What is the LAOH

The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Golden Rose, Queen of Ireland, Division One, Travis County was installed on November 14th, 2015 at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in Austin, Texas, thus returning the LAOH to Texas. Our new division was founded by Stacey McLeod Brewer after several monthly formation meetings. Opening a new division was not an easy task but Stacey’s dedication paid off. We chose the name in honor of the golden rose Pope John Paul II presented to the Knock Shrine in 1979, and because it also represents the Yellow Rose of Texas which is presented to Texas women for exceptional community service. A handmade golden rose, designed and crafted by Ann Soule, was given to each of our members at the installation and to all new members. We were honored to have Maureen Shelton,Immediate Past President from the National LAOH, at our installation to guide us. 2015 was quite a year for the Irish in Austin as the AOH was also installed, and the Irish Consulate in Austin was officially opened! We are so blessed to have the Irish Consul General join in many of our events.

As a new division, we began to establish some traditions and service projects. We enjoyed the fellowship of our monthly meetings. We had a booth at the Celtic Festival, a potluck meal for St. Patrick’s Day, and joined the AOH to celebrate 100 years of Irish Freedom and commemorate the Easter Rising of 1916. In 2016 we were contacted by Sister Conchita McDonnell of the Killeshandra Nuns. Sister Conchita visited Austin and told us about the plight of the sisters at a dinner in her honor held at Theresa Canchola’s home. For the first annual St. Brigid’s Day tea, we donated proceeds to the Killeshandra Nuns. 

Stacey attended the LAOH National Convention in July of 2016 in Atlantic City, NJ. She made connections with President’s from Colorado and Kentucky, and received her degree. We had our first 4th of July gathering at Laurie Maloney’s home in July 2017. The first Texas State Convention was held in San Antonio in 2017. In the early years a couple of our members had Irish dancing children which added to our events. 

We started an annual St. Brigid’s Day Tea for our patron saint around her feast day. Bridget Cresto had been so generous to host the tea and did a great job as the MC and in leading the event organizing committee. This annual fundraiser has raised money for The Killeshandra Nuns and also for St Louise House in Austin which supports women and children in need of housing and stability. St. Louise House provides not only housing, but all the wrap around services the families need to become independent again. In addition to raising money at the annual tea, members have volunteered in their garden to help maintain a dignified living environment for the mothers and children. 

Bridget Cresto became President in 2018. She started a “Mass & Munch” where members celebrate mass at each other’s churches and enjoy a meal together. The purpose of this tradition is to grow closer as friends, grow closer in our faith, and learn about the Catholic communities in our area. We join in with the AOH fundraisers, Halfway to St Patrick’s Day and the Irish Stew Competitions. We also participated in the AOH/LAOH State Convention in Dallas.

Amanda Bacque became our third president at the start of a pandemic in 2020. She was able to adapt, and our community has continued to thrive. Most of our 2020 meetings were held virtually until it was safe to gather in person again. Amanda not only arranged virtual meetings, but she also arranged a fun virtual Christmas party with Irish storyteller Helena Byrne, and blessed our members with a joyful virtual Advent calendar received in our email inboxes. We held a virtual baby shower for Jamie Berry, and Shana Joyce organized virtual rosary prayer sessions. We also has our first virtual tea party honoring St. Brigid. We wore all kinds of hats and baked beautiful confections. We fundraised for our charity, St Louise House, thru a Texas jewelry designer, Kendra Scott.

To celebrate the 125th Anniversary of our order, LAOH national published a book chronicling the history of the LAOH. Our division is included in it. National also held a virtual convention which we attended, quarterly zoom calls with State officers, and launched a national newsletter, Lady Hibernian Herald, to better connect all of the divisions around the nation as a unified LAOH. Our division has been featured in this publication.

We had two wonderful 4ths of July celebrations at Amy and Thomas Luttrell’s home. Lots of fun, great food and drinks and their pool was so refreshing!

We also had a State AOH/LAOH Convention in 2021 in Austin. We were honored to have the National LAOH President Karen Keane attend to support our small group. She led the installation of our new officers. Earlier we went on a tour of St Mary’s Cathedral.

In July 2022 Amanda Bacque, Kathie Bacque and Connie Buscha represented us at the National LAOH Convention in Pittsburg, PA. They made new friends, received their degrees, worked hard, and represented Texas well. We won first place in the National LAOH Scrapbook Contest for the book Ann Soule completed.

In April 2023 Jennifer Dimas attended the Columbian Mission Center Border Awareness Experience in El Paso to experience life on the border. Also attending were four other LAOH women from divisions from the East coast. They met many people and organizations who are doing their part to bring dignity to the migrant community. When reflecting on her experience Jennifer has said, “ The solutions are simple if you remember we are talking about humans.”

We also had a State AOH/LAOH Convention in 2023 in Dallas. Jennifer Dimas , Maureen Coulehan, Amanda Bacque, and Kathie Bacque attended and report the keynote from the Robert Hull, Irish Consulate General, was thought provoking. They were entertained by the McTeggart’s Irish dancers who got their start in County Cork in 1939. On the way home, they stopped in Dublin Texas.

Also, in 2023 sisters visited the Painted Churches of Central Texas. They visited 4 beautiful churches from the late 1899’s to 1900’s. They were Czech and German churches which are still active parishes today.

We moved our annual St Brigid’s Day Tea to a community center in 2024 where we were able to accommodate more guests. We were blessed to hear Amy Luttrell sing Ava Maria while being accompanied by a harp player and this past year added a fun photo booth.

Kathie Bacque became our 4th president in 2024.

Jennifer Dimas, Carol Maginn, Amanda Bacque, and Kathie Bacque attended the National LAOH Convention in Orlando in 2024. Carol and Jennifer received their degrees. We again won first place in the National LAOH Scrapbook Contest.

To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, we went to Mass at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Hutto, Texas in 2023 and 2024. After mass we were able to enjoy their annual parish festival. They were so welcoming!

Although we are currently the only LAOH in Texas, there have been divisions in the past. Our current member Marie O’Shaughnessy Martin founded two divisions; Daughters of Erin and Mary Doyle. In the 1980s we had divisions in Houston, Corpus Christi, Amarillo, San Antonio, and Austin. It is such a joy to have this sisterhood again in Austin to share our heritage and faith, and to serve our community and one another.