Editing Ancient Order of Hibernians (section)

=== Origins ===
[[File:Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians parading at Cormeen - geograph.org.uk - 3068974.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Members of the AOH parading at [[Cormeen]], Co Cavan]]
The organization had its roots in the [[Defenders (Ireland)|Defenders]] and the [[Ribbonism|Ribbonmen]], Catholic agrarian movements of the 18th and 19th centuries.{{sfn|Cecil|1993|p=155}} It emerged in [[Ulster]] at the end of the 19th century in opposition to the [[Orange Order]].{{sfn|Cecil|1993|p=156}} It was organized by [[Joseph Devlin]] of [[Belfast]], who was [[Grand master (order)|Grand Master]] by 1905.{{sfn|Rees|1998}} The AOH was closely associated with the [[Irish Parliamentary Party]], its members mainly members of the party.{{sfn|Garvin|2005|pp=107–110}} It was strongly opposed to secular ideologies such as those of the [[Irish Republican Brotherhood]] (the IRB), who were most unhappy at the re-emergence of this old rival "right-wing" nationalist society.{{sfn|Garvin|2005|pp=106–107}}

From a membership of 5,000 in 1900, nearly all in [[Ulster]], it climbed to 64,000 by 1909, complementing the [[United Irish League]].{{sfn|Garvin|2005|pp=107–108}} By 1914 the order had spread throughout the country, mainly because of its utility as a patronage, brokerage and recreational association.{{sfn|Garvin|2005|p=108}} As a vehicle for [[Irish nationalism]], the AOH greatly influenced the sectarian aspect of Irish politics in the early twentieth century. In Ulster and elsewhere it acted as an unruly but vigorous militant support organization for Devlin, [[John Dillon|Dillon]] and [[John Redmond|Redmond]] against radicals and against [[William O'Brien]]: O'Brien regarded himself as having been driven from [[Irish Parliamentary Party|the party]] by militant Hibernians at the "[[All-for-Ireland League#Baton Convention|Baton Convention]]" of 1909.{{sfn|Garvin|2005|p=108}}

The ceremonial aspects of the Order resembled those of the Orange Order with green replacing orange on sashes and banners.{{sfn|McMahon|2011|p=99}} This led to opponents such as [[James Larkin|Jim Larkin]] calling it the "Ancient Order of Catholic Orangemen".{{sfn|McMahon|2011|p=99}}

[[File:Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) 1911 plaque, Kanturk, Co Cork, Ireland.JPG|thumb|right|150px|AOH 1911 plaque, [[Kanturk]], [[County Cork]]]]