AOH NATIONAL CONVENTION 2024

AOH 2023 STATE CONVENTION-GREENVILLE

The South Carolina Ancient Order of Hibernians State Board announces a CALL TO CONVENTION. The biannual meeting of the South Carolina State Board will be held on August 18 – August 20, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency, Greenville SC. The Harp and Shamrock Division of Greenville, SC is hosting the 2023 State Convention.

The State Board is looking forward to seeing you at the Convention and to charting our path forward to grow the Order in the years to come.

 In Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity, James P Nettles Jr State Secretary

HIBERNIANS IN THE GREENVILLE POINSETTIA CHRISTMAS PARADE

It was a clear December 3rd night in Greenville when the Poinsettia Christmas Parade was held, and the AOH was there.

AOH GREENVILLE trims a tree with BON SECOURS ORGANIZATION

Our location is at the Hyatt Hotel downtown

2022 Festival of Trees

The 37th annual Festival of Trees will bring the 2022 holiday season to life! Spectacularly decorated trees line the entranceway of three hotels in downtown Greenville, giving visitors and community members the chance to experience the magic of the holidays. View trees November 18 thru December 26 at Courtyard Marriott Downtown, Embassy Suites by Hilton – Riverplace, and Hyatt Regency Greenville.

All proceeds will support the purchase of a second mammography coach.

HALFWAY TO ST PATRICK'S DAY SEPTEMBER 16, 2022

The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Greenville SC Division 1 invites you to join us September 16th,  in celebration of it being halfway to St. Patrick's Day with a concert featuring John Carroll (5:30 pm to 6:30 pm) and Drop O' Pure (7 pm to 9:30 pm). There will be a $5 cover charge at the door of Connolly's Irish Pub, in Downtown Greenville, South Carolina.

ST PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL MARCH 12, 2022

AOH GREENVILLE Volunteers assist in parking Attendees at BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament

The BMW Charity Pro-Am golf tournament is held in Greenville, SC each year, with the one exception of 2020, due to the threat of the Covid-19 virus.  The tournament is memorable, not only for the world-class golfing but also for the benefit of local charities: Cancer Society of Greenville County, Cliffs Residents Outreach, Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute, Meyer Center for Special Children, Mobile Meals of Spartanburg and Roper Mountain Science Center.

In addition to directly raising funds for these life-changing organizations, the tournament raises awareness of each philanthropic mission.  Additionally, the Ancient Order of Hibernians in conjunction with the Knights of Columbus join forces to volunteer the time of their human resources to assist in parking cars for those attending and viewing the tournament.  The challenge besides assisting drivers to avoid accidents and damage to their vehicles in the parking lot, this year (2021) had the added constraint that there was only one parking lot available over the four day period, and half of the lot was also used by Michelin employees…Michelin donated the use of its lot next to its headquarters for this charity raising event, from Thursday through Sunday, June 10-13th.

The Hibernians and Knights were able to park over 2,740 cars over the four day period in an area that had only 1,185 spaces available during the 4 days, with a maximum capacity lot of 395 physical spaces.  Extra attention and care required the volunteers to utilize each available space as traffic arrived, left, came back, and left again during the tournament hours.  LIVE THE MOTTO !

AOH GREENVILLE PROMOTE IRISH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT SWAMP RABBITS HOCKEY ON 20 MARCH 2021

Although the city of Greenville was still not issuing permits for our St Patrick's Day Festival and Parade, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits Hockey Team invited Irish community visible organizations of the Ancient Order of Hibernians  ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/1864823480269129/  ), Greenville Gaels Hurling and Football Team ( GreenvilleGaels.com   ) ,and The Connick School of Irish Dance  ( connicksschool.com ).  Social distancing and a great hockey game was enjoyed by all family members at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

MARCH IS IRISH HERITAGE MONTH AND THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS ASKS YOU TO SUPPORT SOUTH CAROLINA VOCATIONS!

AOH GREENVILLE DONATES FOOD TO THE ST VINCENT de PAUL FOOD PANTRY

Marco's Pizza gives Free Pizza & Tea to Healthcare workers, assisted by the Greenville AOH

Marco's Pizza provides FREE pizza and tea on Friday, July 31st to Healthcare Workers at St Francis Hospital Downtown, assisted by Greenville Ancient Order of Hibernians Harp & Shamock Division #1 (AOH).

Dressed and Ready for the St Patrick's Parade and Festival in Downtown Greenville, SC March 14th STARTING 11:00am to 8pm

UPDATE  MARCH 12, 2020

St Patrick's Parade and Festival on March 14. 2020. HAS BEEN CANCELED....OFFICIAL STATEMENT FOLLOWS:

After consultation with local and state health authorities, including Governor McMaster and his staff and Mayor White’s office, the Greenville St. Patrick’s Day Committee has made the decision to officially postpone this weekend’s Parade and Festival. We may be able to host a festival or other procession at a later date but those details are unavailable at this time.

"I want to thank our Executive Board all for the incredible work we’ve done to put together what would have been a tremendous event for the city, however in light of the current environment and in the interest of protecting our volunteers and fellow citizens we felt this was the appropriate action at this time.”

Emmet Cahill, award-winning Irish tenor will perform in concert March 20th

PRESS RELEASE

Sony recording artist Emmet Cahill, an award-winning Irish tenor and a principal singer with PBS’s musical stage show Celtic Thunder, is back out on tour in the United States this spring and bringing his solo show to First United Methodist Church in Brevard on Friday, March 20th at 7:30 p.m. 

With a timeless voice and effortless elegance, Emmet will serenade the audience with a mix of traditional Irish tunes (“When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”, “Danny Boy”), beloved church hymns (“How Great Thou Art”), nostalgic favorites (“Moon River”) and Broadway classics (”On the Street Where You Live”, “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera).   He’ll also take audience requests during the popular “song request medley”, which often brings forth some delightful surprises!

In the five years that Emmet has toured as a solo artist, he's hit many milestones, including performing to a sold-out crowd at New York's Carnegie Hall.  His debut orchestral album, "Emmet Cahill's Ireland" went straight to Number #1 on the Billboard World Music charts and he has been a featured guest artist with several US symphonies.  He had the honor of opening the 2017 NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade with a tender rendition of "Danny Boy" and last year on this most celebrated day for the Irish, he was invited to sing at the famed St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Don’t miss this evening of songs and stories from the Emerald Isle!  General admission tickets are $30 and Meet & Greet + concert tickets are available for $45. Tickets may be purchased online at www.emmetcahill.com/tour-dates/ or at Highland Books in Brevard.

AOH supports our Veterans by donating to Upstate Warrior Solution

The Ancient Order of Hibernians donation received by the organization in Greenville, SC, known as the Upstate Warrior Solution  https://upstatewarriorsolution.org/      

Ancient Order of Hibernians Continues supporting the Clean Water Project

Ancient Order of Hibernians continues to support the Safe Water Project through the organization known as Wine To Water   https://www.winetowater.org/  On the Left, is a picture of a local community where funds we collect and donate are used to make water filters (effective technology transferred from the USA) that produces clean drinking water for families that previous had none....that's right none.  Previously, villagers obtained water for drinking, bathing, and cooking without any means to provide potable water that most of us in the world take for granted. Help us to continue supporting this humane effort through your donations to AOH and Wine To Water.

Greenville Ancient Order of Hibernians present a donation to Safe Harbor organization

The Ancient Order of Hibernians of Greenville (AOH) supports: SAFE HARBOR OF GREENVILLE

Safe Harbor's Mission

To provide a continuum of services for victims of domestic violence and their children, and to eliminate cultural acceptance of domestic violence through a coordinated community response, prevention and education.

Safe Harbor's Vision and Actions

To influence a culture where all people are safe and valued in their relationships.  Safe Harbor is a private, 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence in the upstate of South Carolina.

We offer a continuum of services, providing safe emergency shelter, counseling, assistance with orders of protection, and transitional housing, as well as teen dating violence education and community outreach  in Greenville, Pickens, Anderson, and Oconee counties.

We have approximately 40 full-time staff, 20 part-time staff and over 300 volunteers, including our board of directors.

Together, we make a difference for victims of domestic violence and their children, providing them with safety and resources, helping them to heal, and giving them the support they need to start new lives.

     https://safeharborsc.org/

Ancient Order of Hibernians in South Carolina Announce Hibernian of the Year

At the AOH State Convention, Tom Ennis was announced as the Hibernian of the Year for South Carolina.  It is a well deserved honor as Tom as personally established a new AOH project for Clean Water through a local organization which has now merged into a National charity known as Wine To Water (WTW).  WTW provides various of methods (drilling, wells, etc) for people in areas where obtaining clean water is either difficult or impossible.  The activity that AOH has adopted is raising money for water filters that are made locally to clean water from ponds and streams in Africa that previously only been suited for animals, and yet through a simple but ingenious method provides clean drinking water in quantities for families.   The Greenville AOH was the initial starting point for raising funds for this worthy cause and due to Tom's efforts, have branched out throughout the state of South Carolina as well as national (which was recognized this year at the National Convention in Louisville) where a sizeable donation was received.

Donation checks presented to St Joseph's Catholic School in Greenville, SC

Representative of St Joseph's Catholic School in Greenville, SC receiving State AOH and Greenville Division AOH checks at Christmas time for their continue excellence in education that the Catholic school provides for those in the Greenville metro area.

Donation check to The Monastery of St Clare

Tom Ennis presenting a check from the Greenville Ancient Order of Hibernians in support of the good works and prayers of the sisters at the Monastery of St Clare

THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE ....   EASTER  IS  COMING ......

CELTIC WOMAN COMING TO GREENVILLE, SC MARCH 15th, 2109

CELTIC WOMAN

Grammy nominated sensation, Celtic Woman

"Ancient Land"  North American tour

coming to

Peace Center, Greenville, March 15^th 2019

Celtic Woman appearing at 8:00PM at the Peace Center

300 South Main Street, Greenville SC, 29601

Tickets: http://www.celticwoman.com

Box Office: 864.467.3000

DISCOUNT CODE: IRISH

Father Francisco Javier Oñate Vargas IS Ordained as a Priest

Deacon Francisco Javier Oñate Vargas was ordained a priest by The Most Reverend Robert E. Guglielmone, D.D., at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Greenwood, South Carolina on February 11, 2019.  Father Vargas' education as a seminarian was followed by the Greenville Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and now he serves as a Priest in our diocese.

2019 Greenville St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival - March 16, 2019

NOMA Square, 220 North Main Street, Greenville, South Carolina 29601     MARCH 16, 2019

A Village receives life-saving clean water filters provided by the AOH

We support the SafeWater NOW project that provides clean drinking water via inexpensive water filters made locally that last at least 5 years for the entire family...a LIFE changer for people in Africa that don't enjoy our comfort of turning on our local facet for clean water. See pics that show the holding container for the filtration system, not in the picture. Water source comes from local ponds and streams where the animals wash, drink, etc, and the filter system provides clean water for cooking, drinking and other needs for clean water. What a Charity can do through individual people for those in need of a basic human need!

AOH Supports Schools throughout South Carolina and the USA

AOH Scholarship Opportunities

The South Carolina Board of the Ancient Order of Hibernians offers several opportunities for the children and grandchildren of their members, including local Catholic High Schools throughout South Carolina, and in particular, St Joseph's High School located at 100 St Joseph's Drive in Greenville, SC.,  864-234-9009.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians from the National HQ, State of South Carolina, and the Greenville Division # 1, supports SAFE WATER NOW, Inc.

SAFE Water Now, Inc. is a U.S. non-profit providing expertise, services, and resources to solve the problem of unsafe drinking water in Tanzania.  The Village Potters in Ashville, N.C. receives donations, gives direction and expertise for the construction of water filters on site in East Africa.

Safe Water Now's  manufacturing partner in Arusha, Tanzania produces a high quality, yet affordable, household ceramic water filter.  At a purchase price of only $40 USD, the filter produces sufficient safe drinking water for a family for 5 years.  Although filters are affordable for many, donations allow filters to be delivered to the most charitable class, usually women and children.  In this case, filters are delivered along with water and hygiene educational workshops.

Introducing a new and effective household water treatment to Tanzania also provides economic opportunities for the people of Tanzania.   New jobs are created in manufacturing, sales, education, and transportation.  SAFE Water Now is an all-volunteer organization committed to saving lives by providing a sustainable solution to the safe water problem in East Africa.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/safewaternow/about/?ref=page_internal 

http://www.safewaternow.org/ 

The Ancient Order of Hibernians supports the Upstate Warrior Solution in Greenville, SC

Upstate Warrior Solution is a community based not-for-profit organization that generates quality of life solutions for Upstate veterans, active duty, National Guard, and Reserve warriors and their families.   UWS services span the following counties in the Upstate: Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens.

The UWS model is centralized around face to face outreach to the warrior community, and service lines include Mentorship, Healthcare and Benefits, Education and Training, Housing, and Employment.  The model does NOT facilitate handouts, but dictates that warrior walk alongside his or her peer mentor, program manager, or social worker in a team environment to generate goals and actionable solutions.  

The Ancient Order of Hibernians supports A Childs' Haven in Greenville, SC

A Child’s Haven treats children with developmental delays as a result of limited resources, abuse, or neglect, and provides support and education for both the child and their families. We’re guided by our Executive Director’s vision to ensure that all children in our community are prepared to start school and have families that nurture their success.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians supports THE MEYERS CENTER in Greenville, SC

The Meyers Center  turns obstacles into opportunities. The Meyer Center gives pre-school children the education, therapy, guidance, and care they need to grow and evolve developmentally. Prior to entering the Early Childhood Education Program, each child undergoes a screening and evaluation conducted by Meyer Center therapists and teachers to determine needs and program eligibility.

Irish Service and Class In Louisville, Kentucky, at Our National Convention

The Louisville Metro Police Department's unit, Pipes And Drums, displayed its talents and Class at our National Convention that was held in July in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.  March on IRISH !!!

Read and think about THE MARTIN McGUINNESS PRINCIPLES

The Leprechaun's Pot of Gold has been found !

Our busy V.P. searched the Festival and found the Leprechaun's Pot of Gold and and awards the raffle prize of $ 500 to a lucky family !!!

In the midst of all the festivities - UP POPS the Leprechaun !!

Finally, the Leprechaun has been sighted...........does anyone have a clue where his pot of Gold is?

DRY SLIDE IN PROGRESS

You have arrived at the Dry Slide.............go Around a few times and enjoy.

Visiting the Bouncy House Inflatable

Gee, those kids are really having fun, wish they would hurry up, I want to be NEXT !

Everyone Loves Popcorn

Time out for a bag of popcorn before moving on to the Bouncy House and Dry Slide....what a great day, sun shining, and still more fun.

AOH Wives introduce the children to a New craft

Children at the Festival found many activities of interest including instructors teaching a new art craft, while waiting for Face Painting and balloons created into moving animals!

The Venturing Crew with a Piper

The Venturing Crew 420 donated MANY hours to help make the Festival a success and got a flavor of Greenville's Irishness.

Opening Ceremony marching through the Festival

Flying the Colors of the American Flag and the Irish Republic.  Knights of Columbus joined the ceremony along with members of the AOH and the Cara Club.

Festival Activities