On December 14th 1875, applications were made by the Waterford Board of Guardians, to the Clonakilty community to take charge of the Workhouse Hospital. On September 23rd1876 Rev. Mother Genevieve, Sisters Catherine, Lelia, Attracta, Columba and Cora together with two Sisters from Skibbereen, Joseph and Gonzaga, left for Waterford. Dr. O’Hea, Bishop of Cork blessed their new home and the work they were about to undertake at St. Patrick’s John’s Hill.
The establishment of the Free State did away with the Workhouse and in their place, County hospitals and County Homes were provided for the sick and poor. Consequently St. Patricks, John’s Hill, became a County Hospital and the poor were accommodated at the County Home, Dungarvan. St. Patrick’s remained as a County Hospital until 1959, when the acute services were transferred to Ardkeen Hospital which up to that time was a Sanatorium. At present there are no sisters as active nurses there, but are in full time Pastoral Ministry in the Hospital. St. Patrick’s serves the needs of geriatric patients and has recently set up a therapy unit for stroke and accident cases. This hospital gives excellent service to its patients
Southern Province 