The Ancient Order of Hibernians is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 AOH History Essay Contest, which was relaunched this year after a long hiatus. The competition invited 11th and 12th grade students to explore the contributions of Irish men and women to the founding of the United States through original historical research and writing.
Congratulations to our winners:
First Place – The Michael McCormack Prize – Aine Mahony
Irish Heroes: Founding American Independence and Identity
Second Place – The Jack O’Brien Prize – Keira Driscoll
Bound by Virtue: How Irish Men and Women Forged American Liberty
This year’s prizes honor two remarkable Hibernians whose dedication to preserving and promoting Irish American history has left a lasting legacy.
The Michael McCormack Prize recognizes Brother McCormack’s decades of scholarship and leadership as AOH National Historian, including his authoritative work documenting the history of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
The Jack O’Brien Prize honors the late Jack O’Brien, whose vision and leadership helped create enduring tributes to Irish American history, including the Irish Brigade Monument at Antietam and the Barry Gate at the United States Naval Academy.
We congratulate Aine and Keira on their outstanding achievements and thank every student who participated in this year’s contest. The future of Irish American history is in good hands.
Read the winning essays and learn more about the contest on our website at: https://aoh.com/…/aoh-history-essay-contest-winners…/
#AOH #IrishHistory #IrishAmerican #HistoryEssay #IrishHeritage #Education #AncientOrderOfHibernians #AmericanHistory
