This year marks the 75^th Anniversary of the formation of The Rome Escape Line and the 11^th year of the Memorial Commemoration of the Monsignor. It is organised annually to raise awareness of the Humanitarian work carried out by the Monsignor, when during WW2, together with his colleagues in the Rome Escape Line, he saved over 6,500 people from the clutches of the Nazis who had occupied Rome at the time.  On October 30th, 2013, on the 50th anniversary of the Monsignor’s death a permanent memorial to the Monsignor was unveiled in Killarney town centre. The memorial is a life-size sculpture of the Monsignor by Valentia based artist Alan Ryan Hall.  On May 8th, 2016, a Plaque commemorating the Monsignor was unveiled at the German College, Vatican City, Rome where he lived from 1938 until 1960 and from where he organised the WW2 Rome Escape Line.

Earlier this year, a “shortlist” of seven Nominations was submitted to the Independent Award Panel for consideration as potential recipients of the 2018 Hugh O’Flaherty Humanitarian Award. The Award will be presented by Killarney Mayor John Sheahan at the Award Ceremony in Killarney on Saturday November 3^rd during the 11^th Annual Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Weekend.

The 2018 Award is very different from previous Awards. Since its inception in 2009, although open to individuals and organisations, the Hugh O’Flaherty Humanitarian Award has always been presented to individual Humanitarian recipients, - the 2017 recipient was Loreto Sr Orla Treacy from South Sudan.  This year for the first time, the Humanitarian Award does not go to an individual nor indeed to one humanitarian organisation, but to a collective of three Humanitarian Organisations under the heading of Ireland’s Rescue Services. The three organisations to receive the 2018 Humanitarian Award are:

•           Irish Coast Guard (Including Community & Local Rescue Services).

•           The RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution).

•           KMRT (Kerry Mountain Rescue Team).

Chair of the Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society Jerry O’Grady said, “This was unquestionably the most unusual nomination we have received over the last 10 years – It brought into focus the incredibly selfless humanitarian work done by the members of these organisations, the great majority of whom are unpaid volunteers”.  The key point of the original nomination read, “Be it windswept high mountains, dangerous shorelines or stormy seas, when called upon, at a moment’s notice and without regard for the race or creed of those in need, they put their lives on the line to help others. Over the years, members of these rescue organisations have lost their lives while attempting to save others”.

The venue for the 2018 Award Ceremony will be confirmed later. The Memorial Weekend Programme will include an extensive Photo & Memorabilia Exhibition in Killarney Library which will run from Friday November 2^nd to Saturday November 10^th inclusive.