, no rush attitude of many of its members, while others say it means America’s Only Hope, has been used to define the loyalty of the Irish to the principles of their adopted land. In any case, its members are best described by the statement; To be Irish is a Blessing, To be a Hibernian is an Honor (www.aoh.com).

Returning back to Dubuque A.O.H. final meeting, that dreary October Sunday, the Executive Council had invited Gary Dolphin – the “Voice of the Hawkeye’s” – keeping most of us on the edge of our seats, regaling us with tales of the football teams previous day’s loss to Minnesota, and spurring us on with descriptions of the upcoming talent on the Hawk’s basketball team.

Bob Feeney rose to describe how the Dubuque’s South End Club, which became the Dubuque A.O.H., originated in 1964 and held meetings at “Robert’s Smorgasbord”, before moving to the Julien Inn with some meetings holding as many as 147 attendee’s. He stated that the decline of Dubuque attendance was due to “our young don’t do breakfast like we did in the old days.”

Finally, Mike Martin, the out-going President, thanked everyone for coming and introduced some relatives of those who founded the original order – Sy Callahan, Ole Driscoll, Clarence Duffy and John Bakey. He finished saying what a great effort it has been, and that “it’s been fun.”

*The author retired as a Major General from the U.S. Army and Iowa National Guard. He currently is the head real estate broker with Continental Realty and Felderman Appraisals. Based on his Irish ancestry through his mother Janet Soppe Felderman to his grandmother Loretta Tobin Soppe to his great-grandfather Edward M. Tobin and finally his great-great-grandfather Maurice Tobin of County Tipperary Ireland (born 1845, came to American in 1866); he is applying for membership in the Dyersville Order of A.O.H. Membership in the Ancient Order of Hibernians 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.  You may find application on their A.O.H. webpage.

Photos from our Graphic Designer Bill Haxmeier's trip down to Veterans Memorial Plaza on Chaplain Schmidt Island for the Veteran's day program. Guest speaker was 1st Lt William Hayes, Co D, 1st Bat, 133rd infantry.