Amnesty’s O’Gorman visits gaelscoil

PUPILS of Gaelscoil Chill Mhantain were presented with a trophy and a special talk by Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland after they raised the most money throughout the country for the organisation through the sale of Friendship bracelets.

Each year Amnesty International Ireland organises a Friendship Week which takes place in February and schools are encouraged to take part.

As part of the Friendship Week, the pupils are encouraged to purchase €2 friendship bracelets with their own pocket money for their friends.

This year, the pupils of Gaelscoil Chill Mhantain raised a staggering €1,000 for the organisation and presented the cheque to Mr O’Gorman when he paid a visit to the school last Monday, June 26.

‘Because we raised the most money, we received a visit from Colm O’Gorman who presented us with a trophy and then spoke to the third to sixth class pupils about the organisation, engaged with the pupils and answered their many questions,’ said Helen Kearney, a teacher at the school.

‘It was a lovely day and the pupils were quite excited by the visit of Colm,’ she said, adding the school has, since 2013, raised over €4,000 for Amnesty International Ireland.

A global movement of more than 7 million people in over 150 countries and territories, Amnesty International campaigns for human rights.

Teacher Helen Keaney with pupils John Aherne and Aoife Ní Shuilleabháin and the Executive Director of Amnesty International, Colm O’Gorman, at Gaelscoil Chill Mhaintain last week.