We were delighted to welcome Ms Jenna Byers from UCD to CBS Kilkenny as part of the Heritage in Schools TY Pilot Project. Jenna specialises in twentieth-century European history, with a focus on war and conflict. Her teaching connects traditional military and political history to broader themes such as gender, public memory, and civic engagement—helping students relate the past to issues in today’s world.
With her guidance, our TY students staged a classroom dramatisation of the 2022 trial of Irmgard Furchner, a former secretary at the Stutthof concentration camp. The students performed roles as judge, lawyers, jurors, and witnesses, bringing to life the complexities of postwar justice and moral responsibility. The performance prompted thoughtful reflection on accountability, the passage of time, and the enduring relevance of history.
A particular highlight was the students’ debate following the verdict and their journalistic questioning in a mock press conference, where they drew powerful links between what they learned in class and what they had seen on their recent visit to Germany. We are grateful to Ms Byers for her knowledge, energy and empathy in making this experience so impactful, and to the Heritage in Schools TY Pilot, a Heritage Council initiative, for supporting this meaningful project.