Active citizenship
The Thomas F. Meagher Foundation and Kerry Group are asking schools to offer a renewed vision of the Irish flag. By Anita Guidera
What it means to be Irish in the 21st Century through active citizenship is the theme of the 2017 Thomas F. Meagher Foundation School Awards and Scholarship Programme in Association with the Kerry Group.
While last year’s inaugural awards focused on the centenary of 1916 and the birth of the nation, this year, participating schools are being urged to turn their attention towards the next 100 years.
People living in Ireland today no longer necessarily have the same ethnic or cultural backgrounds and the Foundation is encouraging the young people of Ireland, irrespective of ethnicity, creed or gender, to work together towards common goals.
“As well as celebrating the flag and its origins and its meanings, we are asking schools to celebrate the new Irish,” says Foundation board member Senator Mark Daly who is encouraging schools across the country to take part.
“On St Patrick’s Day we celebrate 70 million Irish all over the world but we must also remember to celebrate those who now make Ireland their home, who may not be born in Ireland but who consider themselves Irish.
“That is the key message about Flag Day. “We must broaden our view of what it means to be Irish in this most challenging time when the ides of diversity and
Kerry Group is pleased once again to sponsor the Awards and Scholarship programme
acceptance and tolerance are very important as some countries go down a route which is far from tolerant.
“We must understand that our view of Irishness must adapt in the same way that Meagher spoke about an Irishness that was inclusive rather than exclusive,” he said.
The project will allow them to work together for a shared vision.
That includes not only learning about the Irish flag and its message of peace and unity but of raising funds to help people in their locality and wider afield.
As of Tuesday March 7, more than 300,000 flag badges had been dispatched to 723 second level schools across the country, which will be sold by students with the proceeds going to assist worthy causes.
“These badges represent pride, respect and peace, respect for our communities, other cultures and reflecting on just how far we have come since the first tricolour was raised,” adds Senator Daly.
To have a chance of securing a thirdlevel scholarship on offer, schools are being asked to participate in three ways:
To promote pride and respect for the flag in their schools and communities and to educate students about the protocol around the flag and its meaning To sell badges to support community projects of the school’s choice To celebrate the New Irish who have made the country their new home.
Once again individual students from the winning schools will be offered the chance of a one year third-level scholarship thanks to the Foundation’s education partners.
This year the Foundation has partnered with the Ceann Comhairle’s Office in Leinster House which has teamed up with Trocaire to launch Project For Africa to raise funds for a water conservation and irrigation programme in Tigray in Northern Ethopia. Schools have been given the option of contributing towards the Ceann Comhairle’s Project from the funds that are raised.
These badges represent pride, respect and peace