Conall Ferris and Joshua Kennedy from St Mary’s Academy CBS proudly holding the school’s new flag

By Elizabeth Lee

AS PART of a national programme of activity to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Irish flag, St Mary’s Academy CBS were honoured to attend a flag presentation to government leaders at SETU Waterford Arena on Tuesday 7 March. Inspired by the French Revolution, Thomas Francis Meagher created the Irish flag to symbolise the inclusion and hoped-for union of the people of different traditions on the island of Ireland.

Fifth-year students Joshua Kennedy and Conall Ferris were presented with a flag that was flown in the same place Thomas Francis Meagher first hoisted the tricolour. Both students were honoured to meet government leaders, including taoiseach Leo Varadkar. This flag was brought back to CBS and will be proudly displayed on the school grounds.