Visiting the birthplace of the AOH in the US.

Thanks to Ernie for researching this event and organizing it with utmost precision. The afternoon started with an optional pre-event at the Dead Rabbit on Water St in lower Manhattan. Even though it was optional, a large gathering made the trip to the watering hole. As the day progressed, the term “Dead Rabbit” had a special significance related to the early Irish settlers escaping the famine in the homeland.

After sufficient lubrication at the Rabbit we trekked across lower Manhattan to the Battery Park City section, where in and amongst towering modern buildings, the Irish Hunger Memorial commemorates the Great Famine (an Gorta Mór) or the Great Hunger, or simply the Famine. As can be seen by the Wikipedia link, during this period in the mid 1800’s, 1 million people and 1 million people fled the country. (Exercise for the reader, link the 1 million emigrants that largely arrived on Ellis Island, and link those new immigrants to the Dead Rabbits.)

After that we rode the Subway up to Mulberry St to visit St Patrick’s Basilica (Old). With the influx of Irish immigrants into New York and neighboring cities (Philadelphia and Boston), a significant anti-Irish and anti-Catholic sentiment which resulted in a number of church burnings. The AOH (Division 1, the original members of the AOH in the US), amongst others manned the periphery of St Patrick’s to prevent a similar fate. We visited the catacombs under St Patrick’s, considered to be the largest catacombs in the US.

After attending Mass at the Basilica, touring the church and catacombs, we walked a short distance to O’Nieals for a hearty dinner. Some recognized the restaurant as a standard meeting place in the Sex and the City series and/or movies. Some, of course, were oblivious to this.

It was a fun, educational trip which was enjoyed by all. Read more and visit the pictorial account below.