Harper’s Delight

Out standing in her field

achel Harper has just bagged herself a very shiny award.

Just announced, the St Patrick’s National School principal has just been voted Greystones Municipal District’s Local Hero.

Part of the County Wicklow Volunteer Awards, the win is in recognition of the sterling work Ms Harper does at the Light House Homeless Centre on Pearse Street. As well as rolling up her sleeves in the kitchens, Rachel has hosted many a fundraising event for the centre, regularly collecting food packs, clothing and rucksacks, etc, in Greystones and the surrounding areas.

Having stayed open through all the Covid-19 lockdowns, the Light House Homeless Centre is run by Dublin Christian Mission, and has been serving up to 300 hot meals a day over the past year.

It’s an award that young Harper only found out about today. “I just got a call telling me that I’d won,” she explained to the Guide, “and I had to ask them what they were talking about. Someone had put me forward, and this just came as such a complete surprise. 

“A lovely surprise, of course, but this is really about the 300 wonderful kids who get involved in our Shoebox Appeal at St Patrick’s every year. Their generosity and enthusiasm is incredibly inspiring, and the fact that they recognise the need to help those less well off than themselves bodes well for the future…”

Still, congrats, Rachel! And it’s always refreshing to meet a principal with principles.