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Community Corner

Glenside AOH Marches in Parade, Plans Trip to Ireland

The AOH VP says Montco is 'very Irish.'

Most people know St. Patrick ’s Day is in March, and it’s the one day out of the year that everyone gets “honorary Irish” status.

For those Montgomery County residents who are children or grandchildren of Irish immigrants, the whole month is cause to celebrate.

The Glenside chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) is ready to march in parades, play its bag pipes and raise a glass with a cry of “slainte.”

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“This is officially Irish Heritage Month. The White House website states it, and the governor [of Pennsylvania] just declared it again,” said Larry Daly, vice president of the AOH.

AOH is the largest Irish Catholic organization in the United States. There are five divisions in Montgomery County with hundreds of members. Daly said the Glenside chapter has about 120 members, and Bridgeport has more than 400.

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“Montgomery County is very Irish,” Daly said. “And when you go down to Philadelphia, there’s a AOH on every block.”

The Glenside organization comprises Irish descendents, and while they are Catholic, the particular group isn’t highly involved in the local church, Daly said.

“We’re not as involved as we should be. Bridgeport is very active with the diocese,” he said.

But they are involved in St. Patrick’s Day parades. Each year, about 30 members march or play their drums and bagpipes down Fayette Street in Conshohocken. This year’s parade was Sunday.

Daly has been a member for 15 years, and he has moved up the ranks from new member to vice president and recording secretary for Montgomery County.

“I grew up in an Irish household in Philadelphia. When I was younger, family would visit us, and I’d love listening to their brogues,” he said.

His grandmother, who raised him, is from Ireland, and she taught him to preserve his heritage as an Irish -American.

“It keeps us connected to who we are,” Daly said.

It’s important for Americans to stay involved in Ireland, he said, because the country still needs help.

“Everyone thinks the troubles are over, but they’re not. There is a lot going on— political unrest and violence over there,” he said.

The AOH also sends money to different causes in Ireland, and sends many volunteers to help with projects.

Daly is planning a trip back to Ireland this April. This time, it will be a special trip because he is going for 10 days with the Division One Pipe and Drum Band. He loves visiting the country of his forefathers so much that he is working on getting dual citizenship.

“You have to be a citizen to own land over there,” he said.

If he ever wins the lottery, Daly said he will move to Ireland. Until then, Montgomery County will be his home, and the AOH will be the place where he spends time with other Irish people.

For more information and a complete list of AOH divisions, visit www.AOH.com.

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