Ambassadorial role bestowed on former pupil Richard Moore

On Thursday, May 4, 1972, 10 years-old Richard was blinded by a rubber bullet on his way home from school.

In January, 2006, Richard met Charles, the soldier who fired that rubber bullet. The two went on to become friends.

That was the point of arrival for the blinded Creggan man and his story and in a broader sense it was a point of departure – a new beginning, as he described in his lecture.

In the lecture, Richard recalled what happened to him that fateful day running home from the Rosemount school, and how the events changed not only his life but his attitude to life.

The lecture took place in the school on the 54th anniversary of that day.

The evening started with the school choir performing in the packed assembly hall, followed by an introduction from Aoife Meenan, Acting School Principal before Richard took to the podium to tell his story. This was followed by a Q&A session chaired by Damian Gorman, Head of Peacebuilding at Children in Crossfire.

Addressing the attendance and formally announcing the appointment of Mr. Moore as Ambassador of the school, Mrs. Meenan described Richard’s long and deeply personal connection with Rosemount, having been a pupil at the time he was tragically shot 54 years ago today.

“Richard’s enduring relationship with Rosemount and his remarkable journey since then, stand as a powerful testament to resilience, hope and reconciliation.

“His unwavering dedication to our school community here at Rosemount, together with his profound commitment to the values at the heart of our school mission – tolerance, compassion and forgiveness – make him an exceptional role model for our pupils and the wider community."

“As a school, we also commit to planning an annual event to commemorate and celebrate this ambassadorial role, ensuring that its message continues to inspire future generations. Welcome onboard Richard.”

Stating that he was deeply honoured to accept the role, Mr. Moore said he had great memories of the school, its teachers, pupils and history.

He paid tribute to Mrs. Meenan and all her staff and pupils and said he will be working closely to develop the school and hopefully, leave an indelible positive mark for the next generation.