Ardmore House’, now called Stella Maris, was once the holiday home of Lady Clodagh Anson, daughter of Lord Waterford of Curraghmore. In the early 19th century the property with the large garden where now stands ‘Timber Top’ was on the market and Mrs. Barry bought it for £1,000 for the Cappoquin Sisters.
A branch house was founded in Ardmore in 1900 by Mrs. George Barry of Cork, in memory of her sister, Mother M Teresa Dwyer, who died the previous year. Five Sisters moved into a fully furnished house which Mrs. Barry wished to be called St. Catherine’s Convent of Mercy. The convent was at the entrance to the village, opposite the Protestant Church. The object of the foundation was the promotion of temperance in the locality; but the Sisters also taught in the local school.
In 1924, the Sisters moved from the original house, now called Monea Lodge, to Stella Maris, a larger and better house overlooking the sea. The name ‘Stella Maris’ was added
Owing to dwindling numbers in the school, the Sisters returned to Cappoquin in 1934, to teach in St. Anne’s Secondary School, Cappoquin, which was in it’s early stages and had a small enrolment.
Stella Maris continues to be used as a holiday and meeting house for the Sisters of the Mercy Southern Province.
Stella Maris was again refurbished. Provinces were formed in 1995 so it became the Southern Province holiday house. It is a haven of rest and relaxation overlooking the sea close to the village and church.
Southern Province 