Larry Shepard

Thirteen Hibernian brothers from the Father Donnelly Division of Kansas organized a motorcycle ride from Kansas City to Louisville for the national AOH convention. The contingent included five riders from the Donnelly Division (Pat Quinn, Liam Riggs, Pat Cassidy, Chet Cordell, & Denny Dennihan), Donny O’Connor from Denver and Mike Wear with AOH State Board in Nebraska.

The riders were supported by a “sag” truck/trailer driven by Kansas AOH brothers Jake Grohmann and Tom Kane with tools, fuel, and a trailer should one of the bikes break down. The group selected roads that offered beautiful scenery, historical towns and famous eateries along the way. Starting out from KC on July 11, the highwaymen travelled east on Highway 50 cutting across central Missouri through rolling hills, climbing through the hardwood forests of the Ozark uplands and past several historic river towns along the banks of the Missouri River.

Reaching St Louis, the riders enjoyed famous McGurk’s Irish Pub, a city Irish landmark with live Irish music. Departing St. Louis the next morning, the cyclists travelled south along the National Scenic Byway along the Great River Road along the Mississippi River with incredible views and again plenty of hills and turns. After lunching at the famous Hawg & Sauce BBQ joint in Mt. Vernon, Indiana, the journeymen headed east and connected with the Ohio River Scenic Byway along Indiana Highway 60. Views improved even more as the group turned onto Indiana Highway 66 through the Hoosier National Forest.

An enjoyable hour and a half of steep hills, hairpin turns, rapid accelerations with equally rapid decelerations concluded with a timely arrival in Louisville for the national AOH convention. Choosing the more expedient interstate route back to KC, the tired riders arrived back in KC with our Colorado and Nebraska brothers continuing onward home. For all, it was a memorable trip and one the boys hope to repeat for the next convention. Should any other AOH brothers want to convene a motorcycle trip to the next convention, these western riders would love to meet up with you along the way and share the fun.