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Donal Courtney - God has no country

On 16 October 2018, The Embassy together with The Office of The President of Malta hosted a play written and performed by Ireland's Donal Courtney. God has no country is a one man show of the amazing true story of Irish priest Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty. It is the story of the struggle faced by Monsignor O'Flaherty and his associates in Rome during World War II.

The Monsignor hid many Jewish people, allied soldiers and other civilians from the Gestapo in convents, monasteries and in his own residence. In spring 1943 O'Flaherty defied a Gestapo arrest order against him with the help of brave friends including Henrietta Chevalier of Malta. By the end of the war, they had secured the safety of over 6,500 people.

The play was performed at The President's Palace in San Anton and was well attended with over 100 people ranging from the Irish community to academics, members of the clergy and members of the diplomatic corps joining us for this well received event. It was an honour for us to bring this story to light in Malta as it sheds and important perspective of the realities of war.

Mr Courtney also delivered an acting master class in the School of Performing Arts at the University of Malta. The Embassy was delighted and honoured to support Donal Courtney's visit to Malta.

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