Community News

St. Patrick’s Hooley Raises Funds for Christ House in Alexandria

Officers of the Herbert-Cady division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, based in Alexandria (Photo courtesy Ken Wolfe, AOH Vice President

ALEXANDRIA, VA-The Ancient Order of Hiberinans hosted their annual St. Patrick’s Hooley Saturday, March 9, at the Basilica School of St. Mary. The event served as a fundraiser for Christ House. This year’s celebration welcomed the community to an evening honoring Irish culture and heritage.

Check presentation for $11,0000 from the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Basilica of Saint Mary to Catholic Charities’ Christ House, located on West Street (Photo courtesy Ken Wolfe, AOH Vice President)

Vice President of the local Alexandria Herbert-Cady Division, Ken Wolfe, expressed his excitement of funds raised at this year’s event. “Two years ago we raised $8K for Christ House, last year $9K, and this year’s Irish Hooley raised $11K for Christ House,” he told The Zebra.

Local Irish Dance schools performed at the annual Hooley (Photo courtesy Ken Wolfe, AOH Vice President)

Christ House in Old Town is a program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington. It provides free daily meals to those with food insecurity. Christ House also houses a food pantry and provides emergency assistance to those in need.

The crowd was entertained by local Irish musicians (Photo courtesy Ken Wolfe, AOH Vice President)

Murphy’s Irish Pub provided food and drink for the celebration. Local Irish musician Pat Garvey played live music. Irish dancers from the Boyle School of Irish Dance and O’Neill James School of Irish Dance showed off their skills to the crowd, and bagpipes played, creating an authentic Irish atmosphere.

Ticket holders participated in a silent auction and raffle.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) is America’s oldest Irish Catholic fraternal organization fostering and preserving Irish culture. The local Herbert-Cady Division, established in 2011, is active in the local community and its membership grows each year.

[SEE ALSO: Dianna Campagna to Lead Long & Foster]

Kelli Goel

Kelli Goel is a food blogger with The Zebra Press and lives with her husband and children in Alexandria, Virginia.

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