Brian Cannon and Don Bo named “Hibernians of the Year”
From AOH Division #1, pictured from left Brian Cannon-AOH, Jim Campbell, John Embser-AOH and Carolyn Stewart -Catholic Charities Western NY Food Program Director
The Allegany County NY Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) Division #1 recently had their year end organizational meting and year end awards. The Division was pleased to host Michael Tobin, NY State AOH District #2 Director along with his father, Timothy Tobin of the NY State AOH Charities Chair for the AOH NY State Board. In addressing the local Allegany County AOH Contingent, Michael Tobin congratulated the Division’s ability to plan and execute successfully 2 major Annual Fundraisers with the June Irish Road Bowling and September AOH Park in the Park Car Show events. These 2 events allow the AOH Division to make significant year round donations to support the local Catholic Charities Food Pantry as well as several other food pantries in Allegany County along with also sponsoring several annual AOH $500 scholarships to graduating local High School Seniors. The Allegany County AOH Division is the smallest AOH Divisions in District #2 which includes Buffalo, Niagara Fall and Rochester, NY.
Both Michael and Timothy Tobin also plan to come back to Wellsville in 3 months on March 13th for the 4th Annual “Worlds Shortest Saint Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Wellsville, NY which is a 12 foot long parade route at the intersection of Main Street and Eaton Court in Downtown Wellsville, NY. Note that the next Worlds’ Shortest Saint Patricks’ Day parade in in 3 Months on Friday March 13th, 2026 at 5 PM.
President John also presented Division awards to long time AOH Members Don Bo, Sean Haggerty and Brian Cannon. Don Bo and Brian Cannon were both named Hibernians of the Year “for their continuous efforts in supporting the Catholic Charities local Food pantry in Wellsville as Jim Campbell and his team help feed over 2500 people each week in Allegany County. Don Bo has for the past several years donated pickup truck loads of fresh corn and vegetables from his farm in Scio to the local food bank to help provide fresh food for the needy. Both Don and Brian are also involved in making the AOH Irish Road Bowling, AOH Car Show and the AOH Shortest Saint Patrick’s Day Parade events successful each year,” stated AOH President John Dean. Pictured to the left, Brian Cannon (L) receives Hibernian of the year Award from AOH President John Dean (R)
Sean Haggerty received a Presidents Medallion award “for his ongoing efforts in making all the Divisions events as success and his standout Irish BBQ Skills at the Irish Road Bowling Tournament” per AOH President Dean. Both Don and Sean were out of town and unable to attend the December meeting due to prior out of state business and family commitments and will receive their awards when they return to Allegany County.
In closing the meeting, the Allegany County AOH Division decided to make another $1,500 local food card donation to Jim Campbell at the Allegany County Joyce Family Food Pantry in Wellsville which members Brian Cannon and John Embser traveled to the next day to present Jim Campbell and Carolyn Stewart who was in town from Catholic Charities in Buffalo. Jim and Carolyn again thanked the AOH Division “for the AOH’s continued support as hunger and food shortages are always present and the local AOH Brothers respond year round to assist the Wellsville food bank.”
President John Dean re-emphasized that “Our local AOH Division is committed to serving local needs in rural Allegany County and while we focus on helping reduce and fight hunger, that we also support education with AOH Scholarships as well as supporting local grassroots fundraising and charitable needs such as the new Allegany County Air Truck for the Alfred, Andover and Wellsville, NY Fire district.
For more information go to the Allegany County NY AOH Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/WellsvilleAOH/
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