The Ancient Order of Hibernians will host their annual Gaelic Mass at St. Barnabas, this year honoring the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Martin Galvin
@IrishCentral
Sep 07, 2026
Bronx AOH President Martin Galvin,Deputy Irish Consul General Roisin Leonard, Fr. Brendan Fitzgerald, aide to Congressman Richie Torres Joseph McManus and New York State AOH President Thomas Beirne.Bronx AOH President Martin Galvin,Deputy Irish Consul General Roisin Leonard, Fr. Brendan Fitzgerald, aide to Congressman Richie Torres Joseph McManus and New York State AOH President Thomas Beirne. Nuala Purcell.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) will join with Gaelic Societies, Irish community groups, and parishioners in the strongly Irish Woodlawn-McLean area to host the ninth annual Irish language Mass at 2:30 pm on Sunday, September 13.
Fr. Brendan Fitzgerald will celebrate the Mass in Gaelic, which once again is symbolized by a Mass Rock, where Gaelic speakers gathered in secret to hear outlawed Masses said by outlawed priests in defiance of English penal laws.
This year, the Mass will also include special prayers remembering those tragically murdered 25 years ago on September 11, as well as prayers of thanksgiving for all of those from Ireland who, 250 years ago, helped win the freedom America continues to enjoy today.
The Bronx AOH Irish language Mass has become a national AOH event viewed by Hibernians across the US and viewers in Ireland via the St. Barnabas Facebook page and AOH YouTube. It has given thousands of viewers who were unfamiliar with Irish, to experience the beautiful language of our ancestors.
Irish-English translations of the liturgy will be available, so that anyone can follow the prayers in English as they hear the Mass said in Irish. A special musical program will be provided by the Dawn Doherty Academy of Irish Music.
The Mass will be held in the Main Church of St. Barnabas, located on Martha Avenue and East 241st Street in the Bronx. The Church is located near the Bronx River Parkway, Major Deegan Expressway, and Metro-North Railroad Woodlawn Station. Everyone is welcome.
Hibernians are asked to form up by 2:15 pm outside the Church, wearing Sashes and medallions, to be led in by members of the Kerry Pipers.
A reception will follow immediately afterwards at Eileen’s Country Kitchen, 960 McLean Avenue, Yonkers.
You can watch the Irish Language Mass live on the St. Barnabas Facebook Page or on the AOH YouTube page on September 13.
Bronx County AOH President Martin Galvin noted: “The Irish language is an important and indestructible part of our Irish heritage. Measures to wipe out the Irish language began even before penal laws to wipe out the Catholic religion in Ireland. Ireland’s cherished landmarks include Mass Rocks, where Gaelic speakers risked death or imprisonment simply to worship.
“As an organization formed to promote Irish ideals, culture, history and national freedom, we can think of no more fitting way for Hibernians to honor Irish heritage than an Irish Mass embodying all of these themes.”
Galvin added: “This year’s ninth annual Irish Mass coincides with two very important anniversaries. It is of course the 25th anniversary of the tragic attack of September 11th. The ceremony will include a special prayer for all of the victims and for those who continue to mourn them.
“It is also the 250th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence. It is therefore fitting this year to include a special prayer of thanksgiving for those of whom Britain’s Lord Mountjoy said in reaction to Washington’s victory at Yorktown, ‘we have lost America through the Irish.”
“There has been a great response each year from AOH officers, Gaelic clubs, community groups and individuals who would just like to hear the Mass said in the language of our ancestors. We are especially grateful to everyone at St. Barnabas especially Fr. Fitzgerald.”
You can watch the Irish Language Mass live on the St. Barnabas Facebook Page or on the AOH YouTube page on September 13:
Hudson Valley Irish Fest to honor Irish American 9/11 FDNY hero this month.
The Hudson Valley Irish Fest 2026 will mark both the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and the 250th anniversary of the United States.
In Partnership With:
Hudson Valley Irish Fest
Sep 04, 2026
Hudson Valley Irish Fest returns to Peekskill Riverfront Green on Saturday, September 19.Hudson Valley Irish Fest returns to Peekskill Riverfront Green on Saturday, September 19.
The 17th Annual Hudson Valley Irish Fest, hosted by the Hudson Valley Irish Fest Inc. and Hudson Valley Irish Center, returns to Peekskill Riverfront Green Park on Saturday, September 19.
This year’s Festival carries particular significance, marking both the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks and the 250th anniversary of the United States.
In the aftermath of 9/11, Peekskill and Cortlandt’s Irish community played a central role in designing and building Peekskill’s WTC 9/11 Memorial, located adjacent to the Festival grounds.
During the Irish Fest on September 19, a bench honoring Mike O’Hanlon — a Hudson Valley Irish Fest member, All-Ireland accordion champion, and FDNY firefighter — will be dedicated at the Memorial in his memory and in memory of all who were lost.
Born to Irish parents and raised in the Bronx, O’Hanlon participated extensively with his fellow FDNY firefighters in the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero.
In August 2017, at the age of 59, he passed away from 9/11-related cancer.
Michael O’Hanlon was to the “House on the Hill,” E68/L49 in the Highbridge section of the Bronx.2Gallery
Michael O’Hanlon was to the “House on the Hill,” E68/L49 in the Highbridge section of the Bronx.
Hudson Valley Irish Fest 2026 lineup
Running from 11 am to 7 pm, the Irish Fest will officially open at 12 pm with a Civic Opening ceremony on the main stage. Participation from the Irish Consulate General and several elected legislators is expected.
The lineup for the Irish Festival’s main stage this year includes Shilelagh Law, Amadans, and Phineas & Lonely Leaves, The T Mccann Band, Donie Carroll, and Mary Courtney.
Attendees can also expect Irish dancers, bagpipers, a spoken word tent, fine crafts, 18th-century toys and crafts, and a Hibernian Tent hosted by the Fighting 69th, Division 18 Hibernians.
Food and beverages will be available throughout the grounds, including a beer garden.
How to get to the Hudson Valley Irish Fest
The Irish Fest is easily reached via the MTA Metro-North Hudson Line, with the Peekskill train station immediately adjacent to Riverfront Green.
Free parking is also available on site.
Tickets for the Hudson Valley Irish Fest 2026 are available online via Eventbrite.
About the Hudson Valley Irish Fest
Founded in 2009, Hudson Valley Irish Fest grew out of a community vision for a riverfront festival that could give rise to a lasting cultural organization.
Today, with support from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs Emigrant Support Programme, the Westchester County Board of Legislators, and an all-volunteer base of residents and business owners across the City of Peekskill, the Town of Cortlandt, and surrounding towns in Westchester and Putnam Counties, the Festival has grown into one of the region’s signature celebrations of Irish heritage — funding the Hudson Valley Irish Center and Library at Assumption Church in Peekskill.
You can learn more about the Hudson Valley Irish Fest on its website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
Program-Altering Openers, Wisconsin And Jack SnowThe upcoming Shamrock Series game in Lambeau Field against Wisconsin reminds me of a legendary Notre Dame football season opener against the Badgers.
I have always been fascinated by Ara Parseghian’s first game as head coach at Notre Dame in 1964. The Irish were coming off a 2-7 season in 1963 that included five consecutive losses to end the year. That first game in 1964, however, the Irish routed Wisconsin in Camp Randall Stadium 31-7 while unveiling a devastating passing attack. The only modern equivalent, which might stretch the definition of equivalent, was the debut for Charlie Weis at Notre Dame in 2005 when the Irish offense put up 42 points in a season debut victory at Pittsburgh. The program had only scored 30 points three times in 2004 and never broke 40 points once in ‘04.
Notre Dame fans walked away from the 1964 and 2005 openers knowing that something was different. The 1964 season ended in a heartbreaking loss at Southern Cal that denied Parseghian and the team a national title in his first year. The 2005 team might have been two plays (an overtime loss to Michigan State, the infamous Bush Push game against Southern Cal) from playing for a national title in 2005. Most informed Irish football historical fanatics know that the 1964 Wisconsin game also saw the debut of John Huarte, the eventual Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback and Jack Snow, who would finish fifth in Heisman voting, at wide receiver. The Huarte tale has been told many times, seldom used before Parseghian’s arrival, he took the college football world by storm in 1964.Ara had a particular ability to take misused or underused players and transform them into stars when he took over the Irish program. A series of rule changes helped as well. Modern football fans are accustomed to liberal substitutions on each play but that has not always been the case.Here is an attempt at a ‘quick’ NCAA football substitution history.Before World War II, if you came out of the game in the first half, you could not return until the second half. If you came out of the game in the second half, you were done for the game. During World War II the NCAA allowed unlimited dead-ball substitutions due to the war-depleted rosters. This prompted the first version of what we see today, which is players who specialize on one side of the ball or the other (i.e. the two-platoon system). In 1953 the NCAA stepped in and effectively banned the two-platoon system passing a rule that a player can only enter the game once per quarter. After the 1953 change, the rules got increasingly more complex as they allowed more substitutions but only at very specific times. There were such things as ‘wild card’ substitutions that allowed a sub on first or fourth down. Other than those wild cards, a team could only sub on second and third down if the clock was stopped. The 1964 season allowed for unlimited free substitutions when the clock was stopped and two players could be subbed in when the clock was running.Confused? I don’t blame you but the key take away is that Ara had a unique eye for talent and a key rule change allowed that eye for talent to be unleashed. Jack Snow is the perfect example of the upgraded version of Notre Dame football in 1964 to begin the ‘Era of Ara.’ Let’s look back at that first game of the 1963 season first. Snow, forced by the rules at the time to play both ways, starred on both sides of the ball against Wisconsin. He had three carries for 26 yards and Notre Dame’s only touchdown in a 14-9 loss. He caught a pass for 15 yards, he punted six times for a 38.0 average and ended up second on the team with nine tackles.It is a pretty remarkable performance in an otherwise unremarkable game in Irish football history. Free to focus on offense in 1964 Snow helped lead the Irish to victory over Wisconsin with nine catches for then school-record 217 yards and two touchdowns. The 217-yard effort is still ranked the third-best in school history for a single game. Looking forward to seeing if the incredible talent on the 2026 Notre Dame football roster can provide another remarkable – or legendary – season-opening performance on Sunday night.
If you want to see more of that 1964 game against Wisconsin, here is a full highlight recap:Irish Items☘️ The Men’s Soccer team has a group of talented freshmen making plays early this season, including a thrilling 84th-minute equalizer goal on on Friday night against No. 8 Saint Louis in Alumni Stadium. Notre Dame faces Harvard tonight (Monday, Aug. 31) at Alumni Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET on ACCNX).☘️ The Women’s Soccer team has earned four draws in five matches this season as the group is working through several injuries. The Irish will also have two key players competing in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup this week and next. The Irish are back in action at home this Thursday when local Fighting Irish fans can bring their furry friends to Pups at the Pitch versus No. 3 Michigan State (7:00 p.m. ET at Alumni Stadium).☘️ Notre Dame Football has won 10 games in a row by double-digits entering the season opener with Wisconsin. That is the longest such streak for the program since 1944-43 when Frank Leahy’s teams won 11 straight. ☘️ A common refrain this time of year is that preseason college football polls are meaningless. There is a bit of truth to that, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t take a historical look at Notre Dame’s No. 4 Associated Press preseason ranking. It is the first time since the AP preseason poll debuted in 1950 that Notre Dame has ranked No. 4. It is the 20th time that the Irish have been in the preseason AP top five. In 1953, 1954, 1967, 1968, 1977, 1989 and 1992 Notre Dame was in the top five to begin and end the season. SUBSCRIBE TO THE 42ND DEGREE
The stance of powerful landowners in the north of Ireland and its origins in the 17th century settler-colonisation of the island have come into focus this week.
The opposition to the upgrade of the key A5 primary route through the northwest of the island has been directly linked to the historical position of landowners along the route.
The £1.7 billion A5 scheme would upgrade around 58 miles of road from Derry to Aughnacloy. More significantly, it would open a key route and boost economic activity between the deprived northwest of the island and Dublin.
The route, much of which remains single carriageway, is the most dangerous road in Ireland, with almost 60 people killed in collisions since the project was first announced in 2007.
The project has faced repeated legal challenges.
Asked why the project of the A5 and Casement Park had not been delivered, former local Sinn Féin MP said: “In the A5 you have an obstruction from the landowners, the people who have got this land originally under strange circumstances in some cases, they’re the people who are now blocking any development.”
He made the remarks during an appearance on the BBC’s Stephen Nolan programme. Asked to explain, Mr Molloy said:
“Remember this all goes back to the Plantation of Ulster if you want to go back into the history of it.”
The Plantation redrew the map of land ownership in Ireland following the British confiscation of large areas of land from the Gaelic population and their redistribution among English and Scottish settlers, Crown officials, and others.
Native Irish people were fully dispossessed and many forced to take to the roads; others remained on the land, but as ‘tenants’ rather than legally recognised owners.
When Mr Molloy was accused by broadcaster Nolan, known for his efforts to generate controversy, that he was making a sectarian statement, he replied:
“It’s not a sectarian statement at all. It’s a statement that actually was given to me by a DUP member at one stage.”
However, unionists seized on both the question and response, including TUV leader Jim Allister, who claimed that “Sinn Féin’s sectarian mask slipped”.
Former DUP First Minister Arlene Foster said: “Sinn Féin likes to blame the DUP, the Brits, securocrats, the institutions, etc etc for their own failures, but this is a new one.”
Sinn Féin distanced itself from the comments. “Francie Molloy does not represent Sinn Féin,” a spokesperson said.
The Mesolithic site in the Co Derry town is the oldest settlement site in Ireland, but is largely unmarked.
(L-R) Members of the Mountsandel Discovery and Heritage Group Dorothy Black, Patrick Lennon and Jennifer Sturgeon, with the riverbank across the Bann identified as a possible site for a new tourist attraction related to the ancient site.
By Mark RobinsonOpens in new window
August 30, 2026 at 6:00am BST
A heritage group in Coleraine believes that a feasibility study into the future of the oldest known settlement in Ireland could lead to it becoming Northern Ireland’s next big tourist attraction.
The Mesolithic site, which is located not far from the banks of the River Bann, was first discovered in the 1970s in a survey led by archaeologist Peter Woodman.
While they initially suspected to uncover a Neolithic site, dating back around 7,000 years, they ended up discovering what would come to be recognised as the first main settlement site on the island of Ireland, at 9,700 years old, used by nomadic groups for a large part of the year.
However, the site of historical importance remains almost completely unmarked, while the nearby – and much younger – Mountsandel Fort is visibly designated as a state care monument.
Jennifer Sturgeon, from the Mounstandel Discovery & Heritage Group (MDHG), said that as it is, most people would just see the site as a “field of weeds”.
“I think one of the sad things for us is that many local people wouldn’t be aware of the significance of this site,” she said.
“They wouldn’t know what it was unless they walked through the forest and saw the signage and the information panels.
“But one of our aims is to promote understanding and knowledge of this site.”
Ms Sturgeon, who is an accredited national Irish tour guide, added that it was “sad” that many people on tour buses around the island pass over Coleraine on their way from the Giant’s Causeway to Derry city.
“They miss all this wonderful stuff in between,” she said.
“There’s nowhere to bring them to here in Coleraine and it would be very nice to be able to have a heritage centre, an information centre, a bespoke building with all the information about the multi layers of history in this area.”
MDHG’s Patrick Lennon said the site played an important role subsequently in Celtic mythology and later in the history of early Christianity.
“Various settlements have been discovered along this particular river which were inhabited by the Vikings as a trading post, but also further on when the Normans came to Ireland – they continued to find areas in which they could settle and this was one of the areas which they settled as well,” he said.
From the 17th century onwards, the natural weir was developed into a managed site at The Cutts for fishing salmon and eels and also housed a linen factory nearby.
In 2022, Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council took ownership of the Mesolithic field site. Since then, they have launched a development project to increase awareness and a new archaeological survey at the plot began in May of this year.
MDHG also regularly engages with local schools to improve understanding among children.
They now hope that a site across the river, benefiting from existing car parking infrastructure at Christie Park and Somerset, can be developed into a dedicated centre, if funding were to be approved for a feasibility study.
“On this side of the river, there’s a lot of housing development and it doesn’t lend itself to encouraging a lot of visitors. We don’t want to disturb people in this area either,” Mr Lennon said.
“Having an opportunity to find a means of bringing people across from the other infrastructures already there would be very beneficial.
“It would also act as a route for local people both for walking and for cycling and whether that, in the interim, might be a ferry route across or whether that would be an actual bridge footbridge, that has to be determined.
“That’s through some form of focused feasibility study, looking at the cost benefits for that and looking at the wider benefits for the community for the opportunity to develop some form of loop walk both up and down the river.”
A spokesperson for the council said that they work closely with the group and other stakeholders to provide “strategic direction on the development of the wider Mountsandel experience concept”.
“Key priorities include the improvement of natural amenity and educational opportunities for the local community and visitors,” they said.
While they added that they do not currently have plans for a dedicated hub or feasibility study, the area in question has been included in the consultation process for the Coleraine Future Town Fund as part of a UK Government programme.
“The Coleraine Future Town Fund’s programme of work to determine which community-identified projects will be supported by the Pride in Place funding is ongoing and the outcomes of this will be published in due course,” they said
