THE CRESCENT HARP OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS IN LOUISIANA VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2 DECEMBER 2012—JANUARY 2013 FOLLOW THE LOUISIANA IRISH CULTURAL MUSEUM OPENS AOH ON-LINE http://aohla.com IN THE FRENCH QUARTER Facebook: Louisiana State Board of The history of the French Quarter has often been sum- leaders, to only mention a few. They brought to life a the Ancient Order of Hibernians marized as: “established by the French, designed by the monument to the vibrant culture of the City's Irish and Spanish, built by the Africans, their heritage, and a first-of-its- owned by the Italians, and po- kind Museum in New Orleans. liced by the Irish.” At long last, The Irish Cultural Museum of this last (but certainly not least) New Orleans is intended to raise group finally has a museum of its public awareness of the contribu- own in the French Quarter. tions that Ireland, her people and Thanks to the tireless efforts of her culture have made to New history of New Orleans and its cul- AOH Brother and State Secretary Orleans since colonial beginnings. ture are better understood when Matthew Ahearn, the Irish Cul- It does so in a historic French viewed from different perspectives tural Museum of New Orleans Quarter setting that is tranquil, The Museum’s location at 933 has opened on Conti Street in the inviting and friendly. Our loca- (Above) The front of the newly opened Irish Conti Street in the French Quarter is Vieux Carre. A product of per- Cultural Museum on Conti Street in the French tion at 933 Conti Street is very walking distance from the City’s severance and faith, Br. Ahearn’s Quarter. (Below) The portrait room of the mu- accessible with convenient park- major hotels and world famous res- project began in the wake of Hur- seum, featuring the portraits of James Gallier ing. Visit our website at taurants, with easy parking and con- ricane Katrina. and Blessed Margaret Haughery of New Or- www.icmnola.com for more venient transportation, making it the The project came to fruition leans. information. perfect place to develop Cultural with the November 11, 2011 New Orleans has an extremely Tourism. From this location visitors groundbreaking by Ireland’s U.S. active, passionate, and increas- can easily explore the culture, lore Ambassador, H.E. Michael ingly organized Irish community, and beauty of New Orleans. Collins. While the Museum con- and it is growing. Historically What can a local and visitor ex- tinues to develop in perpetuity, having the second largest Irish pect when visiting the museum? the initial project was a two year population in the South (25% by The visitor to the Irish Cultural collaboration of very passionate, the 1860’s), New Orleans natu- Museum can expect a tranquil, invit- exceptional individuals; A/V rally has a plethora of Irish land- ing and friendly atmosphere among a producers, researchers, archi- marks, leading citizens (past and picturesque French Quarter court- vists, historians, computer pro- present), cultural influences, civic yard and buildings. They will have an grammers, architectural designers, and community institutions, and fascinating characters and stories. The opportunity to view the award win- ning documentary “Irish in New Orleans”, to experience two interac- HIBERNIANS RALLY FOR SANDY RELIEF tive kiosks, view art exhibits, static exhibits and displays, listen to tradi- tional Irish music, relax in the library research room, arrange for private tours, and attend periodic heritage events. The visitor will learn the untold history and stories of Irish adventur- ers, soldiers, mercenaries, priests, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, pub- lic servants and others, and of the sacrifices and contributions these unsung heroes have made to our city. From the appointment in 1769 (Left) AOH State President Joseph Casler, unknown, New Orleanian Lee Kelly, and Monmouth, New Jersey AOH County of Irish military strategist Alexander Vice-President Gerry Ward with supplies brought to Sandy victims from New Orleans. (Right) Irish Musicians Danny Burns O'Reilly as the second governor of and Aine O’Doherty play session at Finn McCool’s Irish Pub. The AOH raised $1000 on short notice to help AOH members (Continued on page 5) affected by Hurricane Sandy. PHeAGE 2 THE CRESCENT HARP THE CRESCENT HARP FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Editor-in-Chief John T. Browne When Hurricane Katrina gave tated the northeast, Louisiana Editorial Staff Hibernians in Louisiana a knock- Hibernians went into action. We John D. Fitzmorris III out blow, our brother (and sister) had a fundraiser at Finn McCool's Stanton McNeely Hibernians in the northeast came Irish Pub and raised about Jeremy Hughes Ex-Officio to our aid. Through the AOH $1000. Individuals added to that Joseph Casler Charities, as an example, they sent and, as you can read in Joe Casler's Harold Burke every member of the Ladies An- report, he personally delivered our Mark Foley cient Order of Hibernians $500 to contributions to the AOH Hall in Martin Kearney help them recover. Monmouth County, New Jersey. Ronald Burke ——————————- When Hurricane Sandy devas- That's what Brotherhood is all about. ARTICLE SUBMISSION VIA: DITORIAL N ND TO IOLENCE HENEVER AND HEREVER [email protected] E - A E V ...W W [email protected] There are no words, no phrases that Newtown is, of course, a name now clergy, it is common, Catholic sense Please submit all photos via .jpeg one can put together to make sense of emblazoned on our hearts and con- to know that the first thing we can do the devastation caused by disasters. sciences—along with Aurora and Col- is pray. Pray for peace, pray for the ARTICLE DEADLINES: What people need when such events umbine and Tucson and the many victims, pray for the families, and— November 15 occur are not words but instead pres- places where death has held high carni- yes—even pray for the perpetrators of February 15 ence and effort and an understanding val far too often and needlessly. these crimes. May 15 August 15 that grief needs be let alone to run its When the majority raise our hands The second thing we as Hibernians course and not interrupted by well- in despair and frustration and ask what can do is offer ourselves in the true meant but inappropriate utterances. could we have done and what could spirit of Christian Charity. We stand Thursday, January 17th – Even more so when such devastation is we possibly do in the future, perhaps always at the ready to offer our com- Hannan / Gibbons the loss of not one child but twenty we need look at what others have done fort and support. Meeting @ St Dominic children, murdered in school—the in the past. Last but not least, we as Hibernians Tuesday, March 5th – one place other than the home where And what others have done is often must remember always to put our Hannan / Gibbons they should have been safest. remarkable and provides a good tem- children first and foremost. Our chil- Meeting @ St Dominic When such events occur—and plate for us. In the Ardoyne Section of dren are our most precious resource, please God, may they never ever occur North Belfast, Fr. Aidan Troy of Holy and our Hibernian motto is as much an Friday, March 8th - Prac- again—rather than talk, one and all of Cross School witnessed his young girls example for our children to emulate as tice March @ French us should act. walking through a section of town anything else. While the recent events Quarter No, this is not a column that will where the residents hurled insults, have led many on all sides to pontifi- Thursday, March 14th - engage in the hot-button issues that rocks, garbage, and even worse cate and take sides and offer dogmatic Block Party @ Annun- have become over-politicized in the items—for nothing more than being of solutions, the only dogma that ciation Square / St. Mi- past few weeks. No, this column calls a different religion—he did not shout emerges from Newtown is that chil- chael's Schoo us all as Hibernians and men of faith to invectives from the pulpit or call for dren and human life in general are step forward and say, “This is what I reprisals. He simply marshaled the precious, and it is our duty as Hiber- Saturday, March 16th - shall do to end the violence. This is forces for peace and began building a nians to lead the charge in its protec- St. Patrick's Day Parade what WE shall do to make our chil- community center where the needless tion. @ Irish Channel dren safe again. This is what all of us walls of religious division could be Sunday, March 17th - St. NEED to do to make sure that what eroded through the power of Christian Patrick's Day Mass @ St happened in Newtown, Connecticut love. Patrick's Church and never happens again.” While we leave the specifics of Banquet @ Sheraton spirituality to our brothers in the Pete's is Lafayette's oldest Family Sports Restaurant Weekly Lunch Specials World Famous Big Pete Burger Special Wednesday night and Saturday Lunch Party Rooms available at no charge Proud Supporter of All Louisiana Athletics PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE AOH We show all Your Favorite Games on our 46 TV's Great Food, Great Friends, Great Fun www.petesonjohnston.com 3903 Johnston St. Lafayette, LA 70503 337.981.4670 VOLUME 4, ISSUE 2 PAGE 3 STATE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Happy New Year! Much has oc- Blessing and Dedication Ceremony per- curred since our last edition of the formed by Father Neal McDermott, Crescent Harp was published.