The
Ancient Order of Hibernians (
AOH) is an
Irish Catholic fraternal organisation. Members must be
Catholic and either Irish-born or of
Irish descent. Its largest membership is now in the
United States, where it was founded in
New York City in 1836. Its name was adopted by groups of Irish immigrants in the United States, its purpose to act as guards to protect
Catholic churches from
anti-Catholic forces in the mid-19th century, and to assist Irish Catholic immigrants, especially those who faced discrimination or harsh coal mining working conditions. Many members in the coal mining area of
Pennsylvania had a background with the
Molly Maguires. It became an important focus of
Irish American political activity.