Bantry

Continued

The site of the convent caused a problem. Lord Richard White owned all Bantry and would not give land for a convent. However, a priest carne to the rescue, Rev. Jeremiah Cotter, a native of Bantry and serving as a Military chaplain in Woolwich, England, owned nine acres of land and a house. He gave four and a half acres for the site on which the convent now stands. The building of the convent was completed in two years, but Sister. Joseph Xavier whose dream it was, did not live to see it finished. She died in Marino House, after a short illness on March 17^th1862.                                              

On August 2^nd of the same year the Sisters took up residence in the convent. Mother De Chantal Coleman, a widow when she entered, was co-foundress and became the first superior. She held office until 1900.

The first priority of the Sisters was the education of young girls. The first National Schools from 1831 onwards were non-denominational. The Catholics were afraid of proselytization and many of the children received no education. Happily for the Sisters, a rich English lady, a convert, joined them. Miss Agnes Michael gave all her wealth for the building of the National School attached to the convent. Pupils flocked to this school. It was Catholic, the teaching was good, and more importantly, they were fed.    

As numbers of Sisters increased they moved into new areas of work. Two Sisters were elected by the Local Board to work in the Workhouse and in the Fever Hospital. Two Sisters went to Kinsale to learn lace and crochet and they started the lace room in the house acquired from Father Cotter. Many girls were employed and the industry flourished. The British had a Naval Base on Whiddy Island and the Officers’ wives were good customers. Read more