2008 President's Letters

September 2, 2008
Letters from Seamus Boyle  regarding the moving of Fr. Aidan Troy from Holy Cross in Ardoyne

Fr. Troy,
I have sent the following letter to Fathers Duffy, Keevins, Donegan, Scanlon and D'Arcy. I will be over in October and I hope you will still be there. I was shocked to hear the news but as you said obedience is what you must obey. However I am hoping that you stay at your superior's request. We are all praying for you.

Best regards Seamus  

August 30, 2008
Dear Father Scanlon,
As National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, the largest Irish American Catholic organization in the United States, I am asking you to rethink the moving of Fr Aidan Troy from Holy Cross. From the first day Fr. Troy went to Ardoyne he has fought for the respect and rights of the people not only in his own parish but for those people everywhere whose rights have been challenged. He, along with young girls he shephereded through the lines of protesters, was spit upon verbally abused and hit with urine filled balloons and other missles. He single handedly changed the attitudes of many of the Loyalist people and brought together a people who had lost all hope for the future.

He has gained the respect and admiration of the people of Belfast and for him to be moved now would have a severe effect on the people of the Ardoyne area in particular and the North of Ireland in general. I do not have to tell you of the accomplishments of Fr Troy but as a messenger for over 100,000 Irish Americans I know this will have a devastating effect on what he has accomplished. We do have peace in the North now but the healing must start now and there is no one I know of who can continue the healing than Fr Troy.

I beg you on behalf of the AOH and the parishoners of Holy Cross please do not send him away when he is needed the most.

In Our Motto Of Friendship, Unity
and True Christian Charity,

Seamus Boyle
National President
Ancient Order of Hibernians