01-08-2020

​

Mike:

​

Thank you for alerting us to the twistory (twisted history) on the AOH Florida website.  I am the National Historian of the AOH and I am appalled that such a travesty exists in our name.  I hope you will understand that the we have many Divisions of our order through out the United States and each is mandated to appoint a Historian whose job is to research and present factual Irish History to members in an effort to keep our traditions alive.  The sad fact is that some psuedo historians end up in that position and don't do the job well.  You have my official apology to share with any who may have seen this erroneous history.  The Florida AOH has been told to remove it.  As a student of the history of our Ireland for more than 50 years, I have a profound admiration of the travelers both in Ireland and here as a resuilt of many conversations with Finbar Fury and others who have directed me to the understanding of how hard life on the road is and the many reasons for the travelers existence from British plantation to landlord evictions.  I have heard the stories of the itinerants who couldn't be trusted, but were sought when there was work to be done.  I know there are good and bad in every community, but I have always been aware of the pride that exists in every Irish heart -- be they traveler or settled.  Attached you will find a verse that I wrote about 15 years ago when I had the oppotunity to speak on the topic.  I've learned more since and look forward to reading your book.  Please don't hold all AOH men in the contempt you must hold for the author of this twistory on the Florida website, as we ask our members not to judge all travelers by the bad press of which they have been a victim. 

 

 

Thanks and God Bless

       

Mike McCormack, AOH National HIstorian