Rockland AOH Brings State Convention to Pearl River

The Rockland County Ancient Order of Hibernians earned a little history by winning its bid to host the 2011 New York State AOH Convention two years ago.

The organization finally gets to see the result of that victory, and the work put in since, when the convention begins Wednesday at the Pearl River Hilton.

"We started the process probably three years ago," said Vincent Tyer, President of the Rockland County AOH. "First you have to bid on the event. We submitted a proposal and Syracuse submitted a proposal. It came down to a vote at the convention in Albany in 2009 and we won it. Since then, we've been organizing and putting together the event and the meals and hotels."

"The Rockland AOH did a great job and Vince Tyer did a fantastic job getting the convention to Rockland," said William Maloney, General Manager of the Pearl River Hilton. "We're excited for it. We're kind of built for this."

Orangetown Councilman Denis Troy, himself a long-time Hibernian and resident of Pearl River, also went out of his way to point out the importance of Tyer's work in bringing the event to Pearl River and organizing it.

"It took a lot of work to get it here," Troy said. "Vince Tyer is the guy who headed that up. You have to do a real sales pitch. It's never been done here in Rockland. In order to get the support of the rest of the state, Vince and his committee did a great job.

"It's a great town. These people are lucky they are coming to our town. I think they will have a great time here."

Conventions like this often go to cities such as Syracuse or Albany. Tyer said he and his committee found ways to feature what Pearl River and Rockland County have to offer, including Rockland County's 38th Annual Feis Sunday, July 17.

"The things we featured were the Rockland County St. Patrick's day Parade, the second largest in New York State, and the Feis, which is the largest outdoor Feis in the country," Tyer said. "We have dance schools and music schools for traditional Irish Music. The Gaelic Athletic Association has 600 kids playing Irish Sports.

"Not many conventions come to Rockland, so when we went up against Syracuse, which gets a lot of convention business, we had to show the events we do put on."

"Orangetown is still the most accessible part of Rockland compared to the city and the airports," Orangetown Coucilman Michael Maturo said. "It's an important milestone for us as a town to say, we're close to the hub of the world, New York City, and we're accessible. It's a big effort and it's a milestone for Orangetown. I think it's great."

The large Irish population in Pearl River also helped. Tyer pointed out that Division III of the AOH in Pearl River is the largest in New York State.

"We wanted to get the delegates into Pearl River and show them all that we have going on," Tyer said.

"We have a high Irish-American percentage of the population in the town," Troy said. "(This allows us to) showcase the various AOH divisions here, the amenities Orangetown has. The golf course. Downtown Pearl River. To me, it's a special place. For a convention, with all the restaurants we have there, I think it's ideal.

The Hilton, which is sold out for Wednesday through Saturday night, is the home base for the convention. Wednesday's icebreaker barbecue, Thursday's viewing of bids from candidates to host in 2013, Friday's Irish Night and Saturday's Installment Dinner will all be held there.

"We're giving this very close attention," Maloney said. "Our eyes have been on this for over a year. The Hilton will be hte home base for the convention, but by no means is it the only site in Rockland that is welcoming the AOH."

The first event will actually take place down the road at the Blue Hill Golf Course, the site for a "Welcome NY Hibernians" Golf Outing starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Most of the events are for Hibernians and their families, but the convention will move out into the community for Thursday's Lark in the Park, a free concert starting at 5:30 p.m. on the Central Avenue Field next to Pearl River Hook and Ladder.

"The concert is open to everyone," Tyer said. "That was put together with the AOH supported by the Pearl River Chamber of Commerce and the Rockland County Department of Tourism to highlight the downtown area."

"I met with Vince Tyer a couple of months ago on this," Rockland County Tourism Director C.J. Miller said. "WE were planning how this could go and what kind of showcase event they could put in Pearl River. We were trying to figure a way to put the town in the spotlight and entertain the guests."

Miller is hopeful that this convention could lead to others coming to Pearl River.

"This will help showcase Pearl River as a destination place not only for ethnic celebrations, but as a convention center," Rockland County Tourism Director C.J. Miller. "It is a great town. Pearl River really could be a gateway to Rockland County. It really is the town of friendly people. This AOH Convention is really going to bring that out."

New York State AOH 2011 Convention

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, July 13

• Welcome NY Hibernians Golf Outing - 8 a.m. start at Blue Hill Golf Course
• Icebreaker BBQ/Picnic, 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Pearl River Hilton

Thursday, July 14

• A Lark in the Park, free concert -- 5:30 p.m. start at Central Avenue Field in Pearl River

Friday, July 15

• Irish Night -- 6 p.m. reception, awards dinner from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Pearl River Hilton

Saturday, July 16

• AOH/Ladies AOH Installation Dinner/Dance -- 7 p.m. reception, dinner/dance from 8 p.m. to midnight.