Joseph J McGarry Myrtle Beach Division Ancient Order of Hibernians

10/31/2026

🔥 Before Halloween, There Was Samhain!

Long before glowing pumpkins and trick-or-treating, the people of ancient Ireland marked the arrival of winter with Samhain.

Observed on 1 November, with celebrations beginning the evening before, Samhain was one of four great seasonal turning points in the traditional Irish calendar.

It is particularly well documented in early Irish tradition, with related observances also found in Gaelic Scotland and the Isle of Man.

For farming communities, it marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the darker months.

But Samhain held another significance.

In medieval Irish mythology, it was a time of extraordinary encounters, when supernatural beings from the Otherworld could enter the human world.

Over the centuries, older seasonal customs existed alongside Christian observances and contributed to the Halloween traditions that developed in later generations.

Today, Halloween is celebrated across the world, and Ireland remains an important part of its remarkable history.

Did you grow up hearing about Samhain, or was it always known as Halloween in your family? 🇮🇪



📸 Irish Roots

10/31/2026

🌙☘️ When Samhain Came, the Fairy Folk Were Near...

There was a time in Ireland when the arrival of Halloween brought more than just the changing seasons. It brought stories of things that couldn't be seen, places that shouldn't be disturbed and mysteries passed down through generations.

Our ancestors spoke of the Aos Sí, the fairy folk believed to live beneath ancient mounds and within the hidden world of Ireland's fairy forts.

They were not the tiny, friendly creatures we see in modern fairy tales. In Irish tradition, they were powerful supernatural beings who deserved respect and, in some stories, were best left alone.

Samhain was considered a particularly important night, when the boundary between the human world and the Otherworld was believed to become thinner.

Old stories warned against walking through certain places after dark, disturbing ancient mounds or disrespecting the homes of the fairy folk.

Across Ireland, ancient ringforts still stand in fields and on hillsides. Some have been left untouched for centuries, surrounded by stories of strange happenings and old warnings.

Whether you believe the legends or not, there's something special about the mystery surrounding these places.

Ireland is a land full of stories. And some are best told after dark. 🌙

10/30/2026

Saint Carthage the Elder is known as the disciple or the successor of Ciarán of Saighir, and the tutor of Saint Carthage of Lismore. Carthage was of the Eóganacht Dynasty, and was probably the grandson of Óengus mac Nad Froích whom Saint Patrick baptized. He was sent by St. Ciaran upon a penitential pilgrimage, when he spent seven years abroad, visiting Gaul and Rome. Afterwards he founded the monastery of Druim Fertain in Carberry and another monastery in the upper island of Lough Sheelin, County Meath. His feast day is 5th March.

Interested in joining the AOH? Fill out our application form below or contact your local division:
https://aoh.com/join/

10/30/2026

Irish word of the day: Cinnte. Meaning: Definitely.

Pronunciation: Kin-che

Interested in joining the AOH? Fill out our application form below or contact your local division:
https://aoh.com/join/

10/28/2026

Great history lesson

On June 1, 1866, hundreds of Irish-American soldiers crossed the Niagara River from New York into Canada. They wore green uniforms, carried ri**es, and marched beneath banners bearing Irish symbols. Their extraordinary plan was to invade British-controlled Canada and use it as leverage to win independence for Ireland. 🇮🇪

They were members of the Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish republican organization formed in the United States. Many were veterans of the American Civil War, men who had survived some of the bloodiest fighting in American history and now hoped to turn their military experience toward the cause of Irish freedom.

Their commander was John O'Neill, an Irish-born former Union Army officer. Under his leadership, approximately 800 Fenian volunteers crossed the Niagara River near Buffalo, New York, and entered Canada West, now Ontario, near Fort Erie.

Their objective was ambitious. By occupying Canadian territory, they hoped to put pressure on Britain and encourage a wider struggle for Irish independence.

On June 2, the Fenians confronted Canadian volunteer forces near Ridgeway. Although outnumbered in some accounts, O'Neill's men were experienced soldiers, and the engagement ended with the Canadian force retreating.

It became known as the Battle of Ridgeway, one of the most remarkable episodes in Irish-American military history.

But the victory did not bring the Fenians closer to achieving their ultimate goal. Canadian and British forces were mobilizing, American authorities intervened, and the expected reinforcements failed to arrive.

With their position becoming increasingly dangerous, the Fenians withdrew toward the Niagara River. Many were intercepted or arrested as they attempted to return to the United States.

The invasion had lasted only a few days, but its consequences reached far beyond the battlefield.

The raids intensified concerns about Canadian defence and helped strengthen support for the political union that would lead to Canadian Confederation in 1867.

For Irish nationalists, the expedition demonstrated both the determination of Irish emigrants and the enormous difficulties of attempting to challenge British rule from across the Atlantic.

These were not soldiers sent by an independent Irish government. They were Irish-American volunteers who believed their adopted country could become the launching point for Ireland's liberation.

This image is an artistic reconstruction, not an authentic photograph of the 1866 crossing.

Had you ever heard that Irish-American soldiers invaded Canada in 1866? Does your family have connections to the Fenians, the American Civil War, or the Irish struggle for independence? ☘️

10/28/2026

Pork and apples are a natural pairing in an Irish autumn kitchen 🍎 Thick chops seared until golden, then finished in a sauce of dry Irish c***r, sweet onions, soft apples and a spoonful of wholegrain mustard. It is the kind of supper that fills the house with a wonderful smell and sends everyone to the table early.

Serves 4 / About 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS
- 4 bone-in pork chops, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick (8 oz / 225 g each)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp (30 g) butter, divided
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 2 firm apples (Bramley or Granny Smith), cored and cut into wedges
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 1 cup (240 ml) dry Irish c***r
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) chicken stock
- 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy cream

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Pat the chops dry and season both sides with the salt and pepper.
2. Heat the oil and 1 tbsp butter in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chops about 4 minutes per side until well browned. Lift out onto a plate.
3. Add the remaining butter, then the onion. Cook 5 minutes until softening. Add the apple wedges and cook 3 minutes more.
4. Stir in the flour for 1 minute. Pour in the c***r, scraping up the browned bits, then add the stock, mustard and thyme. Simmer 5 minutes.
5. Return the chops and any juices to the pan. Cover and simmer gently 8 to 10 minutes, until the pork reaches 145F (63C) at the thickest part.
6. Rest the chops 3 minutes. Stir the cream into the sauce and warm through without boiling.
7. Spoon the sauce, onions and apples over the chops and serve with mashed potatoes.

What did your mother or granny serve alongside pork on a weeknight, mash, cabbage or something else?

10/28/2026

This old Irish rhyme about potato pancakes ends with a marriage warning.

Boxty on the griddle,
Boxty on the pan,
If you don't eat boxty,
You will never get a man.

That version was taken down in the 1930s from Seán Ó Máille, 75, of Burren, Co. Mayo. Many online versions say "If you can't make boxty", which turns it into a test of a young woman's cooking.

Boxty is an Irish potato pancake made with grated raw potato, squeezed dry and mixed with mashed potato, flour and buttermilk. An account from Kilcorby, Co. Cavan, says you'd see it in nearly every house on Halloween night.

Did your family make boxty, or is this rhyme new to you?

Full recipe in the comments ☘️