Sculpture of Msgr. Hugh O’Flaherty Killarney Co. Kerry
On Wednesday 30th October 2013, a sculpture was unveiled to permanently commemorate the Irish World War II hero, Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, who formed the Rome Escape Line in Nazi occupied Rome. Before the liberation of Rome, this enterprising and resourceful Kerryman and his colleagues saved over 6,500 people from certain death.
The Monsignor was known throughout the world for his humanitarian work but up to recently his deeds were relatively unknown in Ireland. In 2008 a Memorial Society was formed to rectify this and today is the culmination of this work with the unveiling of a 6ft 8inch sculpture of the Monsignor at the intersection of Mission Road and Beech Road in Killarney town centre.
Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, another maverick cleric with the common touch who was perhaps the most remarkable Irishman to ever serve at the Vatican.
Monsignor O’Flaherty, the son of a steward at the Killarney golf course, was fluent in Italian and German, held three doctorates and was an amateur golf champion. But his real claim to fame was as the “Vatican Pimpernel” in Nazi-occupied Rome in the second World War. As the lead behind the “Rome Escape Line”, he saved the lives of six and a half thousand prisoners of war, partisans and Jews. And he did it all with considerable panache from his HQ in of all places the German College, nestled right beside Saint Peter’s Basilica.
Despite a 1980s TV film starring Gregory Peck and honours showered on him by the Allied nations, Italy and Israel after the war, he is hardly a household name. Yet, he has been called the Irish Schindler who took on the Third Reich in a daring operation, sheltering fugitives in convents, monasteries and Italian homes.
He smuggled out Jewish people disguised as nuns and monks, passed partisans off as Swiss guards and hid the thousands of prisoners of war who flocked to him on the steps of St Peter’s. They were seeking the sanctuary of the church at a time when Hitler recognised the Vatican’s neutrality, all under the noses of Nazi guards. He was also fond of the odd disguise himself – once as a coalman to evade a Nazi raid on a palazzo. He was even rumoured to have dressed as a nun.
His story is one of humanity against oppression, where “God has no country” in his striking phrase.
Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty
Bibliography
Book Depository.co.uk.
November 25, 2013.
CatholicHerald.co.uk: The priest who converted his enemy.
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Clerical Whispers. November 24, 2013.
County Kerry: Hugh O'Flaherty.
November 21, 2013.
First Things On the Square: Hugh O'Flaherty, Ireland's Shining Priest.
November 21, 2013.
Hugh O'Flaherty: The Vatican Pimpernel.
November 21, 2013.
Hugh O'Flaherty Memorial Society: Gallery.
November 20, 2013.
Independent.ie: Vatican's 'Scarlet Pimpernel' honoured.
November 21, 2013.
Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty.
November 20, 2013.
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church.
November 20, 2013.
Perpetual present.
November 24, 2013.
Pixlr.
November 20, 2013.
South Dublin Libraries.
November 25, 2013.
The Catholic Answers: To Explain and Defend the Faith.
November 21, 2013.
The Clay Rosary Girl.
November 20, 2013.
The Hugh O'Flaherty Memorial Concert Killarney with The Sharon Reidy Singers
These three young ladies performing are pupils of Sharon Reidy.
Accompanied by The Irish Army No 1 Band at The Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty Memorial Concert in Killarney on Thursday July 4th 2013.
Copyright © 'Never Walk Alone, musical composition administered by:
EMI Music Publishing.
Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty and the Sons of Saint Patrick
After being held captive as a slave in Ireland for 6 years of his life, Saint Patrick returned to live out the rest of his life as their priest and shepherd. His sons would eventually be sent throughout the world. This is the story of one of those sons.
I highly recommend watching both Calvary and The Scarlet and the Black. Phenomenal films.
JMJ
Footage:
Calvary 2014
The Scarlet and the Black 1983
Monsignor Hugh o Flaherty AKA The Scarlett Pimpernell.
John Talks about the wonderful sense of humanity of the very great Monsignor Hugh O' Flaherty.
Feerick Monsignor O'Flaherty
Lecture by Aidan Feerick on the life of Monsignor O'Flaherty, Irish cleric who protected Jews and others from the wrath of Facist and Nazi authorities in Italy during WW2
O'Flaherty
I created this video with the YouTube Video Editor (
Nazi vs. Priest
Fr. Hugh O'Flaherty is a Vatican official in 1943-45 who has been hiding downed pilots, escaped prisoners of war, and Italian Resistance families. His diplomatic status in a Catholic country prevents Colonel Kappler from openly arresting him, but O'Flaherty's activities become so large that the Nazis decide to assassinate him the next time he leaves the Vatican. O'Flaherty continues his work in a variety of disguises. Based on a true story.
An Irish World War II Hero
Hugh O'Flaherty CBE (28 February 1898 – 30 October 1963), was an Irish Catholic priest and senior official of the Roman Curia, and significant figure in Catholic resistance to Nazism. During World War II, the monsignor was responsible for saving 6,500 Allied soldiers and Jews. His ability to evade the traps set by the German Gestapo and Sicherheitsdienst (SD), earned O'Flaherty the nickname The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican. - Wikipedia.
04 - Mary Culloty - Hugh O'Flaherty Memorial Concert 2010
Hugh O'Flaherty Memorial Concert 2010
Sam Derry Tribute War Hero from Newart An exhibition At Cemetery
An exhibition will be open by appointment or on the 2nd Sunday each Month until September 2015. This will portray his life.
at
Newark Cemetery Chapel Interpretation
2 – 4pm
exhibition
Lieutenant-Colonel Sam Derry, Newark-On-Trent most decorated war hero, holder of the Military Cross and Distinguished Service Order.
Newark local hero will be remembered.
At Sam Derry Royal Artillery his grave which is located near the former Chapel at Newark Cemetery. “We reflect on times past and to remember him, who will never be forgotten”
Sam Derry was born a hundred and one years ago in Newark on 10th April 1914
He was an exceptionally brave and courageous soldier, greatly admired in Newark. His memory will be deservedly preserved in years to come
Contact
Laurence Goff
07794613879 – 01636-681878 {Home}
friendsofnewarkcemetery@yahoo.co.uk
Web page
Hugh O'Flaherty award to Fr Sean Myres 2015
Killarney priest Fr Sean Myres receives the 2015 Hugh O'Flaherty Humanitarian award for his work in Brazil. Video by Don MacMonagle
01 - Hugh O Flaherty Memorial Concert - Intro
Hugh O'Flaherty Memorial Concert 2010
Introduction by Cllr Hugh Courtney
“The Rome Escape Line” - Storia di Mons. Hugh O'Flaherty, la “Primula Rossa del Vaticano”
Un’altra delle mie creazioni, incentrata su una delle vicende storiche che amo di più. Diciamo che, sotto certi aspetti, questa storia ha plasmato il mio modo di pensare e di approcciarmi a certe cose.
Essa ha per protagonista un intraprendente e coraggioso sacerdote cattolico irlandese, tale Mons. Hugh O'Flaherty (passato alla storia con il soprannome di “La Primula Rossa del Vaticano”), che, nella Roma occupata dai nazisti durante l’ultimo conflitto mondiale, guidò una rete di soccorso di notevoli dimensioni che salvò migliaia di vite umane.
Ma questa storia non è solo di eroismo, ma anche di paradosso. Infatti, Mons O’Flaherty, fino a qualche anno di prima di compiere quelle gesta che lo consegneranno alla storia, nutriva una profonda avversione verso gli inglesi e non lo nascondeva nemmeno: questo sentimento visceralmente anti-britannico era dovuto al fatto che, per causa degli inglesi, il monsignore aveva perduto molti dei suoi migliori amici durante la guerra d’indipendenza irlandese (1919-1921).
Ma in seguito, nella sua vita, ci sarebbe stato un ribaltamento di quelli straordinari che, a quei tempi, nemmeno lui stesso avrebbe immaginato.
Nel periodo della Seconda Guerra Mondiale viveva a Roma in quanto gli era stato affidato un ruolo al Sant’Uffizio.
Fin dai primi anni del conflitto, aveva prestato assistenza ai prigionieri militari inglesi. Dopo l’armistizio dell’8 settembre del ’43, il monsignore era divenuto il punto di riferimento per molti di questi militari (liberati dopo quella data, ma allo sbando poiché c’era stata l’occupazione tedesca d’Italia) e lui cominciò ad adoperarsi per aiutarli.
Ma poiché il suo motto era “God has no country” (“Dio non ha nazionalità”), molto presto O’Flaherty estese la sua opera di sostegno a chiunque ne avesse bisogno, senza alcuna distinzione.
Per questo scopo egli cominciò a reclutare un variegato gruppo di collaboratori per creare un’organizzazione clandestina, il cui nome in codice divenne “The Rome Escape Line”, che si adoperò per soccorrere un vasto numero di militari alleati che si erano dati alla macchia dopo l’8 settembre, membri della comunità ebraica e dissidenti politici.
La “linea di fuga” era un gruppo di persone di varie funzioni e nazionalità, che misero a rischio la propria vita per affiancare l’ecclesiastico irlandese in questa opera: a contribuire alla rete c’erano alcuni militari britannici (come il Maggiore Sam Derry e i tenenti John Furman e Bill Simpson, tutti ex prigionieri fuggiti dal carcere di Sulmona) ma Mons. O’Flaherty poteva contare anche su alcune instancabili collaboratrici come la connazionale Delia Murphy (una famosa cantante country, la moglie dell’Ambasciatore irlandese a Roma) o la vedova maltese Henrietta Chevalier che fin da subito erano state sensibilissime alla causa del monsignore.
Con il gruppo collaboravano anche altri membri del clero, religiosi che abitavano nei conventi, antiche famiglie dell’aristocrazia romana quali i Doria Pamphili e i Pallavicini, un conte svizzero residente a Roma, alcuni agenti francesi del movimento “France Libre”, il Vice Questore di Polizia Angelo De Fiore e molti altri.
Impossibile elencarli tutti, viste le dimensioni della rete, ma nel video ho voluto mettere le foto di alcuni di loro, con una lista con relativi nomi che segue ai consueti titoli di coda.
La rete ricevette presto l’aiuto del governo inglese e le risorse utili a tenerla in piedi, una volta arrivate da Londra, venivano “dirottate” all’organizzazione grazie alla collaborazione fra Mons. Giovanni Battista Montini (il futuro Paolo VI a quei tempi era sostituto della Segreteria di Stato) e l’Ambasciatore inglese presso la Santa Sede Sir D’Arcy Osborne.
O’Flaherty si trasformò presto in un incubo per le SS che gli diedero la caccia sterilmente per tutta la durata dell’occupazione. Particolarmente per il colonnello Herbert Kappler, il tristemente famoso macellaio delle Fosse Ardeatine. La questione sfociò in un vero e proprio duello personale fra Kappler e O’Flaherty.
Lui aveva mille risorse e i nazisti non riuscirono mai a catturarlo per via della sua astuzia negli spostamenti: per questo si meritò il soprannome di “La Primula Rossa del Vaticano”.
La riappacificazione fra il monsignore e il popolo inglese si consolidò nel dopo-guerra: immensa era la gratitudine dell’Inghilterra verso di lui, che lo celebrò come un eroe nazionale, una leggenda vivente!
La Primula Rossa del Vaticano è tutt’oggi ricordata con tutti gli onori con varie manifestazioni di carattere militare e civile in Gran Bretagna e negli Stati Uniti.
#HughO'Flaherty #Roma #SecondaGuerraMondiale
Lieutenant-Colonel Sam Derry is Remembered with tribute of his life
- Lieutenant-Colonel Sam Derry Samuel Ironmonger Derry born on 10th April 1914 and came from Newark-On-Trent, Nottinghamshire.
First and foremost, a true gentlemen of his time, who came from Newark. Apparently, there are a select few who faithfully do their duty to help others. He did not give up knowing well the threat of losing his own life could have gone against him at at time. He was a brave man who did his duty for other people and had to make his own challenges and made incredible sacrifices to ensure he help organised the escape of thousands of people. Took on challenges and made incredible sacrifices to ensure we save life.
We honour Newark’s most-decorated war hero, Lieutenant-colonel Sam Derry. helped save the lives of 4,000 Allied Servicemen in the second world war through the Rome Escape Line, which he operated from the Vatican with an Irish priest, Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty.
There is a community garden dedicated to Monsignor O’Flaherty in Ireland and a statue to be unveiled later this year, but Colonel Derry is better remembered there and in Italy than in his home town where there is a plaque in the parish church.
This year marks significant anniversaries in the Derry story.
It is 70 years since he entered Rome, hidden under cabbages in a cart, and met Monsignor O’Flaherty.
It is also 50 years since he was the subject of This Is Your Life on the BBC.
His family HAS decide a lasting memorial is appropriate, it would be his 100th Birthday April 10, 2014.
laurencegoff4newark@uahoo.co.uk
The Scarlet and the Black lesson in FORGIVENESS Matthew 6:14-15
The Scarlet and the Black - Gregory Peck - Scarlet Pimpernel Illustrates Matthew 6:14-15 A tough test is presented to an Irish Vatican priest in 1944 in Rome, Italy when 2 passages from the Lord's Prayer Matthew 6:14-15 are put to a real test for Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty. A Nazi Gestapo Colonel asks the Vatican priest to help his wife and children get out of Italy at the end of WWII in advance of the invading allied 5th Army. The priest has to follow the Lord's prayer or else; i.e. But if you don't forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your sins.
Trailer for The Scarlet and The Black
Purchase this DVD at
The true story of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty (Gregory Peck), a courageous Irish priest working in the Vatican during the German occupation. O'Flaherty devotes all his time and energy to hiding refugees and Allied POW's from the Nazis, building a network of hundreds of people to help him with his efforts.
Colonel Kappler (Christoper Plummer), the local gestapo chief, learns of O'Flaherty's activities. The priest has diplomatic immunity because of his Vatican post, but Kappler orders that he be captured of killed if seen outside the Vatican walls.
The new mural and garden area dedicated to Mons Hugh O'Flaherty
The new mural and garden area dedicated to Mons Hugh O'Flaherty at the junction of Matt Talbot Road and Strand Street.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sam Derry is Remembered by Chris Grant
- Lieutenant-Colonel Sam Derry Samuel Ironmonger Derry born on 10th April 1914 and came from Newark-On-Trent, Nottinghamshire.
First and foremost, a true gentlemen of his time, who came from Newark. Apparently, there are a select few who faithfully do their duty to help others. He did not give up knowing well the threat of losing his own life could have gone against him at at time. He was a brave man who did his duty for other people and had to make his own challenges and made incredible sacrifices to ensure he help organised the escape of thousands of people. Took on challenges and made incredible sacrifices to ensure we save life.
We honour Newark’s most-decorated war hero, Lieutenant-colonel Sam Derry. helped save the lives of 5,000 Allied Servicemen in the second world war through the Rome Escape Line, which he operated from the Vatican with an Irish priest, Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty.
There is a community garden dedicated to Monsignor O’Flaherty in Ireland and a statue to be unveiled later this year, but Colonel Derry is better remembered there and in Italy than in his home town where there is a plaque in the parish church.
This year marks significant anniversaries in the Derry story.
It is 70 years since he entered Rome, hidden under cabbages in a cart, and met Monsignor O’Flaherty.
It is over 50 years since he was the subject of This Is Your Life on the BBC.
His family HAS decide a lasting memorial is appropriate, it would be his 100th Birthday April 10, 2014.
laurencegoff4newark@uahoo.co.uk
Scarlet and the Black
Scarlet and the Black El Padre OFlaherty (protagonizado por Gregory Peck) conversa con el jefe de la Gestapo, el Coronel Herbert Kappler (Christopher Plummer)