Official opening of centenary exhibition of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty tonight

A month-long exhibition marking the centenary of the ordination of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty will be held in Killarney tonight (16^th December).

The event, organised by the Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society, will open at Killarney Library at 6:30pm, and run until the 17^th January.

The Kerry cleric, who saved thousands of people during World War II, was ordained 100 years ago on 20^th December 1925.

The display will include photographs, documents and other artefacts including some newly sourced items such as an alter cloth gifted to him on his ordination.

The evening will also include the first ever public screening of the audio and images from his guest appearance on the BBC’s “This is Your Life” programme for Lieutenant Colonel Sam Derry in February 1963.

The 27-minute video, was created by Kerry College students studying broadcast production, and their lecturer, Brian Nolan, in 2022 using the original audio of the programme, still images from the BBC studio, and other photos.

There will also be a three-minute video, courtesy of the Footage Farm, of the liberation of Rome on 4^th June 1944, which shows when Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty met US General Mark Clark.

Cathaoirleach of Killarney Municipal District, Councillor Martin Grady will open the event.