National Flag Day, an initiative of The Thomas F. Meagher Foundation, will be celebrated on WEDNESDAY 16th March 2022 encouraging second-level children to engage in active citizenship and inclusivity, reinforcing the positive message behind the Irish Flag and also providing an opportunity to celebrate the flags of all nationalities within the school community. Read more and watch an informational video here.
we were absolutely thrilled when Mr. Clive Byrne, former Director of the NAPD and also an Honorary Board Member of the TFM Foundation recorded this video which featured over the two days of the NADP conference. You can view the video and read more here.
The irish independent supplement "the People's Flag" is coming soon on friday 12th March!
Place your order by march 10th to have this special edition delivered to your schooL for only €1 per copy - Click the link below to download a form now or order online at schools.independent.ie
Here you can see some of the national news coverage of the May 1st initiative to honour Ireland's front line workers.
Mayors of Dublin, Cork and Galway Encourage Everyone to Raise an Irish Flag to honour Front Line Workers on International Workers Day this Friday May 1st
The Mayors of Dublin, Cork and Galway, in conjunction with the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation, are calling on all citizens in Ireland to safely fly the Irish Flag on this Friday May 1st, International Workers Day, to honour all those who are working in the Front Line during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Thomas F Meagher Foundation is supported in this initiative by SIPTU, An Post, Foroige, the GAA, the Mental Health Commissioner John Farrelly and the Foundation’s Educational Partner the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin Tom Brabazon said “I am delighted to support this very worthy initiative in recognition of all of our Frontline staff who are giving our citizens and our country such wonderful selfless service at this time of national crisis.”
The Lord Mayor of Cork John Sheehan encouraged people to fly the flag “The simple gesture of flying our national flag will be a small token of appreciation for those who have put their own lives at risk to help their fellow citizens.”
Mayor of Galway Mike Cubbard added “Throughout this crisis we have seen many community and national initiatives, big and small which have ensured we will come through the pandemic and we Mayors along with the Thomas F Meagher Foundation want to play our small part in that”
The Mayors, the Thomas F Meagher Foundation and all its partners in this initiative have stressed that everyone taking part in this initiative must adhere fully to the Social Distancing Guideline and Travel Restrictions currently in place by the HSE and the Government of Ireland.
For enquiries to the Foundation please contact Reverend Michael Cavanagh (COI) 0871606312
Also Available for Comment
Lord Mayor of Dublin Tom Brabazon- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Lord Mayor of Cork Dr John Sheehan- This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mayor of Galway Mike Cubbard This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Note: The Thomas F Meagher Foundation was established in 2014 to promote pride in, and respect for, the Irish Flag and its meaning for peace, especially in schoolchildren. It holds an annual Flag Day each March with registered Second Level Schools, and has previously worked with the Department of an Taoiseach 2016 to host the State Flag Presentation Ceremony as part of the Decade of Commemorations and in updating the flag protocols.
On Friday 29 November the Foundation had the privelege to attend the Association of Community and Comprehensive School's annual In-School Management conference in Cavan, to discuss the aims of both organizations and promote registration for Flag Day 2020.
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.
On September 19th, a plaque from the President of Ireland commemorating the 1916 Proclamation was dedicated and placed in the Washington Monument. The plaque is identical to its twin in the GPO, and includes mention of Thomas F. Meagher as one of the key links between Ireland and America through his role as Brigadier General of the 'Fighting 69th' Regiment in the Union Army.
The Thomas F. Meagher Foundation’s Awards and Scholarship Programme has been held annually since 2016. This education programme allows students from registered schools to enter the Kerry Group Awards and Scholarship Programme. This allows students the chance to win an Award or the overall top prize of a Scholarship.
If your school would like to enter please see our Flag Day Page
HERE YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PAGES FROM OUR 'THE PEOPLE'S FLAG' SUPPLEMENT FOR THE IRISH INDEPENDENT 2020.
Thomas F. Meagher given the honour of featuring on a formal stamp in what many consider to be the unofficial Irish honours list.
The 2018 Thomas F. Meagher Awards & Scholarships winning schools were invited to the annual Kerrygroup Awards and Scholarship Lunch in Leinster House in May 2018. The Guest of Honour Ceann Comhairle Sean O'Fearghail praised the students and teachers involved for working with the Foundation for promoting not only pride in and respect for the Irish Flag and its true meaning for peace but also for being young leaders in the community and active citizens.
The first ever permanent exhibit on the Irish Flag in the history of the State was opened in 2018 by the Foundation in conjunction with Shannon Heritage at The GPO Witness History Museum.
The exhibit outlines the history of the Irish Flag and the life of Thomas F. Meagher.
It also outlines the vision of the Foundation, an aim of inclusion and inclusiveness.
HERE YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PAGES FROM OUR 'THE PEOPLE'S FLAG' SUPPLEMENT FOR THE IRISH INDEPENDENT THAT WAS PUBLISHED ON MARCH 7th, 2018.
The seven 2017 Thomas F. Meagher Awards & Scholarships winning schools were invited to the annual Kerrygroup Awards and Scholarship Lunch in Leinster House on May the 22nd. The Guest of Honour Ceann Comhairle Sean O'Fearghail praised the students and teachers involved for working with the Foundation for promoting not only pride in and respect for the Irish Flag and its true meaning for peace but also for being young leaders in the community and active citizens.
Click below to read more about the 2017 Awards and Scholarship Lunch and see some of the great photos. The 7 winning schools were invited to the annual Kerrygroup Awards and Scholarship Lunch in Leinster House on May the 22nd. The Guest of HOnour Ceann COmhairle Sean O'Fearghail praised the students and teachers involved for working with the Foundation for promoting not only pride in and respect for the Irish Flag and its true meaning for peace but also for being young leaders in the community and active citizens.
HERE YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PAGES FROM OUR 'THE PEOPLE'S FLAG' SUPPLEMENT FOR THE IRISH INDEPENDENT THAT WAS PUBLISHED ON MARCH 16TH 2017.
On the 16th of May 2016 the seven chosen schools who demonstrated active citizenship in their communities and raised money for charities were presented with third level scholarships.
The winning schools were:
St. Nathy's, Roscommon
Regina Mundi College, Cork
Glanmire Community College, Cork
Stratford College, Dublin
Colaiste Bríde, Dublin
Schull Community College, Cork.
Presentation Secondary School, Tipperary
The Foundation was delighted to partner with the Government's Project 2016 Office to host the 2016 State Ceremonial Flag Presentation Ceremony on the 7th of March in Croke Park with President Michael D Higgins as Guest of honor and 5,000 schoolchildren and teacher from throughout the State in attendance to recieve a flag which had flown from 33 The Mall and a Proclamation Pack.
Radio Kerry news features the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation and features a recording of Reverend Michael Cavanagh, Chairman of the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation.
The Defence Forces proudly assisted with the presentation of flags and proclamation packs to approximately 6000 secondary school representatives today in collaboration with the Ireland 2016 programme and the Thomas Francis Meagher Foundation. This is in addition to the 3200 primary schools nationwide that received packs under the Flags to Schools initiative since September.
Renaming Ceremony of the Suir Bridge in Honour of Thomas F. Meagher Waterford, 12th March 2015
One of the last major infrastructural projects to be unveiled in Ireland in recent years was named after the patriot who first raised the green, white and orange tricolour in 1848 which became our national flag.
The bridge, which spans the river Suir outside Waterford and was opened in 2009, and was named the Thomas Francis Meagher Bridge, in honour of the man who played a key role in the 1848 rebellion before being transported abroad and ending up as a friend of President Lincoln and governor of Montana.
Reverend Michael Cavanagh (CoI), chair of the Thomas Francis Meagher Foundation which promotes Pride in and Respect for the Irish Flag and its meaning for Peace, welcomed the Flag raising ceremony in Dublin Castle.
The 2016 Programme of commemorative events began on Friday 1st January in Dublin Castle. A symbol of peace and reconciliation, the National Flag of Ireland, was raised at Dublin Castle with the President in attendance
Here you can see some of the pages from our 'The People's Flag' supplement for the Irish Independent that was published on March 14th 2016.
The Thomas F Meagher Foundation Awards & Scholarship Programme, officially launched by Michael D. Higgins
On March 12th, 2015, the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation held the first School’s Presentation event, which took place in Waterford at the Kingfisher Club, with a speech by our special Guest of Honour, President Michael D. Higgins.
Irish Flags which had flown from 33 The Mall, Waterford from where Thomas F. Meagher flew the first Tricolour were presented by the city’s Mayor in conjunction with the Thomas F. Meagher Foundation.
Here you can view the entirety of President Higgins speech at the First School’s Presentation Event in County Waterford.
HERE YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PAGES FROM OUR 2015 'THE PEOPLE'S FLAG' SUPPLEMENT FOR THE IRISH INDEPENDENT.