OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS IN LOUISIANA VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 MARCH - MAY 2018 www.aohla.com OSEPH HRISTOPHER ASLER Louisiana State Board - J C C Ancient Order of Hibernians 2018 HIBERNIAN OF THE YEAR @LouisianaHibern The Louisiana State raised in St. Petersburg, Board of the Ancient Florida by their parents, LOUISIANA AOH Order of Hibernians, Frances and William Archbishop Philip Hannan Casler. He attended high UPCOMING EVENTS Division, James Cardinal school at the Canterbury Gibbons Division, Acadian School of Florida and MASS OF ST. PATRICK Division, Republic of then went on to the APOSTLE OF IRELAND West Florida Division, University of South Saturday, March 17 and Fr. Thomas “Mossy” Florida, from which he St. Patrick Church Gallagher Division graduated in 1988. 724 Camp Street announce Mr. Joseph Casler then moved to 11:30 a.m. Christopher Casler as New Orleans to attend (Hibernians muster at 11:00 Hibernian of the Year for Loyola University Law a.m.) the Year 2018. Born in School, graduating in Philadelphia on December 1992 whereupon he went IRISH CHANNEL PARADE 3, 1966, Casler and his to work for Edward J. MASS brother Steven were (Continued on page 15) Saturday, March 17 St. Mary’s Assumption Church HAGGERTY BROTHERS TO LEAD THE WAY 2030 Constance Street 12:00 noon FOR THE RISH HANNEL ARADE I C P IRISH CHANNEL PARADE Saturday, March 17 In what may be a first in the more-than 1500 members down Napoleon and Jefferson start entire nation, six brothers will lead Magazine Street, followed by the 1:00 p.m. a major urban St. Patrick’s Day Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Parade. Hibernian Daniel Emerald Society (featuring a float Haggerty and his five brothers, for children with special needs), 143RD HIBERNIAN Michael, Timothy, Patrick, the Corner Club, several other ST. PATRICK’S DAY Edward, and Bryan will serve as marching groups, and a number of BANQUET Grand Marshals of the 72nd Irish floats whose throws not only Saturday, March 17 Channel St. Patrick’s Day Parade. include beads but also the makings New Orleans Hilton The parade, which begins officially for a good Irish stew. Riverside with a Mass at St. Mary’s Founded in 1947 by Hibernian 2 Poydras Street Assumption Church, begins at the Richard F. Burke Sr. to bring the 7:00 p.m. Cocktail Hour corner of Napoleon and Magazine residents of the Irish Channel a St. 8:00 p.m. Dinner Streets and will travel through Patrick’s Day Parade, the Channel Uptown and into the Irish Miss Victoria Lee will reign as organization has kept alive the Channel. Morris Ambrosia, a long Queen of the Parade. traditions of the Irish in New -time member of the organization, The Brothers Haggerty will lead Orleans, and the Hibernians have has been named Man of the Year. the Irish Channel Club and its (Continued on page 8) VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 PAGE 2 EDITORIAL - A BREATH OF FRESH AIR INTO HIBERNIANISM The Crescent Harp It is an article of faith in any Joe Casler did not just commit Editor-in-Chief John D. Fitzmorris III organization that there should the organization. He went Advertisement Editor arise from time to time a new set himself armed with tools and Kevin M. McKay Sr. of leaders who breathe life and effort. When Brother Randy Ex-Officio James Kuhn energy into an organization. King needed help creating the Raymond Donovan With faith and trust enough to weight room at St. Michael’s Mark Foley hand over the reins of power, Special School, there was Martin Kearney Patrick J. Power the old leadership gives way to Brother Casler getting sweaty, ——————————- the young and offers support and dirty, and stained with paint. ARTICLE SUBMISSION VIA: guidance at the time. Even after his two successful [email protected] Please submit all photos Not more than fifteen years terms as President ended, via .jpeg ago, the Ancient Order in be an understatement. The whatever the event and

Louisiana had grown a bit stale money raised for charity hit an whatever the effort required, ARTICLE in its fundraising activities. The all-time high while guests all one could be sure that Brother DEADLINES: October golf tournament had remarked that the Hibernians Casler was there representing November 15 given way to a $10K Raffle, but had “returned” when it came to the Hibernians. the event itself had become a having great Irish events. Now, Brother Casler serves on February 15 rather dull affair with issues Much of what the Hibernians the board of the Louisiana May 15 arising from incomplete planning accomplished that evening and at Hibernian Charity as well as and entertainment that made it events and banquets after that Chair of the National Hibernian August 15 run-of-the-mill rather than was because Joe Casler had Charity, ever mindful of the uniquely Irish. earned the friendship and trust service to which the Ancient And thus, Joe Casler and a of his Hibernian Brothers during Order calls him. group of younger Hibernians his time in the Ancient Order. The spirit of “deeds, rather stepped up than words” LEARN A and offered to applies to all take control who would be LITTLE of the events good leaders. planning. One does not IRISH Irish become a leader entertainment by expecting the was brought membership to in from anoint him. Is lá Ireland itself, Instead, one local liquor moves forward iontach é and beer in a spirit of distributors were solicited to And it was on the strength of service that embodies the aspects do make donations, and first-rate his friendships and the leadership of our Motto of Friendship, decorations in a truly Irish style qualities and effort he displayed Unity, and Christian Charity. phharáid! donned the tables to make our during those events that the Joseph Christopher Casler has fundraiser an event that attracts Hibernians elected him State lived up to that Motto, and for only the best. Not content to President the following year. that, the Hibernians salute him stop there, Brother Casler then However, Brother Casler has as our Irishman of the Year. “It is a whipped up the membership to been more than just about push the tickets to get not just raising money. When the great day Hibernians but their family and Hibernians were tasked to friends to be a part of something protect the Archbishop from the for a special. ugliness of the protesters, Joe To say that Brother Casler and Casler led the way. When parade!” those who followed his lead Habitat for Humanity needed knocked it out of the park would Hibernians to help build homes, Ancient Order of Hibernians 143rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Banquet

Saturday, March 17, 2018 New Orleans Hilton Riverside

Traditional Irish Entertainment featuring the Muggivan Irish Dancers The Marine Corps Band The O’Neill Sisters 7:00 p.m. - Cocktail Hour with Complimentary Beer and Wine 8:00 p.m. - The Grand March of the Hibernians with Dinner to Follow and

JOSEPH CASLER Hibernian of the year

$80 per ticket / table of ten for $800 For Tickets Contact: B.J. Eckholdt - 504-455-2024 or [email protected] www.aohla.com/st-patricks-banquet/ PAGE 4 THE CRESCENT HARP IRISH BOOK REVIEW - WHERE THE BODIES WERE BURIED - from Google Books arrangement he inherited from a previous disturbing portrait of the decades-long New York Times bestselling author T. J. generation of gangsters and corrupt culture of collusion between the Feds and English, the acclaimed master chronicler lawmen—represents the hidden horror of the Irish and Italian Mob factions that of the Irish Mob in America, offers a front the Bulger story and the battleground on ruled Boston and much of New England -row seat at the trial of one of the most which prosecutors and defense lawyers from the 1970s forward. English provides notorious gangsters of all—Whitey clashed at his trial. the first look at Bulger's own Bulger—and pulls back the veil to expose There have been other books on Bulger, understanding of his relationship with the a breathtaking history of corruption and FBI—including the immunity deal he malfeasance claimed with the U.S. Attorney's Office— Whitey Bulger was, following the death and an in-depth assessment of the degree of Osama bin Laden, the number-one to which gangsterism, politics, and law fugitive on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted enforcement have long been intertwined list; he remained at large for sixteen years. in Boston. One of the most prominent mobsters in Rich in first-person interviews with Boston's criminal underworld from the criminal associates, retired FBI agents, 1970s until his disappearance in 1995, victims, and their families, Where the Bodies Bulger was sometimes romanticized as a Were Buried completes the informal trilogy Robin Hood–esque thief and protector English began with The Westies and Paddy who looked out for his South Boston Whacked and promises to be the last word neighborhood. on a reign of terror that many feared But the truth was much more would never end. complicated—and infinitely more sordid—as his trial on racketeering charges revealed in alarming detail. Throughout the era in which Bulger was a crime boss, he was also a Top Echelon Informant (TE) for the FBI, supposedly but none like this. T. J. English—author helping prosecutors make organized-crime of Paddy Whacked, the definitive history of cases against the Mafia by feeding them the Irish Mob—was present every day of information that could win them the proceedings, and in Where the Bodies convictions in court. His relationship with Were Buried gives us not just an account of the criminal justice system—an the trial but also a deeply sourced,

IRISH RECIPIES - COLCANNON, CHEESE, AND CRAIC

- from Irish Central Peel potatoes and cut into ¼-inch thick slices and place in boiling water Potato Cheesy Ale and Cheddar until potatoes are soft. While the potatoes Colcannon are cooking, dice the bacon into 1/8-inch 6 large potatoes pieces and cook in a saute pan until crispy. ¼ pound smoked bacon, chopped Add the julienned cabbage. Cook until ½ head of green cabbage, julienned cabbage has become soft. ¼ pound butter Drain the potatoes. In a mixing bowl, 1 cup half and half mash potatoes and add butter, half and 8 ounces Wisconsin smoked cheddar, half, cheese and green onions. Fold in the shredded ale, as well as the bacon and cabbage 1 bunch green onions, diced mixture. 6 ounces ale Garnish with rosemary sprigs. 2 rosemary sprigs

PAGE 5 THE CRESCENT HARP EDITORIAL - REMEMBERING BILLY GRAHAM...WARTS AND ALL Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your segregation despite Graham’s own great boldness.” Much of the venom we ears; / I come to bury Caesar, not to praise southern upbringing. see from those harassing our archbishop on him. / The evil that men do lives after them; / That Billy Graham was a great person is Ash Wednesday are that beast’s acolytes. The good is oft interred with their bones… - one that many will dispute over the This is not to say that Graham did not Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene II coming decades. He was an unapologetic evolve over his life. He made friends with and ardent Cold Warrior and lent his Pope John Paul and even made peace with The recent passing of the Reverend Billy voice to the many who called for an the Kennedys. He called upon Catholics Graham, so-called “America’s Pastor,” at unprecedented military build-up and at his crusades to reconnect with Christ the age of 99 is one of those moments advocated war in Vietnam. through their parishes and even invited where the nation pauses long enough to In addition, he was early in his career prelates to attend and sit on stage. assess what went before and what will unabashedly anti-Catholic going even so An important man, who exercised great come after the life of an important far as to assemble a group of like-minded influence and made his business the word individual. ministers to devise a campaign against of God, has passed, and it is left to the rest That Billy Graham was an important John F. Kennedy in 1960 solely on the fact of us to ascertain whether he was truly person in the history of the United States of his Roman Catholicism. While we do great or simply important. and perhaps even the world is undisputed. not hear much today from that benighted His crusades reached literally hundreds of sector regarding the Roman Catholic millions of people through the relatively Church, the vestiges of anti-Catholic new medium of television. He counseled sentiment lurk just below the surface, and Presidents and helped the evangelical Billy Graham only caged and chained that Christian movement recover its some of beast but did not extinguish it. His more the dignity lost after the infamous Scopes bigoted and intolerant son, Franklin, made Trial of 1925. He helped many recover good friends with the Reverend Ian their own lives from the pit, and his Paisley, even saluting that individual on his egalitarian preaching style eschewed death as a “man of deep conviction and

REPUBLIC OF WEST FLORIDA NEWS - A DAY AT THE RACES - by Martin Kearney, West Florida President Determined to extend such brotherly Afternoon Social at the Fairgrounds. We The Republic of West Florida Division collegiality “across the pond” as well as sponsored the third race, the more astute has been able to merge work with “across the bayou” to our New Orleans, punters of the group raking in their pleasure of late. A donation of $1,000 was winnings from this contest of speed by presented to a seminarian, Nicholas betting on the jockey with the name of Lyons, who is affiliated with St. Margaret, Erin. (Go figure!) Queen of Scotland Catholic Church in We plan to publicize this annual AOH Albany, Louisiana. This presentation was Social at the Track much more effectively made under the aegis of the St. Patrick’s for next year’s event, so keep it in mind, Fund, and its purpose is to help future please. Until the next Crescent Harp issue, priests with their daily expenses. We are we wish all our brethren across the state a also most pleased to serve as a $1,000 Happy St. Patrick’s Day and blissful sponsor for the St. Michael’s Special parading. School Block Party to be held this month in New Orleans. Knowing full well the danger of “all work, and no play” and effectively shucking the burden of being “dull lads,” our division held a social for brothers and their families in mid-January at a new barbeque-themed restaurant located in Lafayette, and Slidell brethren, we metropolitan Hammond, Salty Joes, brothers of the Republic of West Florida where all passed a very good time. Division held the First Annual AOH PAGE 6 THE CRESCENT HARP IRISH POLITICS PUTTING DUP AND SINN FÉIN BACK IN SAME ROOM WON’T WORK by Alex Kane, from The Irish Times that the DUP was ready for a deal, but got consensus, stability and inter-community cold feet. progress seems to have vanished. On Monday, February 12th, it was So, where do we go from here? Well, It’s time to move from mandatory to pretty clear that key elements within the the first thing which needs to be voluntary coalition, ensuring it doesn’t Democratic Unionist Party were seriously considered is this: do we finally have to allow one side to be excluded spooked. They believed The DUP and Sinn Féin that a deal had been done have ring-fenced their on an Irish Language Act. positions and don’t seem Monday came and capable of finding solid went, leaving Theresa accommodations with May and Leo Varadkar each other. And it’s looking like idiots. worth noting – because it Tuesday came and went, tells the real story – that with Arlene Foster telling their respective one media outlet after hardening of positions another what wouldn’t has seen both of them be acceptable to the continue to expand their DUP. vote. They’re taking By Wednesday, when chunk after chunk from there was no sign of the DUP being any face the fact the Belfast Agreement is, to the Ulster Unionist Party and the Social less spooked, she announced the talks all intents and purposes, dead? The Democratic and Labour Party, while process was over. Since then there have institutions may be allowed to remain in Alliance seems trapped in the same small been accusations in leaked documents – situ, yet any chance of them being electoral space it has occupied for decades. denied, albeit not persuasively by them – deployed to promote reconciliation,

IRISH SCIENCE - OUTER IRISH SPACE: PART OF ONE OF JUPITER'S MOONS IS CALLED 'CONAMARA CHAOS' by Freya Drohan, from Irish Central disrupted nature of its surface" - not According to NASA, the region is cited unlike the untamed Galway coastline. as evidence for a liquid ocean below You don't need a telescope to look on This "chaos terrain" indicates recent Europa's icy surface. the website for NASA (National activity on the surface of Europa as the Irish Times features writer Arminta Aeronautics and Space Wallace points out that this is Administration) where you'll not a lone space reference to find a flyover video of a the Emerald Isle. certain disrupted and "There are Martian craters intriguing terrain. named “Beltra”, “Clogh”, Jupiter's moon Europa is “Dromore”, “Fenagh”, slightly smaller than our own “Glendore”, “Lismore”, moon, but still manages to “Louth”, “Navan”, “Tara” and have a little bit of an Irish “Wicklow”," she notes here. influence included. Not forgetting, two "minor The so-called Conamara planets" currently hurtling region of Jupiter's moon around The Milky Way - 5418 Europa is named for Joyce and 6433 Enya. Connemara in the West of Ireland, a similarly rugged terrain. The blocks of water ice have been "shifted, Can you think of any other Irish words, surface has been named Conamara Chaos rotated, and even tipped and partially phrases, or figures that would make for because of the "intriguing blocky and submerged with a mobile material." good solar system monikers? PAGE 7 THE CRESCENT HARP HISTORY - THE IRISH WHO MANNED THE NETS AND WON THE GOLD MEDALS Most--if not all--Americans are familiar with On his team was Jack Kirrane, who had the “Miracle on Ice” when the 1980 U.S. been the youngest member ever to play for The Irish-Americans of 1980 Hockey Team defeated the Soviet Union, the the U.S. at St. Moritz in 1948. After serving Twenty years later, the Olympics returned most professional team in the world, 4-3, and in the Korean War, Kirrane, a native of to the U.S., this time in the small town of then defeated Finland to win the Gold Medal Brookline, , Lake Placid, New York. Not much more can in Lake Placid. Not as many are as familiar joined the Brookline Fire be written about what a bunch of kids, mostly with the “Forgotten Miracle” when the U.S. Department before taking a from Boston and Minnesota, did for the Hockey team captured the Gold at Squaw leave of absence to play for country in the wake of the “malaise” of the Valley, California twenty years earlier. What the 1960 Olympic team. 1970s and the growing hostage crisis in Iran. even fewer realize is that both teams counted An internal squabble over That they defeated our principal political on Irish-American players to get those Golds. allowing two new members opponent in a game which they had dominated on the team--Irish- for twelve years is now part of this country’s “Forgotten Miracle” American brothers Bill and lore. Cleary from Harvard--caused the players to That it was in large part to several Irish- threaten a boycott, but Kirrane (who was on American kids needs to be remembered. unpaid leave from the Brookline FD) announced that he would play alone on the ice if necessary, thus ending the dissension. The oldest ever to play on a U.S. team, Kirrane was named team . Guarding the net for the U.S. was goalie Jack McCartan, a native of St. Paul, John Patrick “Jack” Reilly was the coach of Minnesota, who played both and the 1960 squad. The head coach for West hockey. McCartan joined the U.S. Army and John “Bah” Harrington, Jack O’Callahan, Point’s hockey team, Riley was tasked with at the same time joined the U.S. team. and goalie Jim Craig all played pivotal roles in throwing together the 1960 team on rather Together with Kirrane’s leadership and bringing back the Gold in 1980. Harrington short notice. A grueling training camp at West McCartan’s heroics as goalie, the U.S. was credited with the assist on Mike Point forged his team together under trying defeated Canada 2-1, the Soviets 3-2, and Eruzione’s game-winning goal in the circumstances. Czechoslovakia 9-4 to capture the gold. penultimate game against the Soviets while (Continued on page 16) PAGE 8 THE CRESCENT HARP

IRISH CHANNEL PARADE at Loyola University, Spring Hill College, and Haggerty (Sister Mary of St. Bernard), along (Continued from page 1) other Jesuit communities. Mary Louise with their cousin Ellen O'Donovan (Mother of been proud to march in the Parade since the Haggerty (Sister Mary Loyola) entered the St. Raphael)--all answered the call and 1990s. Marianites of Holy Cross and became emigrated to New Orleans. Their Mother (the As Grand Marshals, Daniel, Michael, Secretary General of the Order. Grand Marshals’ great-great-great Patrick, Timothy, Edward and Bryan represent In 1844 the city of New Orleans asked the grandmother) was the great-aunt of the famous a family whose roots go deep into the Irish Marianites to take charge of the city-funded St. patriot Michael Collins. Mother Francis Channel. The brothers Xavier Haggerty are the sons of Daniel followed her aunts as a Bernard Haggerty and Marianite. June Catherine Elliott, Dennis’s son, Edward both of whom are A. Haggerty, veterans of the Second grandfather of the World War and Grand Marshals, was married at Fort the Dean of New Benning in 1945. Dan Orleans elected served as a paratrooper officials. Elected first in the Airborne in 1919, he served as Division of U.S. Army Clerk of Criminal in Panama and the Court until his death in South Pacific while 1970. He also was a June served as a delegate to the Radioman 3rd class in Louisiana State the WAVES (US Navy) Constitutional as a Morse Code Convention of 1921 as intercept operator. The Brothers Haggerty, 2018 Grand Marshals of the Irish Channel Parade. (From left to right) Daniel, well as a delegate to the Michael, Patrick, Timothy, Edward, and Bryan. They then had eleven Democratic National children--five girls and six boys--who were all Convention in 1928 and again in 1944. He raised in the Irish Channel. It may be safe to married Georgiana O'Neil, and they had five say a Haggerty child attended almost every children. Catholic and public school in the Channel. Two of his sons succeeded him in public The deep roots of the family began with service. Edward A. Haggerty Jr., served as a Denis Barry Hegarty, the great-great Criminal Court Judge in Orleans Parish. grandfather of the Grand Marshals, who Daniel B. Haggerty, father of the Grand arrived in New Orleans from Ireland in 1834. Marshals, served as the Chief Deputy Clerk of Born in 1824 in Ballyhoulahan, County Cork, the Criminal District Court for thirty years, Ireland, Hegarty arrived in New Orleans in and was elected as Clerk of Court in 1970. 1834 at age 10 with one of his uncles. By 1850 The impact the Haggerty family has had on he was working as a drayman on the river, and the city of New Orleans and the State of in 1853 he married Mary Barry of Forenaugh Louisiana has been profound. From working County Cork, at St. Theresa of Avila Church hand in hand with the Catholic Church to in New Orleans. By 1860, Denis owned the serve the community, to volunteering to serve Haggerty Cotton Pickery located on Orange their city, state, and country in numerous Street from Chippewa to Tchoupitoulas. ways. The Haggertys have never hesitated to Denis and Mary had ten children, three of put their work ethic, empathy, and tenacity to which continued the family tradition of good use. Beginning with Denis leaving his service. beloved homeland and family in 1834 for the Dennis Bernard Haggerty (great grandfather promise of more in America, to his sisters' of the Grand Marshals) served in the Louisiana devotion to their faith and loyalty to their Irish State House of Representatives and later as the Hegarty brothers and sisters settling in New Orleans, first State Fire Marshal of Louisiana. In late the Haggerty family remains devoted to God 1880, Dennis returned to Ireland to live with Mary Orphanage Asylum and also serve the and country. his grandparents for a period of two years; needs of the growing Irish community in the Nearly 184 years later, the Haggertys while in Ireland, he joined the lrish Republic Channel. Four of Denis Hegarty’s sisters-- continue to leave a mark wherever they go, Brotherhood (Sinn Fein). Ellen Haggerty (Holy Cross), Anna Haggerty and for that the Grand Marshals could not be Two other children entered religious life. (Mother of St. Margaret), Catherine Haggerty more proud to be Irish and from the Irish Thomas Haggerty joined the Jesuits and served (Sister Mary of Odile) and Marguerite Channel. PAGE 9 THE CRESCENT HARP The Ancient Order of Hibernians James Cardinal Gibbons Division salutes Joseph AOH HIBERNIANS OF Christopher THE YEAR Since 1989

Casler James J. Brennan (2012) 2018 Hibernian of the Year Richard J. Brennan Jr. (2017) Paul Buckley (1992) Sister Vera Butler (2014) THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS Richard F. Burke Jr. (1996) Joseph C. Casler (2018)*** ARCHBISHOP PHILIP M. HANNAN DIVISION Joseph J. Cronin Sr. (2010) † Rev. Desmond G. Crotty (2004) † salutes Patrick S. Dorion (2000) John D. Fitzmorris Jr. (2003) JOSEPH CASLER Norris V. Fitzmorris (1994) † Aidan Gill (2015) Peter A. Hand (1999)† HIBERNIAN OF THE YEAR 2018 Archbishop Philip M. Hannan (1988) † John C. Kilburn (2006) Raymond W. “Randy” King (2016) The Ancient Order of Hibernians Hon. James E. Kuhn (2011) Republic of West Florida Division Dermott McGlinchey (1993) †

Gary P. McCarthy (2009) congratulates R. Milo McCarthy (2009) James F. McKay Jr. (1998) † Joseph Casler Hon. James F. McKay III (2013) Joseph T. McKay Sr. (1990) † Kevin M. P. McKay (2012) 2018 HIBERNIAN OF THE YEAR R. James Moriarty (2008) W. Patrick Power (2005) James D. Rafferty (2005)† Rev. Msgr. John P. Reynolds (1989)† The Ancient Order of Hibernians Archbishop Francis B. Schulte (1997) Patrick J. Sens (2001) Acadian Division Hon. John A. Shea (2002) gives a huge Cajun-Irish shout out to Axel R. Stromboe (1995)† Mary Ann Swaim (1991) Brother Joseph Casler Hon. Dennis Waldron (2007) † - deceased 2018 HIBERNIAN OF THE YEAR *** - THIS YEAR’S HONOREE PAGE 10 THE CRESCENT HARP HIBERNIAN MEMORIAL PARK - A PARK WITH A PURPOSE Groundbreaking will soon commence for rich Irish heritage and life-size statues of canal a park in New Orleans’ West End for the use Hibernian Memorial Park, a multifunctional diggers, the park will provide learning and benefit of the general public. Major green space celebrating 300 years of Irish opportunities as well as recreation. funding for the park provided by the Emigrant history in New Orleans. At the heart of the The design will include walkways, site Support Programme of Ireland. four-acre site is the Celtic Cross Monument, lighting, benches, bike racks, indigenous trees, Hibernian Memorial Park will incorporate dedicated in 1990 to honor the Irish laborers native plantings and a green space to suggest Irish history and nature for people in the who built the New Basin Canal, a 19th-century the canal. The project is an initiative of the community, serving as a touchstone to the past transportation corridor linking New Orleans Louisiana Hibernian Charity, a non-profit for future generations of New Orleanians. and Lake Pontchartrain. A unique attraction organization formed by the Louisiana Ancient featuring panels that will trace New Orleans’ Order of Hibernians to construct and maintain www.nolahibernianpark.org PAGE 11 THE CRESCENT HARP IRISH HISTORY - THE IRISH-AMERICANS OF THE GREAT WAR One hundred years ago, the United one of the first major battles fought by States armed forces began combat U.S. troops. operations in Europe as they fought in “the On June 5, Daly waded in to extinguish War to End All Wars.” As historians look a fire on the verge of igniting a cache of back on the role that the U.S. played in explosive ammunition. Two days later, as beginning a new world order, one must his Marines were being shredded by enemy also consider the soldiers who fought and machine gun fire, Daly urged them to died to “make the world safe for leave their cover and counterattack by democracy” as President Wilson stated a supposedly screaming the famous words, century ago. “Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to And among them, one should see the live forever?!” obvious contributions of the Irish to that Daly’s near-suicidal courage was put on victory. While many are familiar with the display once again on June 10, when he “Fightin’” 69th New York Regiment and singlehandedly charged a German machine its soldiers like Joyce Kilmer and Fr. gun nest, killing its commander and taking Francis Duffy, there are plenty of other fourteen prisoners. That same day, he Irish-American individuals who served in a made several trips into “no man’s land” to number of battles and distinguished drag wounded troops to safety. Daly was themselves. wounded later that month during a second solo rescue mission, and suffered two PFC Frank Gaffney, Medal of Honor Recipient Marine Sergeant Major Daniel Joseph more injuries during the Meuse-Argonne Daly (1873-1937) entered World War I as offensive in October 1918. the crew, captured the gun, bombed one of the United States’ most famous He was again recommended for the several dugouts, held the position until Marines. He had already been awarded Medal of Honor for his actions at Belleau reinforcements arrived, and captured the Medal of Honor on two separate Wood, but the military balked at the eighty prisoners. occasions for his service during the Boxer prospect of any soldier receiving the award Gaffney also received the Purple Heart, Rebellion in China and the U.S. three times. Instead, he received the the British Distinguished Conduct Medal, Distinguished Service Cross and the French the French Médaille Militaire and Croix de Medaille Militaire. General Smedley Guerre, the Italian Croce di guerra al merito, Butler—himself a double Medal of Honor the Montenegrin Medal for Military recipient—would later describe Daly as, Bravery and the Portuguese Medalha da “the fightingest Marine I ever knew.” Cruz de Guerra, Third Class. Gaffney later The story of Alvin York is well-known lost his left arm fighting near St. Souplet to most, but what about Frank Gaffney? on October 15, 1918. Frank Joseph Gaffney (1883-1948) was The American forces in the First World considered “the second bravest man in the War constituted one of the most U. S. Army.” As a PFC, he earned the egalitarian fighting forces on the face of the nickname “The Hurricane” from Major earth. People from all races and ethnic General John F. O’Ryan, Gaffney’s groups comprised the fighters who helped commander in the 27th Division, because- turn the tide of the war in favor of the -in O’Ryan’s words-- “No man has Allied Powers and demonstrated that the performed more daring exploits or strength of the American nation lay in its exercised a bigger influence upon those immigrants and descendants of immigrants around him by the gallantry of his who displayed their patriotism through Sergeant Major Dan Daly, USMC, conduct.” giving their last full measure. twice a Medal of Honor recipient Gaffney received the Medal of Honor for The Irish immigrants and Irish- occupation of Haiti in 1915. The 44-year- his actions after all the other members of Americans who served in the First World old Daly continued to write his name into his squad had been killed. Alone and with War were no less a part of this great the history books during June 1918’s only his rifle, he pushed forward and effort, and the Hibernians join with many Battle of Belleau Wood, part of a month- discovered several Germans placing a in saluting these heroes during Irish- long offensive by the Germans that was heavy machine gun in position. He killed American Heritage Month. PAGE 12 THE CRESCENT HARP

An amazing Beach Bar with live mu- 115 South Beach Blvd sic every weekend and great food Bay St. Louis, MS 39520 and drinks seven days a week. 228-344-3222 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 PAGE 13 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 PAGE 14

IN MEMORIAM BROTHER EDWARD “MICKEY” LANDRY Archbishop Hannan Division MRS. JANE MCGEE KINGSMILL Wife of Brother Arthur Kingsmill MISS MAIRE CAITLIN “MARY KATE” OLSEN Granddaughter of Brother Arthur Kingsmill and ALL VICTIMS OF THE MASACRE AT PARKLAND SCHOOL

PRAYERS BROTHER TOMMY O’BRIEN Cardinal Gibbons Division BROTHER JAMES “JIMMY” MCKAY IV Archbishop Hannan Division MISS JULIE FITZWILLIAM Daughter of Brother Augustin “Buddy” Fitzwilliam

and ALL MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN SERVING OVERSEAS PAGE 15 THE CRESCENT HARP

JOSEPH C. CASLER Louisiana Hibernian Charity where he (Continued from page 1) helped secure the Hibernians’ permit to Womac Jr. and later CNA Insurance construct and maintain the Hibernian Company as staff counsel. Since 1998, he Memorial Park at the Celtic Cross site at has worked for Progressive Insurance West End Boulevard. Company, serving as State Managing Since 2014, Casler has served on the the Attorney for its House Counsel operation Board of Trustees for the National since 2008. He is a member of the Hibernian Charity and was recently Louisiana Bar Association and the elected Chairman of that Board. In 2017, Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel. he organized and participated in relief Casler is a former member of the Krewe efforts for those affected by both of Bacchus and currently rides with the Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and Zulu Fire Truck Krewe. He is also a previously did the same for Hurricane member of the Irish Channel St. Patrick’s Sandy victims in New York/New Jersey. Day Club, with whom he has marched Brother Casler is the father of Ava since 1993. He joined the Ancient Order Eugenia Casler and makes his residence in of Hibernians in 1996, wishing to further New Orleans. He will be honored on explore his Irish Catholic heritage. Over Saturday, March 17, 2018, during Mass at the years, he has served as Chairman of the St. Patrick’s Church at 11:30 a.m., will annual Hibernian Charity Raffle and the then lead the Hibernians in the Irish annual St. Patrick’s Day Banquet. He was Channel St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and be elected State President of the Louisiana honored at the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Hibernians in 2011, in which capacity he Banquet that evening at the Hilton served until 2015. Riverside. Tickets are available now by As Hibernian President and then Past- calling 504-455-2024 or on-line at http:// President, Casler engaged the Hibernians www.aohla.com/st-patricks-banquet/. to take part in the rebuilding of New Orleans with Habitat for Humanity; the cleaning, painting and refurbishing of St. Michael’s Special School’s fitness room; and has served as President of the

4444 York Street, Suite 201 Metairie, LA 70001 Phone 504-888-9393, x234 Fax 504-888-9996 [email protected] www.morrison-ins.com SHELLY POWER, CISR, AIS, CPIW P.O. Box 8860 COMMERCIAL ACCOUNT Metairie, LA 70011 REPRESENTATIVE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS P.O. BOX 24292 NOLA 70184-4292 504-952-9925

THE IRISH MIRACLES Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 1998. He including in Switzerland and is now head (Continued from page 7) is a two-time winner of the Lester Patrick coach of the Slovenian men’s team. O’Callahan was injured until the game against Trophy, in 1986 (as a coach) and 2002 (as a Jim Craig played only three seasons in the the Soviets, where he played sterling defense. NHL before retiring from hockey. Two years As goalie, Craig was the workhorse of the after the Lake Placid victory, he was charged team. He had lost his mother three years with motor vehicle homicide but pled not earlier to cancer, which brought him closer to guilty and was found not guilty in September his father. He spent nearly every minute on 1982. He works as a motivational speaker, the ice in the U.S.’s games only coming off to spokesperson, marketing and sales strategist. give the U.S. a man advantage in the closing He is president of Gold Medal Strategies, a moments of the first game against Sweden. (It Jack Riley, 1960 U.S. Coach Boston-area based promotions and marketing worked) Against the Soviets in the medal firm that also manages and represents Jim and round, Craig saved 36 of 39 shots, most of member of the Olympic gold medal-winning his appearance business. Over the past twenty them after suffering a concussion. When the United States hockey team of 1960). Riley -five years, Jim has provided strategic U.S. defeated Finland, the iconic video of died on February 3, 2016, at the age of 95. direction for employees and associates from Craig, wrapped in the American flag and Jack McCartan was named was named as the more than 300 organizations. He was asking where his father was in the stands, "All-World" goaltender of the Winter Games inducted into the International Hockey Hall of remains etched in the American psyche. in 1960. He did not experience success as a Fame in 1999. player in the NHL, but did become a scout for Craig recently placed his U.S. Hockey several teams and is now retired. Team memorabilia up for sale in order to set Jack Kirrane received a hero’s welcome in up his grandchildren’s education fund. His Brookline and a telegram from another shamrocked mask went for almost $138,000. favorite Irish son and Brookline native, Senator John F. Kennedy. He continued to We Irish in New Orleans certainly work for the Brookline Fire Department for understand how a simple game of sports can Jim Craig, U.S. goalie in 1980, sporting thirty-eight years as well as manage a rink. bolster a demoralized community. The Saints green shamrocks near the eyeholes of his mask) Kirrane passed away in 2016 at the age of 88. in 2006 and 2009 certainly fit that bill, but The three Irishmen of the 1980 team remain what the young men of Squaw Valley and The Legacy of the Irish-American active in civic life to this day. Lake Placid and their coaches did buoyed an Hockeymen Jack O’Callahan played in 390 games as an entire nation. That Irish-Americans were a While the two events will always be NHL professional, mostly for the Chicago part of both is a testament to the great legacy remembered, the players themselves have Blackhawks, before retiring in 1989. He of the immigrants who have proudly largely faded into the background, but the returned to Chicago after his retirement, represented the Stars and Stripes. Hibernians would be derelict in not recalling went into the financial services business on the those great athletes who buoyed a nation’s Chicago Mercantile Exchange, co-founded flagging faith in itself. Beanpot Financial Services, and worked on Jack Riley returned to West Point to behalf of the Blackhawk Alumni Association. continue coaching. His two sons succeeded “Bah” Harrington played in the hockey him as head coaches after he retired. He was minor leagues and returned to play with the inducted in the United States Hockey Hall of 1984 Olympic team in Sarajevo. He served as Fame in 1979 and the International Ice head coach for several college and pro teams, Left. 1980 U.S. Jersey. Right. 1960 Jersey.