Humanitarian award will honour North Cork priest who saved thousands of lives during World War II  

A net is being spread far and wide in the name of a North Cork priest who saved thousands of lives during World War II in a bid to honour those who have followed his example. 

The Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society is searching the globe for worthy nominations for an in international humanitarian award in the name of the Catholic priest who, while in Rome helped around 6,500 Jews and Allied soldiers escape the clutches of the Nazis.

The award is dedicated to the life of the late Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, who followed a long and continuing tradition of humanitarian service by Irish people, both overseas and at home.

In Nazi-occupied Rome during 1943-44, the 'Rome Organisation' he created, provided refuge and assistance to the hunted and oppressed. It is almost certain that thousands would otherwise have faced imprisonment and, in many cases, almost certain death.

Throughout the period of occupation, Kiskeam-born Msgr O’Flaherty, and his many colleagues were under death sentence by the Gestapo if captured. Sadly, some members of the Rome Organisation were captured, tortured and executed.

Msgr O’Flaherty’s exploits were such that Hollywood made a blockbuster film about him 'The Scarlet and the Black' in 1983. It starred Gregory Peck in the priest’s role and Christopher Plummer as the Gestapo head in Rome who knew Msgr O’Flaherty was in charge of the escape line, and was determined to kill him.

Plummer played the role of SS Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Kappler. Ironically, after the Allies took Rome they captured and imprisoned him. O’Flaherty was his only visitor and converted him to Catholicism.

The Monsignor retired to Cahirciveen, Co Kerry for the last three years of his life and in October 1963 he died.

Msgr O’Flahery had won a number of prestigious international awards for his work saving so many during the Second World War, including Commander of the British Empire and the US Medal of Freedom.

His death in 1963 was mourned throughout the world and included a front-page tribute in The New York Times.

Inviting submissions

The Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society is now putting out a call for nominations for the prestigious award, inviting submissions from individuals, humanitarian NGOs (operating at home or overseas), and voluntary societies.

The closing date for receipt of nominations is this Friday should be submitted in writing, in less than 500 words, is next, Friday, July 10. 

Full details are available on hughoflaherty.com or can be obtained by emailing the society at oflahertysociety2008@gmail.com.

The winner, or winners, will receive the O’Flaherty Humanitarian Medal, a framed ward scroll from the Mayor of Killarney at a special award ceremony to be held in Killarney at the end of October, and a bursary of €3,000.