History of the AOH
The Ancient Order of Hibernians is a fraternal organization of Irish Catholic men dedicated to preserving Irish culture, supporting our communities, and deepening our Catholic faith. The AOH in West Michigan dates to the 1880's and is the original chapter in the state. Rooted in the traditions of our ancestors, we actively work to honor our shared heritage and support charitable causes.
Fr. John Whalen McGee
Born in 1916, our namesake was a Catholic Priest, Historian, Geneologist and Author.
His first assignment as a priest was at St. James’ Parish on Bridge Street where he began the sick calls, the youth work, the preaching, weddings, baptisms and funerals. In 1945, the Centennial of St. James’ Parish, John was assigned the task of researching and writing a parish history, which is when he also began his work on local history.
His books include "The Catholic Church In The Grand River Valley"; "The Passing Of The Gael" and "The Bend In The River."
AOH in America
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 1836, the Order can trace its roots back to a series of similar societies that existed in Ireland for more than 300 years prior. 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 early Irish societies were born of a need to protect the welfare of fellow Irish Catholics, and especially the clergy, who risked immediate death to keep the Catholic Faith alive in occupied Ireland after the Penal Laws of 1691. These various secret societies were formed across the country to aid and comfort their people by whatever means was available. Similarly, the AOH in America was founded by men emulating these Irish societies to protect the clergy and churches from the violent American Nativists who attacked Irish Catholic immigrants and Church property. At the same time, the vast influx of Irish Immigrants fleeing Ireland’s Great Hunger in the late 1840’s, prompted a growth in many Irish societies in the USA – the largest of which was, and continues to be, the AOH.
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