GAA star Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper ‘Gooch’ encourages young generation to read history
Speaking at the launch of a new novel for young people, Leo’s War, GAA star Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper said he wishes he had taken more time to explore history when he was young.
This novel, written by author Patricia Murphy, is based on the true story of one of Killarney’s heroes, Msgr Hugh O’Flaherty ‘The Vatican Pimpernel’. During World War II in Nazi occupied Rome Msgr O’Flaherty was responsible for setting up and running the now famous Rome Escape Line through which he gave refuge to over 6,000 people being hunted by the Gestapo.
Mr Cooper said: “Like most people of my age in Killarney, I knew nothing of this great man and his humanitarian work during the war in Rome,” he said, but since the setting up of the Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society and the publication of various books including ‘Leo’s War’, he now makes time in his schedule to learn more about Msgr O’Flaherty.
“This ordinary Killarney Mon [Presentation Monastery National School] boy who attended the same school as I did, but went on to do extraordinary things in the service of others”.
This is the latest of Ms Murphy’s novels under the heading Hands on History for young readers.
She said: “I was delighted to include the Monsignor’s story in my latest novel and to see in the local O’Flaherty Schools Literary Competition that such young students are readily applying the Monsignor’s humanitarian principles to today’s world circumstances.”
Since 2017, all the schools in the Killarney Parish have been including a Hugh O’Flaherty Day in their calendar of events.
The Killarney launch took place as part of the 2018 Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Weekend (November 2-4) which is supported by Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce and Kerry County Council Community Support Fund.
Carlow remembers seven ‘courageous’ missionary Mercy sisters
Bishop Denis Nulty hailed seven Sisters of Mercy who set out from Carlow to establish a convent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 4, 1843 – 175 years ago.
Carlow County Museum, Carlow County Council, St Leo’s College and the Mercy Convent in Carlow combined to commemorate the seven nuns who journeyed at the invitation of Bishop Michael O’Connor.
Bishop Nulty, speaking before unveiling a plaque at the convent gate on Dublin Road with Sr Kathleen Kennedy from Carlow and Sr Sheila Carney, Pittsburgh, said: “We acknowledge, recognise and give thanks for the contribution the Mercy Sisters have made to Irish life and culture – and life and culture far beyond these shores.” He described them as seven very brave women.
A costumed drama about the sisters’ journey to Pittsburgh was performed by students – which they conceived, developed and presented under the direction of Janice de Bróithe.
Carlow convent accepted seven posthumous honorary Doctorates of Humanities for the Carlow founding seven from Carlow University.
Sr Sheila Carney spoke of the contribution that each of the seven made to Pittsburgh and how they used their talents: Frances Warde (adminstrator), Josephine Cullen (educator), Agatha O’Brien (business), Elizabeth Strange (artist, writer and translator), Aloysia Strange (educator), Veronica McDarby (portress) and Philomena Reid (music teacher). She said: “It took the town of Carlow to raise these courageous, generous women.”
The event was attended by members of the order from Ireland and abroad, family members of the seven sisters, past and current staff and students of St Leo’s, public representatives, members of the public, friends and benefactors of the Mercy Sisters.