St. Patrick's PARADE & related 2010
Abram J Ryan Div (Louisville, Ky) ANCIENT ORDER of HIBERNIANS
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...A Worthy Trophy For the past 50 years, two of Kentucky's high school football powerhouses, the Tigers of St. Xavier and the Shamrocks of Trinity, have competed for "the shillelagh," an Irish war club and symbol of great pride... the AJ Ryan Division is proud to have donated this worthy trophy and looks forward to presenting it to the victor each Fall. Each year a medallion with the game's score is added: The medallion is Gold if the Tigers win, Silver if the Shamrocks are the victors. The game is one of the best-attended high school games in the country. GOOD LUCK TO BOTH TEAMS! This year: the Tigers won back the shillelagh with a score of 24 to 15... Coach Glaser greeted the Hibernians with umbrella in hand as a reference to last year's storm which ended the game in the first quarter... St. X teacher and brother Hibernian Mike O'Toole presented the Irish War weapon to his colleague there on the field. Left: AOH past Pres. Shaun McKiernan, Trinity Coach Bob Beatty, and AOH Sentinal and Trinity alum Tony Lindauer in 2006 |
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| About the Shillelagh Used as hunting weapons, shillelaghs were essential life support to the Irish peasants of the middle ages. Every lad searched the hedges diligently for the prime stick which would be his companion for life and when at last he spotted the perfect specimen - he would claim it with the traditional shout, "BE JASUS AND IT'S MINE!" He would nurture and protect it henceforth until it matured. When it was ready he would choose a winter's day when the sap was down and joyously claim his prize!... he would then bear it home with pride and triumph and spend every spare moment until Spring by the peat fire lovingly smoothing the knots and rounding the head. If part of the shaft had grown too crooked, he would gently soak it and hang it from the cottage rafters weighted with sand until it was shaped right. From the day the shillelagh was completed until his death, it never left his side... even then it would be placed by his side in his coffin! So then... as you look upon this most honorable symbol of Irish heritage... reflect on its history and understand that it has been won in a clean, hard-fought contest. |
Legend has it... ...that one cold December night, St. Patrick himself sought shelter beneath the blackthorn bush (all shillelaghs are made of this hard Irish wood). To protect the saint from the elements, white blossoms immediately burst forth. To this day, the blackthorn bush still blooms in early December. |
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Links Trinity High School "Shamrocks" St. Xavier High School "Tigers" Presentation Presentation of the shillelagh is made each year at the University of Louisville's Papa John's Stadium immediately after the game. Hibernians process onto the field in AOH uniform with a bagpiper to award the much-coveted shillelagh at the end of the game! |
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