OUR STORY

Our beginnings

The building which houses the Visitor Centre was constructed in the mid 1800’s and served as the residence for the local clergy until 2007.  Refurbishment of the building was undertaken by the Father Flanagan Group, Ballymoe in 2021.  The work was made possible through the support of St Croan’s Church Ballymoe, the Diocese of Elphin, The Father Flanagan League Society of Devotion based in Nebraska USA,  and Boys Town Nebraska, USA for the creation of the Centre’s displays.

 Father Flanagan was present in this building on his return visits to Ireland in 1936 and 1946.

Father Flanagan Visitor Centre exterior view of building.

ABOUT Father Flanagan

Born in Ballymoe Ireland in 1886, Edward Flanagan emigrated to the United States in 1904. Eight years later, he was ordained a priest and assigned to the Diocese of Omaha. Father Flanagan became a social reformer and true visionary, passionately speaking out and taking action on societal issues that few dared to address. He believed that all children should be valued, regardless of their colour, race or creed, and that they should be provided with a home and an education. He sought to close reformatories and other juvenile facilities where children were abused and illtreated. 

In his trip back to Ireland in 1946 he highlighted the terrible practices and poor conditions of Irish reformatories and juvenile facility systems in operation here.  The Irish government railed against the spotlight that Father Flanagan shone on Irish society of the time and he was essentially written out of Irish history – until now.

his life’s work

Follow in the footsteps of Father Edward Flanagan, learning about the family and the Irish childhood that formed his beliefs.  Discover his life’s work and lasting legacy that is still saving children today 100 years on. Learn about his pioneering start and the creation of his very own town which has been called the most magical square mile in America and named as one of the first intentionally socially integrated communities in America.

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father flanagan quotes

  • There is no such thing as a bad boy.  There is only bad environment, bad training, bad example and bad thinking.
  • Often it has been said that youth is the nation’s greatest asset. But it is more than that. It is the world’s greatest asset. More than that it is perhaps the world’s only hope.
  • When you help a child today you write the history of tomorrow
  • A man is never as tall as when he stoops to help a child
  • The value we put on anything is revealed by what we are willing to sacrifice to possess it
  • The work will continue you see whether I am there or not – because it is God’s work, not mine
  • Every boy must learn to pray, how he prays is up to him
  • Let us not forget that children always seek the goodwill, praise and love of others, and nothing is so certain to kill and destroy their ambition and spirit as fault finding and scolding
  • It costs so little to teach a child to love and so much to teach him to hate

canonisation

The Cause for Canonisation was opened in Omaha, Nebraska USA in 2012.  The Cause is currently active at the Vatican.  Father Flanagan is currently entitled Servant of God. Many people are praying that his Cause will move to next stage where he would be declared Venerable.
If you want to report a healing or grace received through the intercession of Father Flanagan, please contact us at testimony@fatherflanagan.org

explore boys town archives

Much of Father Flanagan’s writing, photographs, and recordings are preserved by Boys Town and the Father Flanagan League Society of Devotion in the United States. The Visitor Centre provides an introduction to his life and signposts visitors to these extensive archives for further study.

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