Colm Fitzpatrick
Sr Orla Treacy An Irish nun committed to empowering young women in one of the world’s most volatile countries has received an award in recognition of her vital work. Wicklow-born Sr Orla Treacy, of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the Loreto Sisters, was given the Societal Impact prize as part of the DCU alumni awards.
The awards honour alumni who, through their exceptional ability and leadership, have achieved excellence in their chosen fields of endeavour.
“It’s great to see a university like that recognising the work that we’re doing in South Sudan,” Sr Treacy told The Irish Catholic, noting that it’s “nice to feel part of something bigger”.
As principal of Loreto Secondary School in Rumbek in Lake States, considered the premier girls’ school in the impoverished country, Sr Treacy has spent well over a decade empowering thousands of pupils through education, despite ongoing civil conflict and discrimination against young women, such as forced marriage.
Vulnerable
Describing the current situation in the country, Sr Treacy said: “I would use the word vulnerable again – unfortunately the hunger is still there and there are estimates that a lot of people will go hungry this year again in South Sudan.”
She added that the Pope’s recent call for peace to the country’s leaders “has been a great sense of hope for us”.
Meanwhile, a Co. Galway Mercy Sister has won an award for her work helping Irish prisoners in the UK. Sr Moira Keane, who is one of the Irish Chaplaincy’s Prison Outreach volunteers, is the 2019 winner of the Irish in Britain’s Individual Volunteer Award.
A former prison chaplain in the north-east of England, the nun now volunteers her time with prison visits and giving support for distressed carers. The national charity, Irish in Britain, set up the awards to celebrate the role volunteers play in delivering much needed services to the Irish community.