Thomas F. Meagher Foundation

What we do?

The Thomas Francis Meagher Foundation was established in 2013 to promote pride in and respect for the Irish Flag and the understanding of its symbolism and meaning for peace, in particular among young people irrespective of ethnicity, creed or gender. It is important that all the young people of Ireland, including those who constitute the ‘New Irish’, are made aware of the flag’s message, and are fully included in the process of making it a reality by making a significant and meaningful contribution as active citizens. Each year, we send out a fundraising pack to each of our registered schools, which include flag lapel pins for the students to sell to raise funds for a charity or project of their choice. We also provide schools with plans for how to celebrate Flag Day, and flags flown from 33 The Mall.

About Us

Learn more about the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation, our aims and objectives.

Flag Day

Information about Flag Day.

Education

Learn more about our awards and scholarship programmes.

Thomas F. Meagher

The Foundation is named after Thomas Francis Meagher, Irish Patriot, US army general and Governor of Montana who flew the first Tricolour flag on the 7th of March 1848 from 33 The Mall in Waterford at the Wolf Tone Club.

In his relatively short life – he died aged just 43 – much of which was spent outside of Ireland, Thomas Francis Meagher made a significant contribution to both Irish nationalism and to the preservation of the United States and particularly to the assimilation of the Irish into American society.

Flag Day 2021 – The eve of St. Patrick’s Day in your school.

The Foundation are encouraging all registered second level schools to raise our flag along with the flags of all the nationalities in our school communities. Let’s come together under the Irish Tricolour and let’s fuel hope through our flags meaning for peace, diversity and inclusion.

Ta an Fhonduireacht ag spreagadh scoileanna uile ata claraithe ag an dara leibhéal, ár mbratach a ardú mar aon le bratacha na naisiunaithe uile áta in ár bpobal scoile. Tagaimis le chéile fé bhratach tridhathach na hÉireann agus bimis fé chomharthai ar mbrathacha, ag cothú an dochais don siochain, don éagsúlacht agus don ionchuimsitheacht.

News

Online Awards Programme is now OPEN for entries!

KERRY GROUP ONLINE AWARDS 2021

Exciting news this year we are running our Awards programme earlier than usual for all of our schools that registered with the Foundation for Flag Day to submit an entry to our Kerry Group Online Awards Programme which also means the winners will get to feature not only on our website but in the Irish Independent Supplement The People's Flag on March 12th 2021.

By entering the Awards programme, we are hoping that your students will learn about both the Irish Flag and its meaning for peace, and about the flags of all the nationalities in your school and the meaning and symbolism behind these flags.

This year's entries can be interpreted by your school in whichever way you would like. We really would like you to be creative and have fun with this project! Projects can be submitted by individual or group.

We have some fantastic prizes this year, ranging from school supplies, airpods to iPads and many more!

Flag Day 16th March & Flag Packs 2021

Later this month we will keep you posted on the flag pack for your school which will be delivered before Flag Day March 16th and we very much hope that restrictions will allow all of us to come together from afar and take part in a virtual or socially distant Flag raising ceremony.

Please email any queries you may have for the attention of Sarah at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

With the very best of luck to you all, and do keep safe.

Warm regards,

Michael Cavanagh (Revd.)
Chair, Thomas Francis Meagher Foundation

Flag Day 2021 launched by Packie Bonner, Sanita Puspure, Henry Shefflin and Lord Mayor of Dublin

2020 Supplement

HERE YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PAGES FROM OUR 'THE PEOPLE'S FLAG' SUPPLEMENT FOR THE IRISH INDEPENDENT 2020.

A student from North Monastery Secondary School poses with his Flag Day fundraising pack for Flag Day 2019.
Kerry Group Scholarships Awards 2019 Winners Luncheon
2018 Kerry Group Scholarship Winners
Students at Griffeen College raising money with their fundraising packs for Flag Day 2019.
A poster made by students at Grennan College for Flag Day 2019
The Flag Day 2019 fundraising packs
The Lord Mayor of Dublin with GPO Witness History General Manager Arantxa Colome at the unveiling of the 1916 Proclamation plaque in May 2019.
Students at the 2019 Kerry Group Award and Scholarship luncheon.
Students from St. Joseph's College Lucan in front of a poster they made to celebrate Flag Day 2019.
Fionn Kearney, from Mary Immaculata College in Cork, posing with his award at the 2019 Kerry Group Award and Scholarship luncheon.

NAPD Conference 2019

Thomas F. Meagher Foundation Honorary Board Member Henry Shefflin with Gaisce CEO Yvonne McKeena promoting Flag Day 2020

At this year's annual National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals Conference, we were delighted that Honorary Board member Henry Shefflin, one of Ireland's most successful sports stars and winner of 10 All Ireland Hurling Medals could join us at this event to tell the attendees what schools can expect after registration. The event was a resounding success, and we are very happy with the number of schools that registered at the event.