Ancient Order of Hibernians meets in Philadelphia, re-elects officers

Published: 2004-07-19

PHILADELPHIA (CNS) -- Ned McGinley of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., was re-elected president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians at the organization's 92nd biennial convention in Philadelphia. Also re-elected were Jack Merchant of Quincy, Mass., vice president; Seamus Boyle of Philadelphia, treasurer; and Tom McNabb of Auburn, N.Y., secretary. "This wonderful gathering of over 1,200 Irish Americans ... was truly an inspiration to me and to the other officers to continue our work," McGinley said. The convention was overshadowed in part, however, when Father Patrick Healy, senior priest at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Scranton, Pa., and deputy national chaplain of the Hibernians, became ill July 8, the first day of the convention, and died the next day. He had been a priest for 53 years.

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