Anti-Defamation

In response to the recent media frenzy concerning reports that a poll has found the Notre Dame Leprechaun Mascot and the nickname 'Fighting Irish' offensive, the National Anti Defamation Chair of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the largest Irish American Organization in the U.S., has issued the following statement: It is with a mixture of disbelief and despondency that the Hibernians read today headlines "Notre Dame leprechaun considered offensive, according to survey" in multiple newspapers and media outlets. This media-manufactured controversy stems from a poll conducted by a … [Read more...] about Claims of Notre Dame Leprechaun Offensiveness is Media Malarkey.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians  are shocked and disappointed that during a 3/11 press conference dealing with the response to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and the heartbreaking announcement that for the first time in 258 years the NY St. Patrick's Day parade will not take place on March 17th that NY Governor Andrew Cuomo decided that this was an appropriate time to engage in stereotypical stage-Irishmanism. In response to a question from a reporter concerning what authority he was invoking to cancel the NYC St. Patrick's Day parade, the Governor decided to go for a cheap … [Read more...] about AOH Condemns NY Governor’s Irish Accent Stunt, Cancellation of Beloved NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade No Time for Paddywhackery

Currently, Amazon is selling an item labeled as a “F*ck St Patrick's Day Shirt.”  Amazon describes the item as a “Funny Luck St. Patrick's Day Gift.”  As of my writing, Amazon currently sells 130 items with the phrase “F*ck Me, I’m Irish.”    A similar search replacing “Irish” with several other races and ethnicities returned ZERO results. Hundreds of other items defaming Irish Americans have messages such as  "Irish Today Hungover Tomorrow", "Irish, Drunk, or Whatever", "Drink Till You're Irish" In response to concerns from other ethnic groups, Amazon has … [Read more...] about Tell Amazon To End “No Irish Need Apply” When It Comes To Respect and Tolerance

Brothers, we are about to enter the month of March, a month when we celebrate the contributions of the Irish to our Nation and the World and remember our Patron Saint St. Patrick, a man of faith, compassion, and humility who created a light from Ireland that illuminated the world in the Dark Ages and continues to shine. We have a lot to be proud of; we have a lot to celebrate. Unfortunately, many see our holiday as having no more depth than a pint of green beer, a green bacchanal combining the worst elements of Halloween and a college kegger. The only green others see is the greening of the … [Read more...] about In Our Special Month, Don’t Be “That Guy,” Be A Hibernian

The Ancient Order of Hibernians are shocked and appalled that on St. Patrick’s Day, a day when America celebrates and honors the contributions that Irish Americans have made to our great country, the GOP would launch an attack on a prospective presidential candidate based solely on his Irish Heritage. On 3/17 at 12:16 PM the GOP twitter account tweeted a mug shot of candidate “Beto” O’Rourke taken during a 1998 DWI arrest wearing a photoshopped green top hat and shamrock and a caption “Please Drink Responsibly.”  The tweet then states “On this St, Paddy’s Day [sic] a message from noted … [Read more...] about Statement on GOP’s St. Patrick’s Day Tweet Promoting Defaming Stereotypes of Irish American

The Hibernians were appalled to read in the Philadelphia Magazine article “Philly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade: Your Need-to-Know Guide” by writer Claire Sasko the following statement Here comes St. Patrick’s Day, and with it a wave of green-clad, likely intoxicated, Irish potato-eating Philadelphians and (plenty of) suburbanites. Such a negative stereotype-laden, trope-ridden statement seems more in keeping with the sentiments of the nativist who burned Catholic Churches in early 19th century Philadelphia than 21st century America. Ironically, this exercise in defamation is published in … [Read more...] about Hibernians Condemn Philadelpha Magazine’s description of St.Patrick’s day as “A wave of green-clad, likely intoxicated, Irish potato-eating Philadelphians”

Following the recent announcement that Amazon has removed items deemed offensive to members of the Islamic Community, the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) repeat their earlier calls that Amazon similarly remove items perpetuating defaming Irish stereotypes. In a letter to Amazon, Nation Anti-Defamation Chairman Neil Cosgrove writes: "As an organization founded to combat religious and ethnic bigotry, the Hibernians applaud Amazon’s recent decision in response to the request of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to remove items deemed offensive to Muslim Americans; no one … [Read more...] about Hibernians Ask Amazon to Accord the Irish the Same Respect Shown Others

One of the most beloved Irish Christmas traditions is “The Candle in the Window.” The popular story behind this tradition is that a candle is placed in the window as a light to guide Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem and as a sign that they would be welcomed if they wish to break their journey at this home. It is a beautiful sentiment, and if it were for just this alone, it would be worth preserving. However, there is a sadder and darker history behind the tradition. It goes back to the time of the English Penal Laws in Ireland where Catholicism was proscribed and to be Irish a crime. In dark rural … [Read more...] about Let Our Pride in Our Heritage be a Candle in the Window

The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) today commended Walmart for their swift response in removing from their web site products that defamed the heritage of Irish Americans and glorified the dangerous practice of binge drinking.  These items, which appeared to be exclusively the products of third party vendors selling through the Walmart site,  included such phrases as “Can't Regret What You Don't Remember St. Patrick’s Day”, “Irish, Drunk, Whatever”, “The Four Fathers of St. Patrick’s Day: Jack, Jim, Johnny, Jameson” and others.   In response to a message from the … [Read more...] about Hibernians Commend Walmart for Swift Action in Response to Offensive Irish Stereotype Merchandise

In reading Congresswoman Frederica Wilson’s claims that White House Chief of Staff General John Kelly is a racist because he compared her to an “empty barrel making the most noise”, an outrageous accusation to which MSNBC hosts Joy Reid and Lawrence O’Donnell attempted to give further credence by offering as “evidence” that General Kelly is  an Irish American from Boston, I am reminded of the story of the astronomer Percival Lowell.  In the 1890’s, Lowell grabbed headlines by announcing the discovery of “canals” on the planet Mars.  Lowell asserted that the “canals” could only … [Read more...] about The Hypocrisy of MSNBC in Their Defaming Profiling of Irish American Catholics

New City, New York – 10/26/16 – The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) The Ancient Order of Hibernians wish to acknowledge and commend the response of Jeopardy! and the show’s host Alex Trebek in acknowledging and responding to concerns over perceived defaming remarks targeting individuals of Irish heritage during the 10.18/16 show. Per National Anti-Defamation Chairman Neil F. Cosgrove ... “On the evening of 10/21/16 as the National Anti-Defamation chair of the Ancient Order of Hibernians I received a call from Mr. Alex Trebek of the show Jeopardy! regarding the comments he had made during … [Read more...] about The Ancient Order of Hibernians Commends Mr. Alex Trebek and Jeopardy! for their Sincere Response to Perceived Defaming Comments.

For release 05:00PM EST 6/1/2016 The Ancient Order of Hibernians Calls on Mayor Tom Bates and the City of Berkeley to Actively Investigate and Prosecute Rental Discrimination Targeting Irish Students New City, New York – 6/1/2016 – The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) calls on City of Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates to investigate charges of discrimination by landlords of his city against Irish students solely on the basis of their ethnicity and prosecute where found to exist to the full extent of the fair housing law. The AOH further calls on Mayor Bates and the city of Berkeley to issue a … [Read more...] about Statement From the Anti-Defamation Chair Regarding Charges of Discrimination Against Irish J-1 Students in Berkeley, California

The Ancient Order of Hibernians denounces the defaming stereotypes targeting people of Irish heritage being promoted by merchandise sold by Amazon.com. Many of these items contemptibly conflate Irishness with drunkenness and promote a glorified image of binge drinking targeting young people.  A small sampling of the items being sold includes: “Straight Outta F*ck It Let's Drink” St. Patrick's Day Triblend T-Shirt “Kiss Me I'm Irish Or Drunk Or Whatever” St. Patrick’s Day Baseball Sleeve Shirt “St. Patricks Day Good Day to Get Drunk” Juniors 3/4 Sleeve Raglan T-Shirt Juniors “Let's Get … [Read more...] about Amazon’s St. Patrick’s Day Merchandise are “Prime” Examples of Bigoted Stereotypes.

New City, New York – 3/3/14 – The Ancient Order of Hibernians calls on Disney/ABC to immediately apologize for the bigoted, stereotype ridden portrayal of Irish Americans and the denigration of the Catholic faith as depicted in their alleged comedy “The Real O’Neals” and to cancel this show which defames Irish Americans and mocks the Catholic faith. Per AOH National Anti-Defamation Chairman Neil Cosgrove: “We are outraged that Disney/ABC television has seen fit through its program “The Real O’Neals” to turn back the clock and engage in one of the worst examples of media bigotry targeting … [Read more...] about Statement from the AOH Natonal Anti-Defamation Chair on ABC Television's "Real O'Neals"