Deadline for Hugh O’Flaherty Award nominations

THE deadline for the 2018 Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian Award is June 15 which means there is still time to submit entries for this prestigious accolade.

Members of the public, NGOs, voluntary bodies and organistaions can nominate the person or orginastion they feel is doing outstanding humanatarian work for what is a deserving award in memory of the Killarney humanitarin known as the Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican for his lifesaving role during World War II.

The award will be presented as part of the 11th annual Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Weekend which takes place during the weekend of November 3-4 in Killarney.

Nominations can be for an individual, team or organisation providing Humanitarian Services for those in need at home or overseas.

Nominations, in no more than 500 words, should be submitted in writing to Jerry O’Grady, Chairman Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society, c/o Killarney Chamber of Commerce, 2nd Floor TIO Building, Beech Road, Killarney’. Or by e-mail to: hofmemorialsociety@gmail.com before Friday June 15.

The 2017 winner was Loreto Sister Orla Treacy, who in 2006 travelled to Sudan to establish an educational and medical facility in the war-torn country.

Previous recipients include Dr John Beavis, founder of the medical aid charity IDEALS; the Redemptorist Missionary to Brazil, Fr Sean Myers, and the inspirational young Tralee man, Donal Walsh.

The nomination should clearly outline the reasons why the nominator feels the nominated Individual/Team/Organisation, merits consideration for this award. An independent panel will fully consider the nominations received and will recommend a recipient to the Memorial Committee. The 2018 Humanitarian Award recipient will be announced in late August.