Hibernians raise funds for the community while celebrating an Irish tradition
The Allegany County Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) Division #1 is hosting their 9Th Annual Irish Road Bowling Tournament at their Kilbane Road Course in the Town of Andover, NY. Event parking and Registration is at the 4 Corners intersection of Trapping Brook/Kilbane Road and County Road 22 in the Town of Andover, NY.
The tournament has grown from 34 teams in the initial Irish Road Bowling tournament in 2013 to 55-75 teams the past few years. There are Annual International Irish Road Bowling Championship matches every year in Counties Cork, Armagh and Mayo in Ireland. West Virginia has a very organized league with matches every week at a different State Park. The Allegany County AOH Tournament typical draws bowlers from NY, PA, OH, NH, VA and MD.
Our Irish Road Bowling Course is a challenging 1.2 mile length and it typically takes road bowling teams of 2 approximately 1.5-2 hours to complete. Refreshments and Irish music are available at the mid point of the course at the Andover Rod and Gun Club. Bowlers compete by throwing a 28 ounce steel cannon ball or “Bowl” as far as possible down the middle of the road. The team member not throwing is the spotter and marks where the bowl runs off the road and that becomes the next spot to bowl from. “Our Irish Road Bowling Course is very family friendly and we typically have bowlers from the age of 4 years to over 80 years young” says AOH President Matthew Cannon. “We also have awards in 5 categories for the lowest 2 person team scores including 16 and under, Women’s Open, Men’s Open, Mixed Doubles and Senior Bowlers”
Our tournament is one of 2 major fundraisers for our Allegany County AOH Division #1 (The second if the September Island Park Car Show coming up in September 10th at Island Park in Wellsville, NY). Cannon also states that “Our Allegany County AOH Division supports many local Charities including the Joyce Family Food Panty on Wellsville, The Hart Comfort House, Immaculate Conception Church and Church School. We also help provide maintenance at Shane Colligan Park in Wellsville and have done food drives for the needy. Our Irish ancestors came to the USA because of the famine in Ireland in the mid 1800’s and we still see hunger prevalent in Allegany County as well as worldwide today.”
The local AOH Division will be missing and key Charter Member at next weeks Tournament as they are mourning the passing of Charter member Thomas O’Grady. “Tom always helped us at the road bowling starting line, provided sage advice with some great Irish Humor. He enjoyed helping us and also being with his son Tim and Grandson’s Keegan and Kavan who are also AOH members. The O’Grady Family are our only 3 generation Members-Tom will be missed by all” Says AOH Event Organizer Brian Cannon.
Registration will be from 9 am until 3 pm at the Four Corners AOH Registration Tent and plentiful Parking is free. The local AOH Division hopes to see you at our 9th Annual Irish Road Bowling Tournament. Join them for some family fun while getting some great exercise in scenic Andover, NY on June 11,2022! Its also AOH Charter member Patrick Dougherty’s birthday so come to our event, have a great time and wish pat a Happy 39th Birthday!
Contact our AOH Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/wellsvilleAOH/events
