By Michelle Crean

A Killarney woman responsible for saving countless lives during World War 2 was honoured on Tuesday afternoon during a special ceremony and plaque unveiling on Mission Road.

PLAQUE: The plaque pictured up close in honour of Janie McCarthy. Photo: Michelle crean

HISTORY: Lots of work and research led to the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to Janie McCarthy on Mission Road on Tuesday afternoon. Pictured were: James O'Connor (Killarney Historic Society) Mary G O'Sullivan (researcher) Mayor of Killarney Marie Moloney Angela McAllen (Manager Killarney Municipal District) and Noel Grimes (Historian). Photo: Michelle Crean

HONOUR: Padraig Brosnan Maureen Somers Marie Brosnan Leahy Joe Cotter Mayor of Killarney Marie Moloney Angela McAllen (Manager Killarney Municipal District) and Mary G O'Sullivan pictured in front of the plaque which was unveiled to Janie McCarthy on Mission Road on Tuesday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Crean

Cllr John O'Donoghue Cllr Maura Healy Rae Cllr Donal Grady Mayor of Killarney Marie Moloney Angela McAllen (Manager Killarney Municipal District) and Cllr Niall 'Botty' O'Callaghan pictured at the unveiling of the plaque to Janie McCarthy after it was unveiled on Mission Road on Tuesday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Crean

UNVEILED: Mayor of Killarney Marie Moloney and Mary G O'Sullivan admiring the plaque to Janie McCarthy after it was unveiled on Mission Road on Tuesday afternoon. Photo: Michelle Crean

Janie McCarthy, born in 1885 at Bohereen na Goun, New Street, played a key role in opposing the Nazi occupation of France during World War 2 and her heroic efforts are akin to those by Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty in Rome.

Mayor Marie Moloney had, in the past, called for Janie to be honoured in a similar way to the Monsignor who has a life sized statue erected in his honour on Mission Road.

Cllr John O’Donoghue previously brought a similar motion to a Council meeting following calls from his uncle, former councillor Michael Gleeson who made several attempts to honour the war hero in 2005 but it never came to fruition.

Lots of work and research led to Tuesday's unveiling including a thesis by Mary G O'Sullivan alongside research by James O'Connor from the Killarney Historic Society and historian Noel Grimes.

"I am delighted, as Cathaoirleach of Killarney Municipal District, to be able to unveil this plaque to recognise the contribution of Janie McCarthy and her work for the Resistance during World War II," Marie Moloney said.

"Her contribution to the fight for freedom is the reason why we are here. Following the outbreak of World War 2, Janie McCarthy joined the resistance and saved countless lives while staying in war-torn Paris, helping rescue members of the allied forces and intelligence services and smuggling them through the various escape channels and routes to get them out of Nazi occupied France and to safety. Operating in Paris while it was occupied by Nazi forces from 1940 to 1944 she passed hundreds of American, French and other allies through her hands, losing only one."

As a result of her work Janie was awarded France’s highest award, the Legion d’Honour, the Croix de Guerre and a Croix de la Resistance. The United States of America also honoured the Killarney native with the Medal of Freedom while Britain awarded her the Tedder Certificate for assisting British personnel to escape.

Janie was educated at The Convent of Mercy and went to France in 1910 where she worked as an au pair in Brittany and as a teacher for 15 years in Vannes.

The Germans occupied Paris where she was teaching during World War 2 and she immediately joined La Résistance.

Janie’s family members, the Brosnan family and the Cotter family, were in attendance at the unveiling alongside Manager of Killarney Municipal District Angela McAllen, Killarney Municipal District councillors John O'Donoghue, Maura Healy Rae, Donal Grady, and Niall 'Botty' O'Callaghan.

Janie also featured in a booked called ‘Hidden Kerry’, published in 2014, by local author and journalist Breda Joy.

"We have long honoured the exploits of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty for his work in saving thousands of allied soldiers and Jews. I find it amazing that two Killarney people would have had so much involvement in the safe escape of allied troops during World War 2, yet it should be no surprise that they were so successful, being from Killarney. I am hugely proud that Killarney now recognises one of its most famous daughters."