Div. 19 Fundraiser Success!
On November 12th we saw the culmination of efforts spanning most of 2022 come to fruition by way of our Donal Nolan Memorial Fundraiser. As a division the brothers of John O’Hagan Division 19 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians were very saddened to learn of the passing of founding member of the Brooklyn Bards musical group, Donal Nolan on April 5th of 2022. Nolan’s death was very unexpected and left a real gap within the Brooklyn Irish Community that he had been a part of. Nolan touched many lives as a neighbor and friendly face in Bay Ridge Brooklyn, but also as a musician and storyteller. Nolan was a founding member of the Irish music group the Brooklyn Bards. The group toured the Tri-State area providing high quality traditional Irish Music in bars, festivals, parties and more. The Brooklyn Bards had been associated with the musical soundtrack of so many cultural events that our Division members had grown up with. From Brooklyn’s World Famous Great Irish Fair to Rogers Bar in Rockaway after a long day on the beaches of the Irish Riviera Breezy Point. The music of the Bards, and specifically Donal’s emotional rendition of Danny Boy had done so much for the advancement of our Irish Culture that our membership wanted to celebrate his life and honor his family.
We began planning for a fundraiser to be held on November 12th at our home division hall, the Baile Na N’Gael in Gerritsen Beach. First reaching out to the Nplan family, to pay opur respects and let them know of our fundraiser. Together we concluded that any profits raised at the fundraiser would be donated to the Commodore Barry Club in bay Ridge. This was a cause very close to Donal and his entire family and when asked where the funds should be donated, the Nolan family told our membership it was a no brainer that the money should be donated to the Commodore Barry Club in Donal’s name.
The first phone call after reaching out to the Nolan family was to the Brooklyn Bards to ensure that they were able to perform at our event when theya greed we knew we has the makings of a powerful tribute in Donal’s honor. As the day finally approached, we were eager to show our appreciation to the Nolan family for sharing their son with us and so many others throughout his life. We put together slideshows of Donals life that would play on repeat on our bar area television and awaited the arrival of our attendees. Our event lasted from 2-6 pm and was widely attended throughout the day. We made $1,000.00 profit which means we have planned a donation that amount to be given to the Commodore Barry Club in Donal Nolan’s name.
Our biggest takeaway from the event though, came from the environment provided by the guests in our hall that day. The women of the Staten Island Divisions of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians exemplified what being a Hibernian really means. Service of your brothers and sisters above all else, joining together in service to a noble cause. The sister Hibernians stepped up manning our admission tables, helping us open up the food, and so much more. We had raffle prizes donated by Erin Morgan, Victoria Bradley, and Sheila McGirl which helped to raise additional necessary fundraising dollars. Wife of our Division Vice President Daniel Chiarantano donated a Ricotta Cake that became one of the more popular dishes available. The Brooklyn Bards commanded the stage throughout the day and performed a memorable 4 hour set in honor their friend Donal. What stood out to us was during their breaks other musicians took to the stage to perform as well. Artists like Susan Gillespie and Gerard Corbett, whose current single ‘Sweet Kilala Bay’ has charted Number 1 on the Irish Country Music charts, The O’Malley School of irish Dance who provided a brilliant performance and so many others paid tribute to Donal with their talent as the bands break time created the opportunity for a traditional Irish Session in the Baile Na N’Gael Hibernian Hall.
As stated above, we plan on making the donation of $1,000.00 to the Commodore Barry Club of bay Ridge but the thanks that we have for Donal and the appreciation we have for him and his entirety surpasses that $1,000.00 number time and time again. We thank you all for supporting this important fundraising initiative and hope you will support our initiatives in the future. Thank you to all who came out and supported in person and in spirit