Students will join to celebrate Monsignor

KILLARNEY’S schools have come together in the latest bid to honour the incredible local humanitarian Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, who helped over 6,500 Jews, American and British Soldiers escape from German forces as the Second World War raged in Rome.

Beginning in September, local schools will nominate a specific day as ‘Hugh O’Flaherty Day’, during which they’ll incorporate an activity based on Hugh O’Flaherty’s life into their schedule.

Each school can decide on what activity they’d like to engage with, but suggestions from the Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society include quizzes, dramas, poetry sessions, reading, or television screenings.

All the schools will also contribute to the new Hugh O’Flaherty Humanitarian Award Bursary, with a cheque for €1000 to be presented to this year’s winner of the prestigious Humanitarian Award named in the Monsignor’s honour.

“It continued to be a source of regret to us that when we presented the annual Humanitarian Award each November, we were not in a position to include a monetary element which would be of great use to the recipient ‘s charitable organisation,” Society Chairperson Jerry O’Grady said.

“Now we are delighted that this has been addressed in a way that ensures the ongoing participation of the young people of Killarney in the Humanitarian Award process.”

Presentation Monastery National School Principal Colm Ó Suilleabháin said he was delighted that every school in Killarney is on board with the idea, adding that his school is happy to contribute to the annual Humanitarian Award.

“This will establish an important link between the students of Killarney and the Hugh O’Flaherty story,” he said. “It is also envisaged and welcomed that representative students from schools will present the award each year.”

Nominations for the 2017 Humanitarian Award closed this month, and an independent assessment panel is currently assessing the field of nominees, with the identity of the recipient to be made known in August.

The 2017 Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Weekend takes place on November 4 and 5, at which winner will receive his or her award.

Full details and entry forms for the Primary School Short Essays and Secondary School Poetry are available from the HOF Society at hofmemorialsociety@gmail.com, or by getting in touch with the Hugh O’Flaherty Facebook Page or by visiting www.hughoflaherty. com.

Principals Sean Coffey (St Brendan’s), Mary O’Rourke (St Brigid’s), Colm O’Suilleabhain (Monastery), Rory Darcy (St Oliver’s Ballycasheen). join together to acclaim this week’s news.