Allianz Ireland’s New ‘We Cover Courage’ Campaign Recreates Minister Donogh O’Malley’s Free Education Announcement

New Multi Million Euro Campaign to recognise key courageous moments in Irish history which changed society

• First commercial to recreate Minister Donogh O’Malley’s Moment of Courage in announcing free education in September 1966
  
• Ad created by In the Company of Huskies features the actor Daragh O’Malley playing the role of his father delivering his father’s famous speech – see the full speech recreated here – https://youtu.be/08MgWENi7nk
  
• Commercial to air on TV and digital channels and can be viewed here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpJg62UdTAU

Dublin, March 15th 2019: Allianz today launches its new multi million campaign to recognise crucial moments of courage that transformed Irish society.

As part of the Allianz “We Cover Courage” campaign, the first commercial that will air on TV and Digital recreates the famous speech by Donogh O’Malley, Minister of Education, who (acting without the knowledge or approval of his government), announced free secondary school education for all students in Ireland in 1966.

His son, the actor Daragh O’Malley plays the role of his father in recreating this crucial moment in Irish history, which resulted in the long-term development, social mobility and cultural change in Irish society today. Daragh, who has a long career as a theatre and film actor with many roles from the TV series Sharpe, with Sean Bean to the cult classic film Whitnail and I.

As part of the campaign – Allianz has recreated the full speech which can be watched by clicking here https://youtu.be/08MgWENi7nk.

The full 60 second commercial can be also viewed by clicking here https://youtu.be/qpJg62UdTAU.

“Reflecting on the little and big acts of courage undertaken by our customers on a daily basis as they go about their lives, Allianz Ireland wants to recognise people whose courage brought major changes both for themselves and Irish society,” said Sean McGrath, CEO, Allianz Ireland. “With one statement, Minister O’Malley made free secondary education — an idea that had been circulated and debated, though never fully realised — a reality. The Minister for Education had gone out on a limb, unbeknownst to the government behind him, to make a stand. A stand which brought about seismic change in our society. A stand which would ensure that generations of Irish school children would benefit from education. This has transformed our society beyond all recognition. It can be easy to overlook the huge courage it took to announce this, but he believed this would help us overcome poverty and once announced, it could not be taken back. Free education has been a core element of our society’s evolution.”

Ends

Notes to editors

Press contact
Cyril Moloney, Teneo
Phone: 0860479462
Email: allianz@teneo.com

About Allianz Ireland
Allianz is one of Ireland’s largest multi-line general insurance companies with an annual turnover in excess of €450m. Allianz Group in Ireland employs over 1,450 people and is trusted by close to a million customers as their business or personal insurer. Allianz is also part of the Allianz SE Group – one of the world’s leading integrated financial services providers, which employs over 148,000 people in more than 70 countries serving the needs of 83 million customers worldwide.

Source: RealWire