Year 10 student Orla Garvey writes about a recent visit to Bagnell’s castle, where she and her classmates met Holocaust survivor Joanna Millen.

Myself and four classmates, along with our friends in Newtownhamilton High School, travelled to Bagnell’s Castle to meet a lady who survived the Holocaust.  Joanna Millen had spent the first three years of her life in Theresienstadt Concentration Camp in Czechoslovakia.

Her story was extremely moving as she described the death of her mother from TB in the camp and how she was orphaned and alone from the age of two.

She was so young at the time that she has spent most her adult life trying to find out what happened to her family, if she had any family left and trying to piece her past life together.

No-one can understand the horrendous events and experiences she went through, and it was a privilege to be able to listen to her heartbreaking story.

Her story made me think of just how lucky I am to have the family I have. When the war was over Joanna found herself in a strange country having to learn a new language just to live in England – she had no family, no friends and nothing to call her own.

It really made me appreciate where I am today and the lifestyle I have, thanks to family and friends.

You can find out more about Joanna, and read her story by visiting the Holocaust Educational Trust Web site.