Today, on January 27th, we marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day through The Crocus Project. We were honoured to welcome the German Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. David Gill, and the German Cultural Attaché, Mrs Isabella Neisinger, along with the principals of St. Kilian’s and the Lycée Français d’Irlande, Mrs Meier and Madame Link, teachers and secondary school students from both schools.
We remembered the victims of the Nazi regime through the retelling of personal stories, including those of Tomi Reichental and Simone Veil, as well as other Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Students from 9th class spoke about the meaning and significance of the Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) and their purpose to invite people to pause, to read the names, and to reflect.
It was a memorable event with wonderful musical contributions by Soča (11A) and a moving address by the German Ambassador, who reminded us that commemorating victims by naming them and telling their stories, we help to restore their dignity and ensure that they are never forgotten. We must also continue to learn from the past to remain vigilant against exclusion, discrimination and extremism in all its forms, and reflect on how the lessons of history apply to our world today.
The event concluded with the planting of crocus flower bulbs, a central symbol of The Crocus Project, representing remembrance and hope for the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our distinguished guests for attending and for sharing powerful remarks and to all teachers and students participating in this important occasion.
