MOORESVILLE — Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, and their families and friends recently gathered at St. Therese Church to commemorate “Ireland’s Great Hunger” (An Gorta Mor) with a special Mass.
The tragedy, which occurred between 1845 and 1850 and was mainly due to the potato blight, split the population of Ireland in half. Over 1 million Irish died of starvation, while another million emigrated to the United States and other countries.
The Mass was offered by Father Mark Lawlor, pastor of St. Therese and also a member of the AOH, for the intention of those who had suffered during those years of hardship. Among those attending the Mass were Patrick Tracey, N.C. AOH state president, Mary Driscoll, LAOH state president and members of the AOH’s Sons of Erin and St. Brendan the Navigator divisions, and the LAOH’s Ladies of the Lough Division.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians is a Catholic-Irish fraternal organization that promotes friendship, unity and Christian charity, as well as fostering and perpetuating Irish history, culture and traditions.
— Dan Callaghan and Mike FitzGerald, correspondent