Ancient Order of Hibernians

[Dan R Porter]

This reminds me when that guy sued "Hooters" for not hiring him as a waitress.

Figured I would lighten it up

[thanmuwa]

This reminds me when that guy sued "Hooters" for not hiring him as a waitress.

Figured I would lighten it up

Were his man-boobs big enough for him to have a case?

[The Barry]

Were his man-boobs big enough for him to have a case?

Bad mental image! Bad mental image!

[O'Callaghan]

Remember, though, that you're talking about the leadership of the United Irishmen, and not the whole picture. Sympathy for the United Irishmen declined after '98 rebellion, and most Protestant Ulstermen remained loyal to the Crown. One or two Presbyterians in the ranks does not mean that all Ulster Presbyterians were United Irishmen.

Americans tend to view Irish history through romantic lenses, but if your people were Ulster-Scots Protestants from the SC Backcountry, I wouldn't expect them to want to willingly join the AOH.

Perhaps this discussion would be better seved in PMs, as we are skirting forum rules regarding religious discussions and discussions of "The Troubles".

Regards,

Todd

I don't know about Robert Emmett, but Wolfe Tone and Napper Tandy weren't Presbyterians (although they were indeed Protestant, not Catholic) and nor were they Ulstermen. AFAIK they were Church of Ireland, which means Anglican, or what Americans would call Episcopalian, and they were from Dublin, which of course is in Leinster, not Ulster.

OTOH, I'm no historian, but I believe they lived at a time when Catholics could not own land or enter a profession, not too long before such laws were repealed. Some at least of their group, if not to say all, could have been Protestant by convenience. More likely, though, it would have been their grandfathers or suchlike that made this decision, as these laws had been in force for some time at that point. They were the intelligencia, and their followers who had no land or learned profession to sacrifice were mostly Catholics.

I also read a little about the AOH and also concluded that I am not eligible, not being a Catholic. In my case, however, I am not of Ulster Scots descent, I am descended from the 'right' people, but they went to England and married into English protestants, and rather more English agnostics. I have to go back generations to get to anyone who went to ANY church, if there really were any, LOL! Well, I have this one uncle, but he converted very late in life. Americans talk about tracing family trees through their family bibles sometimes, but I find that hard to even visualise because I never saw a bible in anyone's house in my family!

I would like to meet up with other people of Irish descent, but somehow I know that any religion based group is not something I should join even if they would have me. It just wouldn't work out.

[macwilkin]

I don't know about Robert Emmett, but Wolfe Tone and Napper Tandy weren't Presbyterians (although they were indeed Protestant, not Catholic) and nor were they Ulstermen. AFAIK they were Church of Ireland, which means Anglican, or what Americans would call Episcopalian, and they were from Dublin, which of course is in Leinster, not Ulster.

I don't believe I ever specifically identified Wolf Tone as a Presbyterian in my post, sir. I did ID the some of the United Irish leadership as "Protestants", which at that time did mean Anglican -- Presbyterians were known as "Dissenters". But there were a number of Irish Dissenters/Presbyterians (and some from Ulster) which did indeed support the Volunteer movement of the 1780s and then later the United Irishmen, although by no means a majority.

And btw, I am very much aware of what the Church of Ireland and the Episcopal Church is, since I've been an Episcopalian for almost 20 years, and a Presbyterian before that. You're "preaching to the choir", sir.

T.

[IrishGodfather]

I will just point out that by this post I just wanted to understand why it's such a big deal whether you're catholic, protestant, or whatever you choose to be. I just was curious why an association in the USA would still adhere to such exclusion of a whole other side of Irish descendants.

I've accepted the fact I'll never get to join, and am currently searching out alternatives, whether they be Irish or Scottish organizations, I would just like to find a place to learn and share my passion for all things celtic.

By the way, sorry if anything I said offended anyone, I was just trying to point out how groups like that over look things sometimes. But oh well, I'm fine with it all, and hope the AOH flourishes as a group b/c I support their general idea, just not the exclusion they make.

C'est la vie!

[macwilkin]

I will just point out that by this post I just wanted to understand why it's such a big deal whether you're catholic, protestant, or whatever you choose to be. I just was curious why an association in the USA would still adhere to such exclusion of a whole other side of Irish descendants.

I've accepted the fact I'll never get to join, and am currently searching out alternatives, whether they be Irish or Scottish organizations, I would just like to find a place to learn and share my passion for all things celtic.

By the way, sorry if anything I said offended anyone, I was just trying to point out how groups like that over look things sometimes. But oh well, I'm fine with it all, and hope the AOH flourishes as a group b/c I support their general idea, just not the exclusion they make.

C'est la vie!

Someone else mentioned this before (I believe it was Galician) that the AOH are an Irish Catholic fraternal organization, not just an "Irish society". It's purpose goes beyond a basic cultural society.

While their membership is "restricted" to Irish Catholics, it's not really exclusionary per se. Also, I think you're missing the point that the whole other group you mention, Irish Protestants, may not now or historically have identified with the AOH and it's mission as a Catholic lay organization.

I once had a member of the Knights of Columbus try to recruit me at a student organization fair in university; when I told him I was Episcopalian, he said I could still join. I politely thanked him for the honour, but informed him that as an Anglican, I did not meet the membership requirements of his group.

Have you investigated a local "secular" Irish society to join yet? Here's one for example:

http://www.scirish.org/

You never answered my PM, btw.

Regards,

Todd

[Paul]

Hi there. I dont understand why they claim to be a Christian charity of the choose which Christians they actually allow in.
Charles Stewart Parnell was one of the great republicans and he was a member of the Church of Ireland - along with many other good republicans

[macwilkin]

Hi there. I dont understand why they claim to be a Christian charity of the choose which Christians they actually allow in.
Charles Stewart Parnell was one of the great republicans and he was a member of the Church of Ireland - along with many other good republicans

They're a lay order for Roman Catholics, not an an ecumenical organisation.

T.

[Colonel MacNeal]

This is beginning to sound like the G. Clayton Bigsby story from the Chappelle Show.