Celebrating all things Irish in Rockville Centre

Sept. 19 was a great day of Irish dance, music, piping, drumming, language, soda bread, and athletics known as a feis (pronounced fesh). The Nassau County Board of the Ancient Order of Hibernians held its 38th annual AOH Feis and Festival on Long Island on the Molloy College campus. Both the AOH and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians of Nassau County sponsored the afternoon event.

This year’s feis is dedicated to the memory of AOH National Life member, co-founder and first Feis Chairman John P. Bownes and LAOH member Kathy Hayes. Paddy McCarthy, publisher of the Irish Examiner, was the honoree.

About the Nassau AOH Feis

From as far back as 18th century Ireland, communities came together for special festivals of dance and music. There were competitions, laughter and good times. The tradition lives on in Nassau County, where the AOH’s eight strong divisions join to organize competitions of dance and piping and present awards to the best.

Nassau AOH’s feis welcomed everyone to enjoy its traditional competitions, along with an Irish marketplace featuring all sorts of Irish-related goods and treats for sale, and a special area for the kids.

A Roman Catholic Mass was said at 11 a.m., just before the feis got under way.

An Ancient Order

The Ancient Order of Hibernians, founded in New York in 1836, now has more than 80,000 members in 46 states, Canada and Ireland. Its roots are deep in Irish history. It was founded to protect the Roman Catholic clergy and the church from attack. It has grown to become the largest and most influential Irish Catholic men’s organization in the world. For more information, visit www.aoh.com and the N.Y. state Hibernian website at www.nysaoh.com.