A.O.H. Fr. Flanagan Division, Omaha NE
The Omaha AOH Fr. Flanagan Division is the local Division for the Omaha Metro Area and is based in Omaha. The club holds monthly meetings and is involved in many community events and activities. The Omaha Division also is proud to support many fund raising activities for the Madonna School for Exceptional Children and other worthy social causes.
In 1998 the Omaha AOH elected to name the Division after Fr. Edward J. Flanagan. Father Flanagan was born in the townland of Leabeg, County Roscommon, near the village of Ballymoe, County Galway, Ireland. He was the founder of what is arguably the most famous orphanage--Boys Town, in 1917. The campus is not just an orphanage, but now a center for troubled youth. Following his ordination in 1912, Father Flanagan was assigned to the Diocese of Omaha. His first parish assignment was Saint Patrick’s, O’Neill, Nebraska, after which he was appointed Assistant Pastor to Saint Patrick Catholic Church, Omaha, in March 1913. Currently there is a movement at home and abroad (in Ireland) for the canonization of Fr. Flanagan.
The Skip O'Keefe Honor Guard
The Skip O’Keefe Hibernian Honor & Color Guard was formed in 2005. It all started when one of our brothers, Skip O’Keefe suddenly passed. We then realized that we as Hibernians needed a way to show our respects and to honor our brother Hibernians. Our Hibernian Guards are two fold in their duties as guardsmen. One side of our unit is the Honor Guard. This is reserved for brothers who have passed to their eternal rest. It is our honor and privilege to accommodate the family’s wishes and needs in this difficult time of a brothers passing.
The other side of our unit, the Color Guard, has a more public view and purpose. We march in parades, attend social functions, cultural events, school activities, masses, memorial services, and just about anything we are asked to participate in.
We currently have 20 members in the Honor/Color Guard, and we are constantly recruiting new members for our unit. Our kilts are the Irish National tartan. We have been very well received, and have appeared in all of the parades around the metro area, and other ethnic functions as well. It was a great honor for us, to be asked to be the formal escorts for Irelands Ambassador to the United States, Noel Fahey. 
In the years to come, you should see many new things from our unit, as we continue to grow and prosper. For more information about the Hibernian Guard contact Sean Murphy, Shane Bretey, or Chris Murphy.
