School in Donegal named after 15-year-old saint

It will be the first in Ireland to honour Saint Carlo Acutis.

Known as as 'God's Influencer', Saint Acutis died of leukaemia in 2006 at the age of 15.

Gort a' Choirce NS, a Gaeltacht school, has now taken Saint Carlo Acutis as its namesake and will be known as Scoil Naomh Carlo Acutis.

Acutis was born in London in 1991 and grew up in Milan, and spent much of his young life teaching himself computer coding and building websites to spread his faith, which he became known for across the globe.

He was canonised by Pope Leo XIV last year, in the first canonisation ceremony of his pontificate, becoming the first saint of the millennial generation.

Monsignor Anthony Figueiredo, a Vatican-assigned priest who travels the world sharing the message of Saint Carlo Acutis, is set to bring his relics to Gort a' Choirce's naming celebration this weekend.

Additionally, Bishop of the Raphoe Diocese, Niall Coll, will say a celebratory mass in his first official visit to Teach Pobail Chríost Rí in Gort a' Choirce on Sunday.

He is expected to tell the congregation, particularly the school children, about how St Carlo Acutis used his computer skills to help others.

Principal of Scoil Naomh Carlo Acutis, Patricia Uí hArlaigh, said the school community thought honouring him in would be "a lovely way" to remember St Carlo Acutis.

"In a world, where everyone wants to be an influencer, I think it’s wonderful that he’s 'God’s Influencer’. I really believe this will have a big influence," she said.

Carlo Acutis has been recognised by the Vatican for two miracles involving the healing of a Brazilian child and a Costa Rican student injured in an accident.

Relatives had prayed to Acutis, who was beatified by Pope Francis in 2020 and his body was moved to Assisi, where it is widely visited.