Author: mercysisterssouthernprovince

Cork Workhouse

As a result of some trouble in the Cork Workhouse in 1837, the Sisters of Mercy, who had arrived in cork in 1838, were asked by the guardians to visit. Mother M. de Pazzi Barry was one of the first to do so and she continued to go there until the sisters went to live there in 1871. in the year 1870 the guardians invited the sisters of mercy to take charge of the union hospital, with the sanction of his lordship come back Right Reverend Dr. Delaney. They were assigned to the part of the Work House building which had been occupied by the Master and the Matron. On the 3rd of November 1871 eight sisters from Saint Mary’s of the Isle, under Sister M Ignatius Crowley as Superintendent, took up residence as nurses. Within six months of arrival sister M Ignatius died in the smallpox epidemic which swept the city. She was succeeded as Superintendent by Sister M Camillus Burke.

From 1871 the Sisters worked in conjunction with successive masters of the workhouse until 1921 when the Office of Master was discontinued and that of Matron was vested in sister Mary of Mercy O’Keeffe.

On their appointment in 1871 the sisters are organized a program of hospital classification, they undertook the education of foundling children and of the children born within the Workhouse. Protestant Nursing Sisters joined the workhouse in 1872. They worked with the Sisters of Mercy.

In 1919 the Irish Nursing Union with its system of house examinations became the state Registered Board, and when sister Mary of Mercy O’Keeffe , became matron in 1921 the fever section of the workhouse was a recognized Fever Hospital (the South fever) Training School. by 1923 this Training School was under the direction of Sister M Cecilia Leahy who had specialized in fever nursing in English hospitals. Her appointment in 1925 as Superintendent of nurses was the forerunner of the Sister Tutor.

In 1927 the Sisters at the workhouse piloted a scheme of general training for nurses for which no entrance fee was required.

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Convent of Mercy, Ballybunion 1883-1999

Convent of Mercy, Ballybunion

The house on the cliffs overlooking Doon Bay was built by Mrs. Mary Young, née Mary O’ Malley from Kilconly who married Mr. John Young, a wealthy widower, whom she met when she worked in a hotel in Kilkee.  John Young died in the early 1870s and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery with his first wife and daughter. (Later she had their remains reinterred in a tomb in Killahenny Cemetery).                                    

 Mary Young then returned to her native Ballybunion and built a house for herself on the cliff in Doon. After twelve years residence in this house Mrs. Young wished to return to Dublin. She offered the house to Fr. Mortimer O’Connor P.P of Ballybunion with the suggestion that it would be given to a community of religious Sisters.                                                                   

In October 1882 Fr. O’Connor asked the Bishop of Kerry, Dr. Higgins, to invite the Sisters of Mercy, from Balloonagh, Tralee to found a convent in Ballybunion in this house.  

On August 6th. 1883, three Sisters came from Tralee and took up residence.  Without delay a school was started in the basement.   In 1887 a new National School was built.  This was demolished in 1970 and replaced by the present modern building. 

 On September 8th 1952 a Secondary School with three Sisters and an intake of thirty-eight pupils was opened in the lodge which had been purchased some thirty years previously to accommodate our Sisters on holidays.  Up to then, pupils received their secondary education in the primary school secondary top. 

The Sisters  were involved in education in Ballybunion until the late 1990s. The schools are still in operation and are thriving and developing in response to modern times and changing needs.

In October 1999, due to lack of vocations, the decision was made to close the convent.  It was the end of an era for the Sisters of Mercy in Ballybunion. They vacated the convent and returned to live in Tralee.

 The convent and lands went to Respond, to provide affordable housing.  

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St Catherine’s Convent & School, Bishopstown 1959/1960

On 7September 1959 St. Catherine’s School, Bishopstown, was opened. It began with Infant Classes only that year.   Very Rev. D. Canon Murphy P.P. The Lough, blessed the school.                                                                                        The following year on 30th August 1960 the new convent, St. Catherine’s Bishopstown, was solemnly blessed.  Bishop Lucey presided at the ceremony. The celebrant of the Mass was Canon Murphy P.P. St. Finbarr’s West. After the ceremony guests were entertained to lunch by the community. Mr. Boyd Barrett, the architect, and Mr. O’Driscoll, the builder, were present. Mr.Hegarty (School Inspector) also attended.

In 1975 a special section for Traveller children was opened within St. Catherine’s School at the request of the Department of Education. Full integration of Traveller children was achieved in 1995.

Over the years the convent was refurbished at different times and gardens developed. As Sisters retired and numbers dwindled between 2011 and 2013 the future of St. Catherine’s convent was discussed with the community. Finally, it was closed July 2013 and the building was leased to Pieta House for a number of years. It was later sold and the new owner has rented it to CUH.

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