The idea of founding a convent in Buttevant originated with Miss Mary Anne Walsh of Rathclare, Buttevant. When she died 21 October 1874 she left the sum of £1,000 for the building of a convent. This was used to purchase the ground between the two ruined abbeys as a site on which to erect the proposed convent. The ground known as ‘The Sanctuary’ was purchased later.
Dr. Sheehan, MO Buttevant, at his death in 1878 gave all of his property and £1,000 also towards the building of a convent. However, the money was not sufficient and Canon T. Buckley set about collecting the remainder for the project.
Another generous benefactor of the early days was Mrs. Margaret Tracey who lived in Rathclare Cottage. Her brother, Patrick, gave a beautiful bible to the convent with the inscription:
Another generous benefactor to the community was a Mrs. Lynch who left £200 for the benefit of the community when she died 23 December 1891.
The site of the new convent was a commonage, often used as a camping ground for itinerants. It was leased from Lord Doneraile who stipulated one condition, a school should be incorporated in the building, so that it could not be sold, that it was given for exclusively religious purposes.
About 1891-’92 the land on which the convent is built was finally purchased leaving the ground free from all rent in future.
The architect was Mr.Ashlin. The builder was Mr. Coffey of Middleton and the clerk of works was Mr. P. Monahan of Buttevant.
Canon Buckley PP applied to Mother Joseph Croke, Charleville for Sisters to take on the education of the children of the parish. National School already existed in the town. This was handed over to the care of the Sisters.
Eight Sisters formed the first community in Buttevant.
Sr. M. Aloysius Barry, a native of Buttevant was the local superior. Sr.M. Cecilia Galvin – Principal of the Pension School (Secondary). Sr. Cecilia returned to Charleville. After a few years she volunteered for the mission in Perth, Australia where she lived for many years as a saintly, hardworking Sister of Mercy .She died 1894. Sr. M. Elizabeth O’Driscoll – Principal of the Primary School. Sr. Elizabeth was later transferred to New Inn, a branch house founded in Tipperary from Charleville, where she died. Sr. M. Gertrude Clifford, Sr. M. Agnes Maher, Sr. M. Veronica Power , Sr. M. Stanislaus Bohan were assistants in the schools. St. Lucy Bruce was in charge of the cooking/ kitchen.
The Sisters arrived on 2 February 1879. The Charleville Band came to treat them to some music and the people of Buttevant welcomed them by illuminating their houses and organising a torchlight procession. On the following Sunday, Archbishop Croke preached at the last Mass and introduced the Sisters. Mother Joseph had particular affection for Buttevant, called it Paradise and used often come to visit them. She had the grounds landscaped, sloping terraces broken off at intervals by limestone steps separated the higher ground for the lower. Walks were laid down and trees were planted. (In 1977 due to tree disease most of the trees had to be cut down). In her times also an additional portion was included once the site of the old Penal church. One wall still remains and a tablet commemorates the names of the Franciscan priests who ministered secretly to the people after the Friary had been suppresses in the time of Elizabeth 1.
At the time of the foundation of the convent the population of the town and surrounding parish was very low due to the exodus which followed the Famine. At first the pupils were slow to come to the secondary school, known as Pension School, as the people were poor. Gradually, the attendance improved. The British garrison occupied the military barracks at the time and the daughters of non- commissioned officers were among the first to attend. The National School, under the Board of Education, had a good attendance. During the first decade the visitation of the sick poor was limited as the funds of the convent were low.
Gradually, the financial situation improved under the administration of Mother Augustine Quaid who became superior in 1892. She was from Croom, Co. Limerick. She came to Buttevant from Charleville. She bought an old building and paddock from Lord Doneraile and made it into a laundry. This laundry gave employment to local girls. Work was got from the military stationed in Buttevant and Ballyvonair camp until 1921 when the British withdrew from Ireland. Then the laundry was closed as they had no work.
In 1916 all the Mercy convents in the diocese of Cloyne were amalgamated. Up until then Buttevant was a branch of Charleville. Now it was independent.
Sr. Nolasco Byrne, a native of Buttevant, was sent to Buttevant in 1898. She was a talented musician, she established an orchestra, taught music and choirs. In 1937 she founded the Buttevant Brass and Reed band. In 1944 she was left a sum of money by her brother, Rev. Richard Byrne, and she used it to build a large hall in the convent grounds and started a sewing, spinning and weaving industry for the youth of the town. A skilled weaver form Donegal was employed to train local workers. The finished produce were exported to Germany, but World War11 put an end to that marked.
Undaunted, sewing machines were purchased and girls were taught how to make garments for the home market. Through the co-operation of Messers Murray, drapers in Charleville, the work flourished until 1975 when, owing to many difficulties, the work had to discontinue. However, the business was transferred to Charleville where many of the former employees were employed there.
In 1964 a new primary school was built in Richmond Street. Sisters taught there for many years. In 1997 the decision was made to close Coláiste Mhuire the co-educational secondary school with classroom in the convent, and a new school was to be built on a green field site under Cork ETB. Seven years later in 2014 the first sod was turned and in 2015 the students transferred to the new school.
The convent closed in 2012 and the Sisters relocated to other Mercy houses including two to Charleville, one to Mallow convent and one other Sister who remained in Buttevant. The convent was sold in 2018.
From :The Contribution of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy to Education. Vol 11. Dr. Máire Ní Chearbhaill, Research Fellow. NUI Maynooth. July 2011
Southern Province 