Each year, the Ancient Order of Hibernians Monsignor Crean Division 1 in Hamilton invites both members of the organization and members of the public to head on out to Kuser Road to enjoy the club’s annual Irish Festival.
The celebration of Irish heritage scheduled for October has special significance: this year is the 40th anniversary of the event.
Festivities are scheduled to kick off on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. with the annual Pub Night, held indoors and on the patio at AOH. Irish food, Irish drink and Irish music will all be on the menu that evening.
The celebration will continue, weather permitting, on Saturday, Oct. 5 at noon with a full day of more of the same and more. The day is set to feature Irish music, Irish food and drink, Irish dance, arts and crafts vendors, kids activities and party games. The rain date, if needed, would be Sunday, Oct. 6.
The Monsignor Crean division is one of two divisions of AOH in the Trenton area; Joe Cahill Division 10 is the other.
Long-time festival co-chair Ray Murphy says that the festival is intended to celebrate Irish heritage as well serve as an occasion for people to enjoy a day of fun, hopefully in the sun.
“The Irish Festival is really about bringing the community together,” Murphy says. “It’s about being able to put on an event and see people come and they just have smiles on their faces. They’re reuniting with friends. The camaraderie that everybody has that day, it’s a special day.”
Murphy co-chairs the festival with Lenny Pope. Other members of the committee are club treasurer David Adam, club president Ken Adam, Eileen Adam, Eileen Zoltanski, Monica Bruder, Shannon Keenan, Rosie DiBiasi, Lynn Miranda and Kevin Toal.
David Adam says that the festival is an opportunity for the local Irish-American community to get together. “They all show up and support us — the (St. Patrick’s Day) Parade committee, Irish dance schools, musicians, other Hibernians divisions. It’s a culminating event for the greater Mercer community to support Irish heritage.”
While the festival does serve as a gathering for local Irish groups, Murphy and Adam both stress that everyone in the community is welcome, regardless of ancestry.
“That’s what we hear a lot from people. They say, ‘I didn’t realize I could go,’ or ‘I didn’t realize it was open to the public.’ No, we want everyone in the community to come,” Murphy says.
The 40th anniversary celebration is set to kick off inside on Friday night with Joe Immordino and AOH-based catering company JI’s Greenhouse serving pub fare and the club’s bartenders on hand with a variety of Irish and domestic ales on tap.
Musical entertainment will be provided by club favorite the Natterjacks, playing the music of Irish favorites such as The Wolfe Tones, Saw Doctors, Chieftains and Paddy Reilly.
Saturday’s festivities are set to begin at noon on the AOH grounds with playings of the U.S. and Ireland national anthems. Popular Ewing guitarist Bill O’Neal will be the first musical performer, to be followed throughout the day by The Shantys, Trenton AOH Pipes and Drums, Jamison, and to close out the evening, Birmingham 6.
In between musical sets, students from Emerald Isle Academy of Dance and Kotelnicki School of Irish Dance will also take the stage.
Activities for kids are set to include pumpkin decorating and trick-or-treat bag decorating. There will also be several inflatable party game stations where kids can try their hand at basketball, skeet shooting and ax throwing. Cornhole will be set up for adults to play.
Under the food tent, the Hibernians and JI’s Greenhouse plan to serve a menu of corned beef Reubens, fish and chips, sausage with peppers and onions, hamburgers, hot dogs, pork roll and french fries. There will also be a beer tent where Irish and domestic ales will be on tap.
In addition to the entertainment, AOH has a number of celebrations planned, including recognition of officers who have served the club over the past 40 years. AOH will also salute its travel soccer teams during the festival, and a 50/50 drawing is set to be held at 6 p.m. Presence not required to win.
The club will also honor one of its own when it recognizes Sean Pender, a member who was elected national president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in August.
Murphy can’t remember how long he has been a chair of the festival committee, but says it’s been at least 10 years. “I do it because I enjoy doing it, and I enjoy the committee and the friendships I have with those guys,” he says.
Web: trentonaoh.com. For weather information the day of the festival, search for “Msgr. Crean AOH Division 1” on Facebook and follow the link to the club’s Facebook page.
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AOH Joe Cahill Division 10 along with LAOH Mathair Gael Division 10 are also planning to host their 15th annual golf tournament at Hopewell Valley Golf Club on Friday, Oct. 11.
The groups say that funds raised by the tournament go to the Billy Briggs Scholarship as well as local nonprofit organization City of Angels, Inc.
Through the Billy Briggs Scholarship, area youth ages 15-17 who apply may be selected for an expenses-paid, three week cultural and educational trip to Ireland. City of Angels works to combat the opioid epidemic.
The fee is $165 per golfer and includes a luncheon, hot dog snacks at the turn, refreshment cart and a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Also part of the outing are a hole-in-one contest and 50/50 raffle.
To register, go online to aohdiv10.com. For sponsorship opportunities, email president@aohdiv10.org. Hopewell Valley Golf Club, a Mercer County facility, is located at 114 Pennington-Hopewell Road in Hopewell Township.
Irish music band The Natterjacks play at the 37th annual Irish Festival held by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Monsignor Crean Division 1. The 40th annual festival is this Oct. 4 and 5.,
