News - Ireland, Dublin, Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria

In the year marking the 175th anniversary of the birth and the 95th anniversary of the death of Irishman Pierce O'Mahony, a petition has been launched to erect a monument in his honour in Sofia. The initiative comes from Yavor Ivanov, a Bulgarian living in Dublin, who informed the Bulgarian Ambassador to Ireland, Vanya Andreeva, about this significant step during a recent meeting. This remarkable Irishman – politician, botanist, and philanthropist, who fought for equality in Ireland – left behind a legacy that far exceeds the borders of his native Ireland. After learning about the devastating number of orphaned children following the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising, Pierce O'Mahony came to Sofia to establish and fund with his own resources the orphanage “St. Patrick”. He raised and educated over 30 Bulgarian children, taking some of them with him to Ireland and giving them a new start in life.

In honour of this remarkable individual, Yavor Ivanov launched an initiative in 2025 to erect a monument to Pierce O'Mahony in Sofia. So far, he has gathered over 200 handwritten signatures, and support continues to grow. An online petition has also been launched under the title “Erecting Statue of Pierce O'Mahony in Sofia City, Bulgaria.” Yavor Ivanov and the Bulgarian Ambassador shared the view that it is vital for Bulgaria to remember one of its true friends. Pierce O'Mahony serves as a bridge between our nations and a powerful reminder that compassion knows no borders. We hope this noble initiative will achieve the recognition it deserves. The petition will remain available for signatures at events hosted by the Bulgarian Embassy in Dublin.