Midleton Workhouse, Co. Cork opened in 1841. It was built at a cost of £6,853 on a site donated by Viscount Midleton. Accommodation was for 800 persons. The design was by George Wilkinson the Poor Law Commissioner’s architect. Families were split up, the men were accommodated in one area the women and children in another wing.
Three groups of Mercy Sisters worked in the Workhouse. The Sisters from Ballina nursed there for a few years from 1882 until 1886. Tradition has it that the P.P. of Midleton Rev. Canon Fitzpatrick had a sister a Sister of Mercy in Ballina. The Ballina Sisters withdrew in 1886.
The Kinsale Sisters arrived in 1886 at the invitation of the Bishop of Cloyne – Rev. Dr. McCarthy. They were promised daily Mass though not immediately because of objections raised by Cannon Fitzpatrick. Six years later the same objections were raised by Canon Hutch – the Kinsale Sisters withdrew in 1892. The Kinsale Sisters had named the Convent – St. Patrick’s.
On September 4th. 1892 Canon Hutch P.P. Midleton, at the request of the Board of Guardians, invited the Charleville Sisters of Mercy to come and take over from the Kinsale Sisters. On September 9th. 1892. The decision was made to accept the invitation.
On October 15th. 1892 five Sisters arrive from Charleville – Srs.M. Regis Fitzgerald, M. Patrick Keeley, M. Benedict O’Donnell, Sr. M. Teresa Hogan, Sr. M. Lucy. Before coming they spent a week in Fermoy getting lights from the Sisters there. As regards daily Mass the Sisters had still to go out two or three mornings a week in horse drawn covered car to the Presentation Convent.
Of the Sisters who came two had gained experience in Kilmallock Workhouse -Srs. M. Regis and Patrick, the other three were only just professed.
Sr. M. Regis was appointed Matron. £95 per annum.
Sr. Patrick and Teresa assistants. £65 per annum.
As there were regular transfers between Charleville, Kilmallock, Buttevant, and Midleton it is not surprising that by 1910 all of the Foundation Sisters had been replaced.
As Sr. M. Benedict was not replaced, the community numbered four from 1899 until arrival of Sr. M. Gabriel in 1910.
During the War of Independence, 1919-1921 and the Civil War 1922-1923 many workhouses had undergone military occupation and had been damaged or burnt down. Following Independence the workhouse system was changed. Unions and Boards of Guardians were abolished and replaced by County Boards of Health or County Boards of Public Assistance.
Midleton was now part of the South Cork County District. Institutions to be provided under the new scheme were Cottage Hospitals. A Cottage Hospital for Midleton was opened 12 December 1938 by the Minster for Local Government and Public Health, Sean T. O’Kelly. The cost of the building and equipment was £18,000, ⅔ of which came from the Irish Sweepstake Hospital Trusts and the balance from the Local Authority by way of loan. It was built in the old Workhouse Infirmary. Old people and the destitute continued to be accommodated in District Home but acute cases were transferred to the Cottage Hospital, The administration of the new hospital continued with the existing nursing and medical staff with the addition of four extra staff.
The 1950s -1960s was a period of refurbishing, re-stocking and updating in all County and District Homes and Midleton was no exception. The staffing situation began to improve in the 1950s and around this time the institution was named Our Lady of Lourdes Home & Hospital. In the 1960s the District Home and Hospital in Midleton had 210 beds.
The opening of Welfare Homes in Midleton and Youghal in 1975 was the signal for the exodus from Our Lady of Lourdes. Only the hospitalised were allowed to stay. About forty-five residents were transferee so that one unit stood empty. This section was later demolished.
October 15th 1992 was the centenary of the Mercy Sisters coming to Midleton from Charleville. To honour the occasion Midleton Urban Council accorded a civic reception to the Sisters of Mercy for their remarkable service to the sick and the needy of Midleton and East Cork. In 1994 the Sister of Mercy retired from the post of matron though Sisters still continued to work there and also held the post of assistant matron until 2007.
In 1998 the Sisters moved out of hospital accommodation to a house in the town one Sisters still lives and continues to work in the hospital.
Southern Province 