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NOMINATIONS are now being invited for the 2016 Hugh O'Flaherty International Humanitarian Award.
As part of the ninth annual Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Weekend, which will take place from Friday, November 4, to Sunday, November 6, in Killarney, the Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society is inviting the public, NGOs/voluntary bodies and organisations to nominate the person or organisation they feel is doing outstanding humanitarian work and most deserving of the 2016 Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian Award.

The 2015 Humanitarian Award recipient was Fr Sean Myers, a Redemptorist missionary in Brazil. From the spring of 1960, Fr Sean dedicated his life to the spiritual and practical needs of his vast parish in the remote areas of northeast Brazil. Previous award recipients included the Darfur based Goal aid workers Sharon Commins and Hilda Kawuki (2009), Columban Missionary Fr Michael Synott (2010), Trócaire’s Regional Director for Latin America, Sally O’Neill (2011), Sr Agnes Hunt of the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (2012), inspirational young Kerry man Donal Walsh RIP (2013) and UK Dr John Beavis, founder of the overseas medical charity IDEALS (2014).

Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, who was from Killarney, was dubbed the Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican for his high-risk humanitarian exploits during the World War II Nazi occupation of Rome. During the course of the war he was instrumental in saving the lives of more than 6,500 anti-Fascists, Allied escapees, Jews and many others by hiding them from the Gestapo in a number of safe houses throughout Rome. Monsignor Hugh’s humanitarian activities pre-dated WW2 when he was honoured by the governments in Haiti and the Dominican Republic for his work there during the 1930s.

Nominations for the 2016 Humanitarian Award should be submitted in writing to the Awards Committee at the below postal address, or by e-mail to hofmemorialsociety@gmail.com before Friday, June 24. The nomination, in no more than 500 words, should clearly outline the reasons why the nominator feels that the nominated individual/team/organisation, merits consideration for this award.

An independent panel will fully consider the nominations received and will recommend a recipient to the Memorial Committee. The 2016 award recipient will be announced in late August and the Award will be presented on Saturday November 5, during the ninth Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Week.

For further information on the Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society visit www.hughoflaherty.com or contact the society on hofmemorialsociety@gmail.com
 

 
Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty pictured in Haiti in the 1930s.