Remembering Boys town 100 years on at summerhill event
ON December 12 th 1917, one hundred years ago, one of Summerhill College’s most famous past students, Ballymoe native, Edward J. Flanagan founded the now world famous Boys town in Omaha, Nebraska, USA .
It was a direct response to the developing problem of homeless children in the wake of the devastation of the city of Omaha following a major tornado. Under Father Flanagan’s inspiration and his firm Christian belief that ‘ there was no such thing as a bad boy’ Boys town was to lead the way pioneering new programmes and methods in the care and education of young people.
Today Boys town is one of the most influential proponent of child and family care in the United States. The model of care has been highly influential in many other centres throughout the world.
The story of Fr Flanagan was immortalised in the 1938 movie ‘Boys town’ starring Spencer Tracey and Mickey Rooney. For his depiction of Fr Flanagan, Spencer Tracey won an Oscar in 1938. In 1943 Boys Town adopted as its logo the image of a boy carrying a younger boy on his back, captioned ‘He ain’t heavy, Father ...he’s my brother’ – the words of which were later to be made famous in song.
In recent years the process to officially recognise Father Flanagan as a saint began. Early this year, he was officially given the title ‘Servant of God’ which is one of the stages on the road to being declared a saint.
Father Flanagan was a student at Summerhill College from 1901 to 1904. Last Tuesday December 12 th, students and staff gathered with the Patron of the College Bishop Kevin Doran, Chairperson of the Board of Management Dr Michael Duignan, the College Principal Paul Keogh and invited guests for a service of commemoration and thanksgiving. A special video message to the students and staff of Father Flanagan’s old school was relayed from Boys town in Omaha for the occasion.
During his homily Bishop Doran highlighted the significant message of Fr Flanagan and how he never gave up on young people. He emphasised that his care for the homeless and those in most need meant the world was a far better place. Finally he encouraged all in the current college community ‘ to look at Fr Flanagan and to say to yourself, if one Summerhill boy can become a saint and make such a difference to others in the process, then there is no reason why it cannot be the same for others, including some of you here today.’
Paul Keogh said: “We are truly honoured to be connected with Boys town on this special anniversary .Thank you to all in Omaha, USA for their desire to connect with Father Flanagan’s secondary school here in Sligo. We hope to one day soon have Father Flanagan, one of Summerhill’s past students officially recognised a saint.”