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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 6^th. 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 8^th 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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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 30^th 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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The Sisters of Mercy in the Southern Province live in Counties Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Laois, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford. View places