Staff reporter
All the schools in Killarney will nominate a specific ‘Hugh O’Flaherty Day’ this September, when they will include an activity based on the Kerryman’s life in their daily schedule.
Msgr Hugh O’Flaherty, who worked in Rome during the Second World War, is thought to have been responsible for saving as many as 6,500 people, notably escaped allied POWs. Each year the Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Weekend is held in his hometown of Killarney to celebrate his life and a humanitarian award is issued in his name.
The education sector in Killarney has formed a committee aimed at increasing awareness of the Msgr O’Flaherty story throughout the student population. This year, the schools will nominate a specific day as ‘Hugh O’Flaherty Day’ when quizzes, drama, poetry, readings, film & TV screenings will be held to promote his life story.
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 €1,000 to the Humanitarian Award recipient each year for a charity of their choice.
The 2017 Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Weekend will take place on the weekend of November 4-5.
www.hughoflaherty.com