Ireland's Schindler?

old hippy · 30-10-2013 2:24pm #1

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24713270

Good news, I reckons. I was not aware of this man before but it's nice to see him be remembered in this fashion.

I Heart Internet · 30-10-2013 2:30pm

He's well known in parts but deserves to be better known. His is a great story and it seems he was bonafide badass.

I don't know if it's in the bbc report but apart from saving his jewish brothers and sisters, it should be remembered that he was a constant visitor to the prison where the man who had ordered his killing was kept.

From wikipedia:

O'Flaherty regularly visited his old nemesis Colonel Herbert Kappler (the former SS chief in Rome) in prison, month after month, being Kappler's only visitor. In 1959, Kappler converted to Catholicism and was baptised by O'Flaherty.

Sir Humphrey Appleby · 30-10-2013 2:33pm

They made a film about him a few years ago, I think Gregory peck played him.
Nice to see him remembered.

Benny_Cake · 30-10-2013 2:36pm

old hippy wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24713270

Good news, I reckons. I was not aware of this man before but it's nice to see him be remembered in this fashion.

Gregory Peck played him in "The Scarlet and the Black". Great man, well deserves the recognition. I thought he had been declared "Righteous among the nations" but that doesn't seem to be the case? A Cork woman, Mary Elmes, was recognised as such earlier this year:

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Cork-woman-Mary-Elmes-honored-for-role-in-saving-Jewish-children-from-Nazis-in-WWII-208053091.html?fullsite=Y

biko · 30-10-2013 2:37pm

Yeah along with the likes of Raoul Wallenberg and Irena Sendler he did a great job indeed.

wp_rathead · 30-10-2013 2:44pm

Thanks OP
Didn't know about this story til now, intetesting stuff
Is the film worth a watch?

Sir Humphrey Appleby · 30-10-2013 2:54pm

wprathead wrote: »

Is the film worth a watch?

Yes, definitely, apart from Pecks accent!

signostic · 30-10-2013 3:13pm

wprathead wrote: »

Thanks OP
Didn't know about this story til now, intetesting stuff
Is the film worth a watch?

as well as the movie, 3 books have been written about Mons Hugh O`Flaherty, a hero and a remarkable man

Splendour · 30-10-2013 3:28pm

wprathead wrote: »

Thanks OP
Didn't know about this story til now, intetesting stuff
Is the film worth a watch?

Brilliant film! Although I agree with Sir Humphrey about the accent. Don't think I've ever heard a decent Irish accent in a film though-apart from Irish productions.

SEPT 23 1989 · 30-10-2013 3:32pm

watched that film a few weeks ago

Rented Mule · 30-10-2013 3:35pm

old hippy wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24713270

Good news, I reckons. I was not aware of this man before but it's nice to see him be remembered in this fashion.

Karl Malden would have been the perfect actor to play him in film.

signostic · 30-10-2013 3:45pm

One of O`Flaherty`s most dedicated helpers was a Maltese widow Henrietta (Chetta) Chevalier, another remarkable person from that era.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=91898096

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120612/letters/An-unsung-hero-of-wartime.423904#.UnEowXCuwqM

Wibbs · 30-10-2013 11:15pm

Splendour wrote: »

Brilliant film! Although I agree with Sir Humphrey about the accent. Don't think I've ever heard a decent Irish accent in a film though-apart from Irish productions.

Ahh Greg's accent wasn't too bad. Maybe it's cos I always had a lot of time for Gregory Peck. My dad met him a few times back in the 50's and his take was that he was a very cool bloke. Just the true definition of a nice man. A gentleman and one of the few Hollywood types that you will never hear a bad word spoken of.

I'm also surprised O`Flaherty hasn't been mentioned and lauded more widely. He and his gang really stuck it to the Nazis and in such a fcuk you stylish fashion too. Then he keeps in contact with his nemesis after all that? The only one who did in the early days? That takes some stones and moral compass and forgiveness. Hate is easy, dismissal is easy, even resistance can be easy once you kick off, but actual forgiveness and acceptance of those who hate you? That's the hardest of all and it seems old Hugh nailed that. Respect.

Mark Twain · 30-10-2013 11:21pm

They need to make a movie about Adrian Carton de Wiart.

Now there was a man of Irish bloodstock who understood the way the world works.

vicwatson · 30-10-2013 11:29pm

O'Flaherty regularly visited his old nemesis Colonel Herbert Kappler (the former SS chief in Rome) in prison, month after month, being Kappler's only visitor. In 1959, Kappler converted to Catholicism and was baptised by O'Flaherty.

Them Catholic priests never stop the brainwashing eh

signostic · 31-10-2013 2:50am

vicwatson wrote: »

Them Catholic priests never stop the brainwashing eh

Put in context of the time I think Mons O'Flaherty actions were laudable.
Even today the story still resonates with Kaplers right hand man Erich Priebke, German Hauptsturmführer in the SS police force and foremost character for his role in the 1944 massacre at the Ardeatine caves, in which 335 Italians were murdered. Priebke who died a few weeks ago and his remains remain unburied as no one want him interred in their locality.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/16/erich-priebke-funeral-cancelled-nazi-italy

31-10-2013 11:51am

There's actually some footage of him visiting yer man in prison.
http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/53409/david-brent-dance-o.gif

I Heart Internet · 31-10-2013 4:34pm

I think the story should be made into a new film. Fassbender to play O'Flaherty (a fellow Kerry man).

I Heart Internet · 31-10-2013 4:37pm

signostic wrote: »

Put in context of the time I think Mons O'Flaherty actions were laudable.
Even today the story still resonates with Kaplers right hand man Erich Priebke, German Hauptsturmführer in the SS police force and foremost character for his role in the 1944 massacre at the Ardeatine caves, in which 335 Italians were murdered. Priebke who died a few weeks ago and his remains remain unburied as no one want him interred in their locality.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/16/erich-priebke-funeral-cancelled-nazi-italy

That's a sad story. EVERYONE...even the very, very, very bad and those who have done very, very bad things deserve a final resting place. He denied that (and worse) to people but I don't think "we" should do the same to him.

197th User Id · 31-10-2013 4:47pm

£80,000 cast bronze statue in public in a town down the stchicks.

Who does these things....do they not learn ? are they that stupid.

I give it a week.

old hippy · 31-10-2013 4:53pm

197th User Id wrote: »

£80,000 cast bronze statue in public in a town down the stchicks.

Who does these things....do they not learn ? are they that stupid.

I give it a week.

What's stupid about commemorating a hero?

crockholm · 31-10-2013 4:58pm

I Heart Internet wrote: »

I think the story should be made into a new film. Fassbender to play O'Flaherty (a fellow Kerry man).

How are they going to spin the story in such a way that he gets his wang out?

BraziliaNZ · 31-10-2013 5:00pm

crockholm wrote: »

How are they going to spin the story in such a way that he gets his wang out?

Just put some children in the movie

I Heart Internet · 31-10-2013 5:02pm

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Just put some children in the movie

Very poor.

197th User Id · 31-10-2013 5:02pm

old hippy wrote: »

What's stupid about commemorating a hero?

hmm hard to....
no, surely..

I Heart Internet · 31-10-2013 5:03pm

old hippy wrote: »

What's stupid about commemorating a hero?

I think 197th was suggesting some toe-rags would steal it for scrap...as is their wont. He might have a point there...depending on where in Killarney they put it.

BraziliaNZ · 31-10-2013 5:03pm

I Heart Internet wrote: »

Very poor.

well not really given the fact that nearly all of them seemed to be paedos!!!

I Heart Internet · 31-10-2013 5:06pm

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

well not really given the fact that nearly all of them seemed to be paedos!!!

Who are them?

BraziliaNZ · 31-10-2013 5:10pm

I Heart Internet wrote: »

Who are them?

Dem bleedin' priests!!

I Heart Internet · 31-10-2013 5:11pm

BraziliaNZ wrote: »

Dem bleedin' priests!!

You're a disgrace to the fine art of trolling.

goose2005 · 31-10-2013 5:39pm

old hippy wrote: »

What's stupid about commemorating a hero?

I think he's claiming that persons of itinerant address will melt it down?

WhatNowForUs? · 31-10-2013 9:19pm

goose2005 wrote: »

I think he's claiming that persons of itinerant address will melt it down?

I think he inferred that it would be stolen, he did not mention by any persuasion of people so you are just stirring unless he decides to clarify himself, in which I don't think he needs to.

Riddle101 · 31-10-2013 9:28pm

So he became friends with the Gestapo commander who tried to have him killed? Wow, don't think i'd be as forgiving tbh.

I Heart Internet · 01-11-2013 9:36am

donegal__road wrote: »

Ironically, it was also the Vatican that facilitated safe passage for fleeing Nazi's to Argentina, Bolivia and other countries in what became known as the Nazi 'Ratlines'.

A Vatican bishop by the name of Hudal managed to secure many Nazi fugitives with International Red Cross passports, one the Nazi's managed to reach Genoa from Germany.

Hugh O'Flaherty and his colleagues weren't "the Vatican", although some of them did work there and he lived there. There were members of the RCC who did great things and cowardly things during that period. Many priests died in concentration camps. One notable example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian_Kolbe

gobnaitolunacy · 01-11-2013 10:09am

I Heart Internet wrote: »

I think 197th was suggesting some toe-rags would steal it for scrap...as is their wont. He might have a point there...depending on where in Killarney they put it.

There was another piece of public art that was torn off its pedestal a few years ago about 15 mins from Killarney, granted it was in a stretch of road with no houses so an 'easy' job at night.

http://www.thejournal.ie/metal-thefts-sculptures-and-artefacts-stolen-around-ireland-508334-Aug2012/

http://kerryseyephotosales.photoshelter.com/image/I0000OExm2Yz5hkg

donegal__road · 01-11-2013 10:18am

I Heart Internet wrote: »

Hugh O'Flaherty and his colleagues weren't "the Vatican", although some of them did work there and he lived there. There were members of the RCC who did great things and cowardly things during that period. Many priests died in concentration camps. One notable example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian_Kolbe

I should have said 'it was through the Vatican..'

I wasn't trying to rise a row, I was just watching this film a few months ago and thought it would be of interest to the thread.

Hugh O'Flaherty did great work and rightly should be remembered as a hero.

I Heart Internet · 01-11-2013 10:22am

donegal__road wrote: »

I should have said 'it was through the Vatican..'

I wasn't trying to rise a row, I was just watching this film a few months ago and thought it would be of interest to the thread.

Hugh O'Flaherty did great work and rightly should be remembered as a hero.

Sorry for being nit-picky DR. I think there's a lot still to emerge about the Vatican's role, for better or worse, during that period. The good guys definetly deserve to be recognised though, as you say.

Ireland's Schindler?

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