Well it’s the end of April, and this month I regrettably must start off with all of the division’s sympathies goes out to the Mike Kilker family.   The funeral mass was held at St. Luke, the Evangelists Catholic Church and it was standing room only.  It was good to see a few of the Hibernians who showed up.  Please keep the soul of Peter Kilker in your prayers.

The AOH Trivia night at St. James the Greater school gym went well.  Everyone went home with a souvenir glass courtesy of Anheuser Busch Brewing, as well as all of the other attendance prizes they donated.  It was a really fun evening; even for those who “worked” (there is not much work to do—just time consuming!!).  Our deepest thanks go out to Mr. and Mrs. Denny Vineyard, who put the evening together for us.  It was a great turnout with approximately 27 tables filled with 10 persons at each table.

Upcoming (please check the calendar of events page which is also on the website at www.stlhibernians.org) is the Missouri state AOH convention in St. Joseph, on June 10th –12th at the Stoney Creek Inn.  Tom Gibbons is trying to arrange for a big van in which all passengers will chip in for gas and leaving Friday morning of the 10th and return on Sunday the 12th.  If interested call Tom at (314) 741-8827.

At the last meeting, it was discussed about the offer from Tommy Gage of “O’Malley’s Irish Pub” of a free meeting room down behind the pub.  It was decided that while it is a wonderful and a most tempting offer, the room is simply not big enough for this division due to our continuing enlargement of the membership rolls.  The division is now up over 130 members on the rolls and more and more coming each month, and therefore more members are showing up at the monthly general membership meetings.

Since the last newsletter, we have lost Pope John Paul II—the Great. As old as I am I can vaguely remember Pope Pius XII, and looking back upon the 26 year reign of Pope John Paul II, I think I can say with certainty that there has not been a more important nor influential person on this planet in the last 500 years than Pope John Paul II.  But time marches on and we today, have a new Pope –Benedict XVI.  May the Lord bless, protect, and guide him in the years of his reign.

In Closing, please also remember all of those who serve in uniform—firefighters, policemen, and all in the military.  It is because of these people that we today enjoy these most precious freedoms that we have.

Dia beannaigh tu gach! (God bless you all!)

Jim Otto

President

AOH Division #1

THIS MONTH IN IRISH HISTORY

With all I have to do, I decided to add some more information to the newsletter this month and see how it goes and how well received it will be. 

I am getting my information from “Wild Geese.com” This is a most interesting and educational site.  Hope you enjoy this added item.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

April - Aibrean

25, 1707 -      Irish Brigade of France fights in the battle of Almanza.

25, 1707 -      Col. Thomas Barry of Cork, commands a regiment of O'Mahony's Dragoons at Almanza.

25, 1836 -      Mathew Flanagan, vice admiral in the Austrian navy, dies in Venice.

25, 1918 -      Irish Labour Party declares one-day strike in protest over conscription act.

26, 1805 -      U.S. Marines under the command of Lt. Presley O'Bannon capture the town of Derna in Libya.

27, 1779 -      Irish-born U.S. Navy Capt. Gustavus Conyngham, "The Dunkirk Pirate", is captured by the British.

27, 1802 -      Count Lally arrives in India in command of French troops, including his own Irish regiment.

27, 1923 -      De Valera announces end of operations against the Irish Free State, effectively ending the Irish

28, 1794 -      Rev. William Jackson, agent of French revolutionary government, arrested in Dublin on charge of high treason.

28, 1916 -      Battle of Ashbourne - Irish Volunteers led by Thomas Ashe ambush RIC men.

28, 1927 -      Death of Dan Daly, two-time winner of the U.S.Medal of Honor.

29, 1829 -      Catholic Emancipation Act passed giving rights to hold military and civilian offices

29, 1901 -      James Stephens, chief founder of the Fenians, dies in Dublin.

29- May 4 -     The largely Irish 6th Louisiana Infantry regiment fights at the 2nd battle of Fredericksburg during the Chancellorsville campaign.

29, 1916 -      Irish rebels, led by Patrick Pearse and James Connolly, surrender in Dublin.

30, 1795 -      Rev. William Jackson, United Irishmen, found guilty, commits suicide in the dock

May – Bealtaine

?, 1171 -         Battle of Dublin.

1-5, 1169 -     Norman invasion begins. A small force arrives to help Diarmaid MacMurrough, regain the kingship of Leinster.

1-5, 1171 -     Diarmaid MacMurrough, King of Leinster, dies in Ferns, Co. Wexford.

1, 1823 -         Oliver Harty, Baron de Pierrebourg, of Co. Limerick, Lieutenant-General in Napoleon's army, retires.

On April 27, 1779, Irish-born (County Donegal)  U.S.Navy Captain Gustavus Conyngham, “The Dunkirk Pirate” was captured by the British navy in the waters off New York One of his prizes he captured was the British Merchant ship the “Prince of Orange” on May 3, 1777.  He, on the 3rd escape attempt by tunneling his way out of Mill prison in Plymouth and made his way to the continent. He was again captured in March 1780 and spent another year in Mill Prison. It is said that in the war of 1812, he helped in the defense of Philadelphia against his old enemy.  He would die in Philadelphia in 1819, and was one of the first heroes of the US Navy ON April 28, 1916, as the rebels in Dublin were being squeezed harder and harder by the British and nearing the end of their resistance, outside the city the rebels were achieving a small victory.  Led by Thomas Ashe, a group of Irish Volunteers ambushed a 40-man unit of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) in Ashborne, County Meath.  The two sides battled each other for several hours, until finally the RIC began to run short of ammunition and surrendered to Ashe’s men. Eight policemen died and fifteen were wounded. Ashe would eventually spend time in jail for hisa role in the uprising, and in 1917 he would be jailed again.  He began a hunger strike on September 20th demanding POW status and died after just 5 days from injuries while being force-fed.  The manner of his death outraged the Irish population.  He has a most famous American cousin—Gregory Peck.

On April 29th, 1916, surrounded and driven from their position in the GPO, with James Connolly severely wounded, and having little hope of help from outside the city, Patrick Pearse, and the leaders of the Rising were faced with a decision. All of them were more than ready to die for a Republic themselves, but Pearse had just watched a family of three shot down in the street while waving a white flag.  Hanging o the wall was a picture of Robert Emmet standing in the dock; glancing at that hero, whose epitaph Pearse dearly wished to write, he knew what he had to do. When Pearse mad his decision to surrender, Tom Clarke, the ole rebel who had been given the honor of placing his name first on the Republic proclamation, turned his face to the wall and wept. Their dreams of an Irish Republic were coming to an end, but their sacrifice gave new life to the violent struggle that would lead to that republic.

BIRTHS

April – Aibrean

25, 1906 -      William Brennan US Supreme Court Justice, born of Irish Immigrant parents

28, 1875 -      Theresa Kearney (Mother Kevin – “Mother Kevina”) Missionary & founder of Franciscan Missionary Sisters  - Knockenrahan, County Wicklow

29, 1769 -      Arthur Wellesley, Duck of Wellington – Soldier & statesman Dublin

May – Bealtaine

??, 1838 -        Possibly July) - Richard Dowling, Commander of Confederate Davis Guards who repulsed the Union Fleet at Sabine Pass in Texas in September 1863 — County Galway

?? 1858 -         Jennie Wyse (nee O’Toole) feminist, politician –Baltinglass, County Wicklow