The Charge of the Famous Irish Brigade at Gettysburg Re-enacted by the AOH 32 Junior AOH & LAOH Divisions from Bishop Canevin High School
On Wednesday, March 25, 35 members of the AOH 32 Junior AOH and LAOH Divisions from Bishop Canevin High School went on a trip to Gettysburg to visit the sites where the famous Irish Brigade fought. They left at 4:00 a.m. and watched the movie Gettysburg on the way in order to get some insight into the battle.
When the Junior AOH and LAOH arrived at Gettysburg they saw the movie narrated by Morgan Freeman and the newly restored Cyclorama at the new National Visitor Center.
After lunch, they were met at noon by the resident Irish Brigade expert/tour guide, Rich Kohr Jr. He led them on a tour of some of the battle sites of Gettysburg, including, the “Wheat Field” (which is the most famous battle site of the Irish Brigade at Gettysburg), Devil’s Den, Little Round Top, and the end point of Pickett’s Charge.
At the Wheat Field, Mr. Kohr aligned our group as the 116th Pennsylvania Regiment of the Irish Brigade would have been arranged as they entered the battle. Students were assigned numbers and when Mr. Kohr called out their number they had to fall to the ground to simulate the casualties sustained by the Irish Brigade.
The Jr. AOH got to see the Irish Brigade Monument, which depicts a life sized Irish wolfhound lying at the foot of a Celtic cross.The walking tour concluded with the group surveying the battle field from Little Round Top. They then boarded the bus to see the Pennsylvania Monument and the Union side of Pickett’s Charge.
The students had a wonderful time and fulfilled one of the goals of the Jr. AOH and LAOH which is to cultivate an appreciation of Irish tradition and history. The students look forward to similar experiences in the future.
Many thanks to AOH 32 brother and Junior Division Leader Jim "Bear" O'Connell for organizing and supervising the tour and for providing this story and pictures.
Note about the Irish Brigade and Pennsylvania Monuments: The green Quincy granite monument to the 63rd, 69th and 88th New York Infantry regiments of the famous “Irish Brigade” is one of the most handsome monuments on the Battlefield. These units fought with valor in the Wheatfield on the second day of the battle. The bronze and granite base, which supports a carved Celtic cross, features traditional Irish symbols. The Irish wolfhound lying at the base represents the faith and devotion to duty, as exhibited by the soldiers in the brigade. The monument’s designer, William Rudolf O’Donovan (1844-1920) had no formal training as an artist and, in fact, served in the Confederate Army. Following the war, he moved to New York City, where he opened an art studio and made his name as a well known sculptor of memorial pieces.
The Reverend Father William Corby was the chaplain of the Irish Brigade at Gettysburg. Father Corby was known to administer the last rites on the battlefield while under fire. His statue on Hancock Avenue, designed by sculptor Samuel A. M. Murray (1869-1941), is mounted on the identical boulder from which he gave absolution to the brigade on July 2, 1863 — the second day of battle. Following the war, he served as president of the University of Notre Dame. An identical statue of Father Corby can be found on the South Bend, Indiana campus, standing on a rock taken from the Gettysburg Battlefield.
The Pennsylvania Monument is the largest and most complex memorial at Gettysburg National Military Park. This tribute to the Pennsylvania soldiers who fought at Gettysburg includes 90 bronze tablets at its base that contain their names. Designed by New York architect W. Liance Cottrell (1868-1964), the monument features sculpture by of a number of artists, including sculptors Lee Lawrie (1877-1963), Otto Schweizer (1863-1955), W. Clark Nobel and Cyrus Dallin (1861-1944). On the dome stands Winged Victory, the work of Samuel Murray, who originally studied painting and shared studio space with Thomas Eakins, one of America’s greatest painters. The Pennsylvania Monument is composed of 1,252 tons of cut granite, 1,410 tons of steel, 740 tons of sand, 366 tons of cement, 50 tons of steel bars and 22 tons of bronze.
The Jr. AOH at Bishop Canevin has an extensive itinerary this year. The activities include a mass at St. Patrick’s church, the first all school St. Patrick’s Day mass on St. Patrick’s day, and a trip to Gettysburg which will retrace the battle route of the Irish Brigade during the Civil War. Canevin’s Jr. AOH is also proud to have as one of its members Ryan Praskovich, a talented young player of Ireland’s most recognizable musical instrument, the bagpipes.
The Jr. AOH attended mass at St. Patrick’s on the second of March along with 4 members of the school’s LAOH chapter. In a display of humility and respect for Jesus, the group ascended the steps of the Scala Sancta, a representation of the stairs Jesus ascended in the praetorium of Pontius Pilate, to which St. Patrick’s plays host. It is one of only four Scala Sancta’s in the world.
Bishop Canevin will stage its first all school mass on St. Patrick’s day this year. The Jr. AOH division at Bishop Canevin is grateful to be given the privilege to worship on the day dedicated to one of Ireland’s most prominent religious figures.
The Jr. AOH will delve into the history of Irish-Americans on their fieldtrip to Gettysburg March 25th. The bi-yearly Jr. AOH field trip takes the group back in time to examine the roles of the Irish brigades during the civil war. The field trip involves traveling along the same routes as the Irish brigades across the battlefields at Gettysburg, reenactments of the battle at the Wheatfield, and visitations to monuments dedicated to the honor of the Irish brigades.
Ryan Praskovich, one of the Canevin Jr. AOH’s own, deserves an honorable mention. Ryan competed in the U.S. Junior Solo Bagpiping Championship in November 2008. Not only did he compete, but he placed first overall, an impressive accomplishment. In addition, Ryan took first place in Piobaireachd and second place in Marches, Strathspeys, and Reels. As the judges of the competition stated, Ryan is “the best of the best.”
This year, Bishop Canevin’s Jr. AOH has been very involved, and will continue to be involved with the school, the community, and the upbringing of upstanding Irish Catholic men.
Our Junior Division at Bishop Canevin High School has tentatively scheduled March 25 for a trip to Gettysburg. Please contact Bear O'Connell if you'd like to be a chaperone - he could use a few good men!
If you've never been to Gettysburg, or it's been a long time since you visited, you are encouraged to go because it's an insightful and informative trip about the famous Irish Brigade - and the kids are great!
Also, please note that about 22 kids are going to Old St. Patrick's church in the Strip on Monday, 3/2 for noon Mass. All members are welcome to attend!
Congratulations to AOH Junior Member Bishop Canevin High School's Ryan Praskovich (pictured above holding his trophies and the top prize ofMcCallum Bagpipes) who placed first overall in the recent Balmoral Classic 2008 US Junior Solo Bagpiping Championship at the Richard E. Rauh Theater Hillman Center for Performing Arts at Shady Side Academy. Ryan was awarded first place in Pìobaireachd and second place in MSR (marches, strathspeys and reels). Check out list of winners here!
Ryan is in his seventh year of playing bagpipes and typically practices five days a week for up to an hour. His father also plays the instrument and watching him play the bagpipes in parades is what sparked Ryan's initial interest. For the past four years, Ryan has been under the instruction of Jimmy McIntosh.
Ryan is a member of Bishop Canevin's Marching Crusaders too!
To view video of Ryan playing on KDKA's Pittsburgh Today Live!, click here.
The induction ceremony for new Jr. AOH members was held on September 30th, at Bishop Canevin. The ceremony yielded 16 fledgling members to supplement the existing 35 members New inductees include Sean Donnelly, Maxwell Dormer, Sean Egan, Zachary Herrmann, William Hicks, Eric Hirschfeld, Christopher Lageman, Casey McCaffrey, Kevin O'Donnell, Gino Palmosina, Zachary Pawlos, Justin Petrovich, Evan Quinn, Jacob Schnelbach, Lucas Simpson, and Jonathan Sommerer.
The Junior Ancient Order of Hibernians at Bishop Canevin High School will engage in a variety of activities during the upcoming year, including field trips, parades, and plays, in addition to staging charitable events. The Jr. AOH is currently planning the “Iraq and Roll,” a Rock Band tournament in which Canevin students are encouraged to participate. The tournament will be held to raise money for soldiers taking part in the war in Iraq. Events scheduled for the upcoming year are numerous and varied. They include a play at the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theater, a mass at St. Patrick’s Church during Lent, marching in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, and a trip to Gettysburg to walk in the footsteps of the Irish brigade which fought during the Civil War.
The Jr. AOH at Bishop Canevin is growing exponentially and providing the Irish Catholic students with an environment in which they still feel the magical atmosphere of the motherland, even an ocean away.
Many thanks to brother Jim "Bear" O'Connell for once again leading another great induction ceremony for our Junior AOH boys from Bishop Canevin High School. The ceremony was held October 24 at the school and was witnessed by AOH brothers Denny Donnelly, Padraig McCann and Rich O'Malley . Six new members were inducted to raise the total to 43 members. Officers: Christopher Clarke, Senior, President Thomas Kennedy, Junior, Vice President Nicholas Midgley, Junior, Secretary Thomas Molitaris, Junior, Treasurer Nick Bianco, Junior, Marshall Brandon Karabinos, Junior, Sentinel Calvin Cooper, Junior, Reporter
Senior Members: Brian Billigen, Stephen Dukes, Lawrence Hunt, David Mulholland, Daniel Sullivan, Andrew Tomcik, Zachary Young
Junior Members: Lucas Briola, Riley Burgess, Matthew Coleman, Eric Jutca, Adam Karabinos, Jacob Presken, Zachary Retort
Sophomore Members: Patrick Baker, Benjamin Dugan, Sean Eckle, Michael Fitzpatrick, Sean Flanagan Jr, Robert Fraino, Albert Gestiehr, Nathan Kelly, Nicholas Killen, Patrick Leyland, Alexander Maloney, James McCaffrey, Stephen Molitaris, Logan Moore, Nico Palmosina, John Philbin, Patrick Philbin, Ethan Shatzer, David Smallhoover Freshman Members: Bennett Cooper, Ryan Praskovich, David Varley
Thirty Bishop Canevin High School Jr. AOH members along with advisor Jim "Bear" O'Connell, Division 32 AOH member Ed Blank, and parent Tom Kennedy visited Antietam on Tuesday, April 3.
The group left their school at 6:00 a.m. and watched a DVD called Lincoln and Lee at Antietam on the bus for background.
The group arrived at the visitors center at around 10:00 a.m. and got and overview of the battle from Brian. Afterwards, the group went to the observation tower and walked the route of the Irish Brigade until they went into action at the sunken road -"Bloody Lane."
Then the group returned to visitors center to see the NPS film, went to Burnside's bridge, and then returned back to Pittsburgh with a greater appreciation of their Irish ancestors and the sacrifices they made for freedom.
AOH 32 Jr. Division Tours Irish Brigade Battlefields at Gettysburg
On Wednesday, March 29, the AOH 32 Junior Division from Bishop Canevin - led by AOH Division 32 brothers' Jim "Bear" O'Connell, Mark Pritchard and I - travelled to Gettysburg to visit the sites where the infamous Irish Brigade fought. They left Pittsburgh at 6:00 a.m. and watched the movie Gettysburg on the way in order to get some insight into the battle.
When they arrived at Gettysburg around 10:00 a.m., they were met by the resident Irish Brigade expert/tour guide, Rich Kohr, at the National Visitor Center. He led them on a tour of some of the battle sites of Gettysburg, including the Peach Orchard, the “Wheatfield” (the most famous battle site of the Irish Brigade at Gettysburg), Devil’s Den, Little Round Top, and the end point of Pickett’s Charge.At the Wheatfield, Kohr aligned the group as the 116th Pennsylvania Regiment of the Irish Brigadewould have been as they entered the battle. They marched through the Wheat Field and up to the Irish Brigade Monument, which depicts a life-sized Irish wolfhound lying at the foot of a monumental Celtic cross.
Here are what some of the Jr. AOH members had to say about the trip. "That was the most fun I’ve ever had for a history lesson,” said Sentinel Ross Hirschfeld. “It made me feel connected with my Irish roots,” added Nick Midgley, freshman. President Wesley Baker remarked, “The trip provided us with a great opportunity to tour the route of the Irish Brigade. Being able to stand on the same ground where our forefathers fought and died was an unforgettable experience.” Treasurer Mike Garrity summed up the group's entire day, “There is only one word to describe the trip…tremendous!” One of the goals of the Jr. AOH is to cultivate an appreciation of Irish tradition and history and the students look forward to similar experiences in the future.
After lunch, they were met at noon by the resident Irish Brigade expert/tour guide, Rich Kohr Jr. He led them on a tour of some of the battle sites of Gettysburg, including, the “Wheat Field” (which is the most famous battle site of the Irish Brigade at Gettysburg), Devil’s Den, Little Round Top, and the end point of Pickett’s Charge.
At the Wheat Field, Mr. Kohr aligned our group as the 116th Pennsylvania Regiment of the Irish Brigade would have been arranged as they entered the battle.
Students were assigned numbers and when Mr. Kohr called out their number they had to fall to the ground to simulate the casualties sustained by the Irish Brigade.
The Jr. AOH got to see the Irish Brigade Monument, which depicts a life sized Irish wolfhound lying at the foot of a Celtic cross.
The walking tour concluded with the group surveying the battle field from Little Round Top. They then boarded the bus to see the Pennsylvania Monument and the Union side of Pickett’s Charge.
When they arrived at 
At the Wheatfield, Kohr aligned the group as the 
One of the goals of the Jr. AOH is to cultivate an appreciation of Irish tradition and history and the students look forward to similar experiences in the future. 
