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How to become a member

The recently-formed local chapter of Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians welcomes new members.

Requirements: Must be a Catholic in good standing with the church and be Irish by birth, descent or by marriage.

The order welcomes members from both Ohio and West Virginia.

The ladies order meets on the last Monday of each month at the Sacred Heart Retreat House in Coolville.

For more information or to join: Contact Brynn Riordan at 740-667-6802 or: brynn.laoh@yahoo.com

Strains of Celtic music filled the ballroom, beckoning diners to dance a jig or two during Sunday's 29th annual Monsignor Donal O'Carroll Ancient Order of Hibernians Irish Gathering at Marietta's Lafayette Hotel.

The Boys of the Hock, a traditional Irish dance music band from Athens, played, while members of the Athens Irish Dancers kicked up their heels to the crowd's delight.

"It's a celebration of Irish culture, with food, music and dance - something different from the usual green beer," said Hibernian Rob Brannan.

The gathering is held every year on the Sunday before St. Patrick's Day by the Washington County Division 1 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The order is an Irish Catholic men's organization with the goal of preserving Irish culture and heritage in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Approximately 150 people attended Sunday's event.

"We see a lot of new faces every year," Brannan said. "And everyone in the community is welcome to attend. You don't have to be a member."

One new wrinkle this year is the addition of a Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Mid-Ohio Valley Division 1.

"We started the ladies order about a year ago with 19 women," said member Brynn Riordan.

"We wanted to have our own goals and support our own charities - to have our own agenda, but to still support the men's group," she said.

Riordan said the group includes Irish Catholic women from seven counties in West Virginia and Ohio, and the group helps support national charities of the Colomban Fathers and Colomban Sisters, as well as local charities dedicated to the care, encouragement and betterment of women.

In 2009 those local charities included Sarah's Place, EVE Inc., My Sister's Place, and the Gabriel Project.

"We'd also love to have new members," Riordan said.

The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians was organized in Omaha, Neb. in 1894 as the 'Daughters of Erin.' The organization's primary purpose was to protect young immigrant Irish girls who came to the U.S., assisting them in securing employment, giving them the opportunity to be with their fellow Irish countrymen and women, and to keep them from becoming homesick and discouraged.

The ladies order motto is "Friendship, unity, and Christian charity."

Sunday's gathering was held in memory of Father Francis Christopher 'Frank C.' Cronin who, after serving as priest for 50 years, died Aug. 2, 2009, in Shadyside following a brief illness.

Father Cronin spent 36 years in Athens as a priest and professor, serving in campus ministry at Ohio University.

He was 78 years old.