In 1812 the Hibernian Society of Savannah was organized by forty-four prominent Savannah gentlemen for the purpose of tendering aid to needy Irish immigrants. In 1813 members of the Hibernian Society marched from near Colonial Cemetery over to Independent Presbyterian Church for a private St. Patrick's Day celebration . In 1824 James Hunter, President of the Hibernian Society, invited all local Irishmen to attend mass and then join in a parade through the streets of Savannah in honor of St. Patrick's Day. This was the birth of the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah. Dr. James A Cullinan addressed the Hibernian Society on Saint Patrick's Day in 1829. To read his address CLICK HERE To read the 1845 St. Patrick’s Day Oration by the Rev. William Burke to the Hibernian Society of Savannah, CLICK HERE On St. Patrick's Day, 1874, members of the Hibernian Society awakened the City of Savannah by firing off an 18 gun salute with Revolutionary War cannons at 6:30 in the morning. We don't know why this fine tradition was apparently discontinued after only one year. In 1908, by pure coincidence, Savannah's two oldest heritage societies, the St. Andrew's Society and the Hibernian Society, held separate meetings on the same night at the Hussars' Club. Afterwards the Scotsmen and the Irishmen gathered together for libations and toasts.
In
1912 President William Howard Taft addressed the 100th Anniversary Dinner
of the Hibernian Society of Savannah. To read the transcript of his
remarks CLICK HERE
In 1940 the cover of the Anniversary Dinner Program honored Tara Hall, the O'Hara Family home in Gone With the Wind, which had premiered the previous year. To see the letter that Margaret Mitchell sent about the program cover CLICK HERE In 1962 former President Harry Truman addressed the Society's 150th Anniversary Dinner. In 1977 Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was the featured speaker at the Society's Anniversary Dinner. President Jimmy Carter addressed the Society's Anniversary Dinner in 1978. To read a transcript of his remarks CLICK HERE In 2008 The St. Andrew's Society and The Hibernian Society held a "Centennial Dinner" to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their joint gathering in 1908. To read more about this and see photos of the event CLICK HERE
To view raw footage of our 2008 Joint Centennial
Meeting with the St. Andrew's Society of Savannah
CLICK HERE
Ireland's Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Enda Kenny,
sent video greetings to the Hibernian Society's 200th Anniversary Dinner.
To view his message CLICK HERE
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The
music on this page courtesy of the Youghal Pipe Band.
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Last updated:
November 01, 2024