In May 1908 Bishop Abraham Brownrigg requested sisters to come from Callan to Ballyragget.
Arrangements were made and five sisters came to Ballyragget on March 24th 1909.
They were given the curate’s house as their residence (present Credit Union).
They taught in the local school . The Capitation grant was very poor so they often had to appeal to Callan for funds for the school. They held concerts and made habits for the dead (for sale) to raise funds for school repairs .
Salaries improved in 1921 and the sisters became self-sufficient .
In 1936 the Senior and Infant school amalgamated.
1946 The unoccupied Ballyragget Lodge was purchased from Lord Kildare – Kavanaghs of Borris, Carlow, for £4,000.
In 1948 St. Brigid’s National School was built – officially opened by Dr. Collier. Bishop of Ossory 1949.
In 1959 A new room was built (cookery/classroom) to provide Secondary education up to Inter Cert.
In 1966 pre-fab was erected .
On 11th November 1986 a new extension and modernised old building was officially opened .
In 1985 two retired sisters undertook the ‘In- house management’ of the newly opened O’Gorman Home for the elderly. Other retired sisters in turn, continued this work until 2006.
In 1996 the Convent was leased to the trustees of Aiseirí to start a new ministry – it was named ‘Aislinn’ and provides rehabilitation for adolescent addictions (15-21 yr). A new bungalow was built for the sisters – which they occupied in October 1997.
Many sisters came to work in Aislinn Treatment Centre .
Between 2010 and 2016 the last two teaching sisters retired from Primary school and today (2023) continue to live in and be present to the local community of Ballyragget
Southern Province 