THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MURPHY, WANSACZ, BEYER, BOYLE, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, CALTAGIRONE, DAY, FAIRCHILD, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GRUCELA, HARHART, HARKINS, HARPER, HELM, JOHNSON, W. KELLER, KORTZ, LENTZ, LONGIETTI, MAHER, MAJOR, MANN, MARKOSEK, MATZIE, McGEEHAN, MICOZZIE, M. O'BRIEN, PHILLIPS, QUINN, READSHAW, REICHLEY, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SIPTROTH, STABACK, STERN, THOMAS, TURZAI AND YUDICHAK, MARCH 5, 2010

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 5, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of March 2010 as "Hibernian Heritage

Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, The Ancient Order of Hibernians, the oldest Irish

Catholic organization in America, was founded concurrently in

New York and Pennsylvania in May 1836; and

WHEREAS, Their roots can be traced back 300 years earlier

when their ancestors risked their lives to keep the Irish

language, culture and Roman Catholic religion alive in their

beloved Ireland; and

WHEREAS, The twin goals of the Ancient Order of Hibernians

are to assist in the reunification of Ireland and promote Irish

culture; and

WHEREAS, The Ancient Order of Hibernians seeks to aid the

newly arrived Irish, both economically and socially, and is

among the first to welcome new Irish immigrants to the United

States; and

WHEREAS, There are more than 80,000 members of the Hibernians

in 46 states, Canada and Ireland; and

WHEREAS, The Lackawanna County Board of Ancient Order of

Hibernians oversees the six divisions of Hibernians across the

length and breadth of Lackawanna County that has more than 450

members; and

WHEREAS, Those six honorable divisions that do good works are

named as follows: John F. Kennedy, division one of Scranton;

Msgr. William Farrell, division two of Carbondale; The O'Neill

Brothers, division three of Minooka; Paul Hook O'Malley,

division four of West Scranton; Firefighter Joseph Flannery,

division five of Taylor; and Father Patrick D. Healey, division

six of Scranton; and

WHEREAS, The Ancient Order of Hibernians of Lackawanna County

supports a multitude of charities, such as the Women's Resource

Center, multiple myeloma cancer research and various food

pantries; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

month of March 2010 as "Hibernian Heritage Month" in

Pennsylvania.