THE AOH IN MICHIGAN REMEMBERS “AN GORTA MOR”
The Brothers and Sisters of the Order gathered on the grounds of the Shrine of Saint Joseph, along the old Chicago toll road, in the Irish Hills region of Michigan, on May 16th, to remember “ An Gorta Mor”.
The Shrine is the location of the impressive memorial erected by the AOH Saint Patrick’s Division of Adrian, as a reminder of the tragedy that England allowed to play out in the period known as “Black 47” or the Great Hunger of 1845-49. The failure of the only crop that fed the native Irish, held in bondage by the invaders of their land from the mid 1600’s, resulted in the dislocation of over two million and the deaths of over one million Irish. The Memorial is the only one in the State of Michigan and was formally dedicated in 2004. It was designed and executed by a committee that included AOH Members from Michigan and Buffalo, New York, under the direction of the then Division President, and Past State President, Brother Patrick Maguire.
The ceremony began with a Mass Con-Celebrated by the Parish Pastor, Fr. Carl Simon and Division Chaplin, Fr. David Hudgins. Fr Dave gave an impressive homily and thanks to his Irish heritage, was able to weave bits of history regarding the shameful event, into all phases of the homily celebrating the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. Fr. Carl was presented a beautiful award, by Brother Maguire and Brother Sean Murphy, Division President, as a thank you for all his efforts which led to the completion of the Monument on the parish grounds.
The assembly then proceeded to the Memorial where during the ceremony, the AOH Division President Sean Murphy placed a wreath, and followed by a wreath placed by the LAOH Division President Susan Maher-Muck, followed by a third wreath placed by Brother William Lynch Representing the Fr. Magee Division of Grand Rapids. The event was attended by National Director Daniel “Danny” O’Connell of Ohio, representing the AOH National Board, State President John McInerney, State V-President Patrick Sturdy, State Financial Secretary Gerald Mato, State Veterans Affairs Chair Terence Murray and State Historian James O’Kelly. Brother G. William Byrne Past National Director and Brother Maury Collins representing the AOH of Toledo Ohio, Brother Jerry McNally representing Mahoning Co. Division 6, Youngstown, Ohio, LAOH Division President Sue Maher-Muck and many more Brothers and Sisters of the Order, participated in this International Remembrance of man’s inhumanity to man, on a beautiful warm sunny afternoon, in the center of Michigan. A reception was held, following the ceremony, in the Parish Hall hosted by the AOH Saint Patrick’s Division and the LAOH Our Lady of Knock Division’s of Adrian Michigan.
Please go to our An Gorta Mor to view all of the pictures of the An Gorta Mor Memorial.