Ardscoil Mhuire Presented with First Limerick Kindness Flag

Limerick Kindness Flag – Pictured is Michael Hourigan, Mayor of the Metropolitan District of Limerick and Brid Herbert, Principal of Ardscoil Mhuire, being presented with Certificate of Achievement for the school. Photo: Oisin McHugh / True Media

Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally is the first school in Limerick to receive the Limerick Kindness Flag. The Limerick Kindness Flag, which recognises a culture of kindness demonstrated consistently by an educational institution and its students, was presented by Pay It Forward Limerick, the non-profit organisation working to promote Limerick as a city of kindness through policy, education and community initiatives.

Today’s presentation of the Limerick Kindness Flag to Ardscoil Mhuire marked the official launch of the Limerick Kindness Flag initiative for schools and colleges in the Limerick region. Currently, neighbouring schools Scoil Ide and St Munchin’s and third level institution LIT are in the process of applying for their Kindness Flag.

Members of the Army assisted students from Ardscoil Mhuire with the flag raising ceremony. They were joined by Metropolitan Mayor of Limerick Cllr Michael Hourigan, Jan O’Sullivan TD, Bríd Herbert, Principal of Ardscoil Mhuire and a number of principals and teachers from the locality along with members of the Pay It Forward Committee.

Explaining the concept behind the Limerick Kindness Flag, Dr Yoga Nathan of Pay It Forward said, “In promoting kindness we hope to change attitudes, build self-esteem and mental health resilience creating a sense of community cohesiveness. With this Kindness Flag initiative we are helping students appreciate the value of kindness and the profound positive impact acts of kindness can have on a the receiver and the giver. We hope that the year-long campaign required to attain the Flag will instil this ethos in them for life.”

Ms Bríd Herbert, Principal, Ard Scoil Mhuire, said “Over the last few years we’ve been proud supporters in the Pay It Forward movement.  Our involvement has had a very positive impact on our culture so we were willing participants of the pilot scheme.  The many activities our students have undertaken to attain the flag have helped them to look at themselves and draw out what is innately there.”

“We are delighted their efforts have been recognised through the awarding of this flag. And I would highly recommend other schools in the region to start the process of applying for their Limerick Kindness Flag,” she continued.

Schools seeking further information regarding the PIFL Kindness Flag, can email [email protected]

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