Erin Go Brach: Free Vintage Digital Post Card Image

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This is a vintage post card from around 1900-1905.  This is a rare post card that eludes to the strife in Ireland and the AOH.  AOH (the Ancient Order of Hibernians) with its motto Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity which became the most recent link in the evolution of those ancient societies. Organized with the same intention of defending Gaelic values under attack, it can claim continuity of purpose and motto unbroken back to the Defenders of 1565. The need for a defensive society in America was the same as it was in Ireland .

The Protestant Reformation that swept Europe in the 16th century was marked by Royal intrigues over control of the Roman Church’s wealth, and conflicts over which religion could be practiced. Violence erupted in many countries. Elizabeth I declared the Church of England to be the State religion, and considered Ireland part of her state. Most Irish did not agree. The Papacy launched a counter-reformation and Ireland became a battlefield between the two forces as the Irish, who embraced the Church introduced by St. Patrick, became the target of a campaign to reduce Rome’s power by converting the masses to Protestantism. The persistence with which the Irish clung to their religion drove the English to extremes in repression. Penal laws disenfranchised Irish Catholics from the political, social, and economic life of their own country, and with their religion outlawed and their clergy on the run, they became an underground society practicing their religion in secret.

 Some of the Irish didn't agree with the underground society's like AOH which caused riffs amongst the Irish people. This is why you see a brick in the one hand of the AOH representative and a billy club in the hand of the other. And on St. Patrick's Day you see that the men above have put aside their differences and share a handshake and piece pipes.