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Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian Award 2018
This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the formation of The Rome Escape Line and the 11th 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 3rd during the 11th 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 2nd to Saturday November 10th inclusive.
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Jessie Buckley to perform live on RTE this Friday 22nd September

This Culture Night, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh will present an hour-long live music and arts programme from Dún Lúiche in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht at 7pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
Actress and singer Jessie Buckley has been added to the list of stellar musicians who will perform with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra on the night. Jessie will perform a special rendition of a Sinéad O’Connor song in tribute to the late artist.
Jessie commented: “I am very honoured to return to Culture Night 2023 to remember Sinéad O Connor with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Sinéad was such a huge influence on so many women in Ireland and across the world, her courage, her mind, her politics and her intense beauty and soul. She was a warrior to humanity. I remember hearing her for the first time and feeling her uncompromising need to connect and affect. Recognising what couldn’t be said and speaking it out loud. I am so grateful for all her fire and all her love. It is such a privilege to return to Ireland for RTÉ Culture Night in Donegal to sing a song of gratitude for Sinéad and her family and friends.”
Other artists performing with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra include The Murder Capital, R&B singer and 2FM Rising star Aby Coulibaly and Irish-based Ukrainian musician Olesya Zdorovetska.
Friday 22nd September, 7pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
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N22 Killarney to Faranfore road further delayed
The revealing of the preferred route corridor for the construction of the new Killarney to Farranfore road has been delayed – again. Four potential routes for the N22 Farranfore-Killarney project […]

The revealing of the preferred route corridor for the construction of the new Killarney to Farranfore road has been delayed – again.
Four potential routes for the N22 Farranfore-Killarney project were identified and were put out to public consultation in May 2021. These have now been whittled down to just one.
It was previously promised that the preferred route would be published late last year.
This dragged on in to the Spring and there is still no sigh of the preferred route being revealed.
A recent Kerry County Council meeting a council official explained that there are further funding requirements to allow the council complete various reports and investigations required before the road can move to its next phase.
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