St. Mary’s, Moyderwell was founded from St. John’s, Balloonagh in 1872 at the request of Dean Mawe who donated to the Sisters Dean McEnery’s house. It was situated in the centre of the town, surrounded by lanes and streets where hundreds of very poor people lived. The existing stables became the first school for boys and girls but classes became so big that they had to be held in the garden under the lilac and laburnum trees. Some of the early Sisters died of fever due to bad ventilation.
On 19 March 1878 the foundation stone for the new convent was laid by Miss Frances O’Donovan daughter of Sir Henry Donovan ,Cloghers House.
The people of Tralee contributed money towards a building in the convent grounds which became a knitting and shirt-making factory run by the nuns. This gave employment to those had left school. The Munster Warehouse always lodged large orders for articles made here. During the first World War wool became unobtainable so the factory was closed and a secondary “top” begun. From 1914 – 1918 the soldiers in Ballymullen attended this school at night and received religious instruction from the Sisters.
Due to a large increase in pupils, funds had to be collected to extend the school. Among other benefactors were the Pope – Pius IX and the Duke of Norfolk. Past pupils in the U.S.A. also responded generously.
Meanwhile the service of the poor was a priority, as it always was in St. Mary’s. Breakfasts were given daily to poor children and food was always available at the door. Sisters spent much of their time visiting the old and sick and poor and bringing them provisions and clothing. This was the only “Social Welfare” available to them then.
In 1921 a grotto to Our Lady which still stands in the garden was erected in thanksgiving to God for the preservation of the Sisters and their property during the” troubles.” The same year the convent was renovated and the statues of Our Lady and St. Joseph hoisted to the niches where they can still be seen on entering the grounds.
As the years passed bigger schools were built and free education continued to be provided for all. Girls were entered for public examinations and now past pupils of St. Mary’s can be found all over the world.
In 2001 the Secondary School amalgamated with St. John’s Secondary school , Balloonagh to form Mercy Mount Hawk Secondary School in a new green site in Mounthawk. The Primary School continued to function in Moyderwell.
In 2003 Moyderwell convent closed. Some Sisters went to live in houses in the town while the elderly Sisters transferred either to Catherine McAuley Nursing Home , Balloonagh and to Balloonagh convent
The whole complex- convent and secondary school- was purchased by Tralee Town Council and the site was redeveloped as part of the Tobar Naofa Complex housing development in Tralee. It was officially opened in 2009 providing forty one units of high quality secure housing for the elderly, support services, a day care service, community allotments and residential caretaker’s quarters. On 7May 2012 an Open Day was held and the Sisters of Mercy were invited back to visit the development. We were delighted to see that the Convent had received a new lease of life.
Southern Province 