Hugh O Flaherty Memorial

30 June, 2017

Prior to the 2013 unveiling of the Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial, the Education Sector in Killarney formed a Committee aimed at increasing awareness of the O’Flaherty story throughout the student population.

Now the Killarney schools have come together again to forge a new and important link with the incredible humanitarian story of Hugh O’Flaherty. 

Beginning this year in September, the schools will nominate a specific day as “Hugh O’Flaherty Day”, during which they will include in their daily schedule, an activity based on Hugh O’Flaherty’s life. The nature of the activity will be decided on by each school and may include, quizzes, drama, poetry, readings, film & TV screenings, etc.

 In addition, all the schools will contribute towards a new Hugh O’Flaherty Humanitarian Award Bursary, from which representatives of the student population in Killarney will present a cheque for €1000 to the Humanitarian Award recipient each year.

Chair of the Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society Jerry O’Grady said, “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. 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”.

Colm O’Suilleabhain Principal of the Presentation Monastery NS in Killarney (the Monsignor’s Old Alma Mater) said, “I am delighted to say that every school in Killarney is on board with the idea and we are happy to contribute a monetary content to the annual Humanitarian Award. This will establish an important link between the students of Killarney and the Hugh O’Flaherty story and it is envisaged that representative students from the school will present the award each year”.

In the meantime, by the June 16^th deadline, a number of nominations were received for the 2017 Humanitarian Award and these will be considered by the Independent Assessment Panel.  The identity of the recipient of the 2017 Award will be known and published by the end of August. The 2017 Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Weekend will take place on the weekend of November 4^th/5^th.  As usual, special school’s competitions will be held for Primary School Short Essays and Secondary School Poetry. Full details and Entry Forms available from the HOF Society at [email protected]

Details of the Memorial Weekend will be available in due course on the Hugh O’Flaherty Facebook Page and on the www.hughoflaherty.com website.

 Participating Schools in the Humanitarian Award Bursary are:

Presentation Monastery, Mercy Holy Cross, St Oliver’s Ballycasheen, Gaelscoil NS, Lissivigeen NS, Loreto NS, Tiernaboul NS, Louqh Guitane NS,

St. Brendan’s College, St Brigid’s Secondary School, Killarney Community College.

 PHOTO: Some members of the inaugural HOF Education Committee – Sean Coffey (St Brendan’s), Mary O’Rourke (St Brigid’s), Colm O’Suilleabhain (Monastery), Rory Darcy (St Oliver’s Ballycasheen).