1875-1991
The Convent of Mercy, Stradbally, Co. Waterford, was founded in 1875 from Cappoquin, at the request of the Parish Priest of Stradbally, Rev. Thomas Casey. He was distressed at the appalling conditions of the place after the Famine. Furthermore the standard of education was so low and the soup kitchens run by the Protestant community enticing many starving Catholics . Fr. Casey appealed to the Cappoquin Mercy Convent for help.
On May 20th, 1875, Rev. Mother Catherine Devereux, Superior, Cappoquin, arrived in Stradbally, accompanied by three professed Sisters, Sr. M Joseph Mahoney, Sr. M Patrick Keane and Sr. Veronica Farrell and a novice, Sr. Cecelia Fortune. This convent remained a branch of Cappoquin for nine months and meanwhile another novice, Sr. M St. Michael O’Neill, came from Cappoquin. The 1876 Stradbally convent became an independent house and Sr. M. Joseph was appointed the first superior with Sr. M Patrick as her assistant. In less than twelve months five postulants joined them. They suffered severe loss in the deaths of their young Sisters in the following years. Sr. Zita O’Connor died 1882; Sr. Agnes Casey died 1884; Sr. Carthage English died in 1889 and Sr. Ignatius Cummins in 1889.
Fr. Casey P.P. assigned his own house and 37 acres of land to the Sisters, but he was to retain possession of it during his lifetime. In the meantime he procured a house, free of rent, for the Sisters, promising to pay rate, rent and taxes. The house was known as Myrtle Lodge, beside the Protestant Rectory, situated in the village and separated from the street by a small lawn and there was an excellent garden to the rear. The drawback to this house was the inconvenient distance from the church and school, both of which were situated about a quarter of a mile from the village. Without delay the Sisters set about their work in the school. The attendance was very low at first, but in a short time the numbers doubled so that soon the accommodation was found to be inadequate.
The Sisters were obliged to purchase, from their own means, a small house near the church, owned by a poor widow, who the Sisters took care of till her death. The Sisters established a Sunday School in order to instruct poor girls, obliged through poverty to go to work, while still very young. Besides teaching from the catechism, they also devoted some time to the practice of letter writing.
Applications from postulants came in quick succession, one being from a wealthy widow, whose husband, Mr. O’Mahony, had been Inspector of Schools in the district. Great was the amusement amongst the juvenile members of the community, when this news was announced. The widow arrived in due course. It was apparent almost from the beginning, that Sr. Mary was not destined for Stradbally. One evening at recreation, she asked Rev. Mother, as a favour, that if she died during her novitiate, she might be laid to rest by her beloved husband’s side, in Glasnevin Cemetery. After a few years, she left Stradbally.
The ceremonies of Reception and Profession took place in the Parish Church. The Bishop, Rev. W.J. Power, presided at the first Reception and a priest was engaged to preach a sermon, suitable to the occasion. Rev. Mother Joseph left nothing undone to make each ceremony a success, and with her characteristic large-heartedness , generosity and hospitality, many and varied were the dishes she prepared with her own hands for the luncheon. When the Cappoquin community went to replace the Clonakilty Sisters in Kilmacthomas on May 20th 1878, Rev. Mother Joseph sent Mother M. Patrick and Sr. M. Gertrude to help them for one year.
In 1880, Rev. Mother Joseph’s health began to fail and the Bishop appointed Mother M Patrick Superior of the convent. About this time, a young sister, who had come on the foundation from Cappoquin and a novice belonging to the Stradbally community, volunteered to go to Brisbane with Mother Brigid Conlon, who had come to Ireland in search of subjects. Unfortunately neither of them persevered in religion.
Fr. Thomas Casey P.P. continued on very friendly terms with the community up to this time, but for some unaccountable reason, he now became quite antagonistic and failed to fulfil his part of the contract in regard to paying the rent for Myrtle Lodge and also for providing a horse and car to take the Sisters to the School and Church in wet weather. The sisters suffered a good deal from wettings and one of their most active members, Sr. M. Cecelia, developed rapid consumption and died. About this time, the Sisters held Sunday School in Ballyvoile in the far distant end of the parish. The Sisters attended, carrying a small bell which they rang at Ballyvoile cross, at the sound of which, about sixty children, boys and girls, came to a small room, put at their disposal by a woman named Mrs. Power.
As the numbers increased, the accommodation at Myrtle Lodge became inadequate. Mother Joseph purchased Mr. Hannigan’s interest in the Hotel, which was then on the market. A bazaar was organised and with the proceeds, £300, a back wing and a cloister was added to the building. This house too had its drawbacks, principally because it was situated on the Square, where the Fair, with all its attended noises, was held.
In 1885, the Parish Priest, Fr. Casey died and immediately after the month’s mind, the Sisters took possession of the ‘Big House’ on the hill, (now the Convent) which they named Mount St. Joseph’s, not without experiencing some disagreebleness on the part of the deceased’ nephew, who demanded compensation to which he was not legally entitled, but Mother Patrick acquiesced for peace sake. The community gave six acres of land where a new presbytery was built and still exists there today (2014).
In the year 1887, the Guardians of the Lismore Union advertised for three nuns. With the sanction of the Bishop, Most Rev. John Power, Mother Patrick applied for the positions. It happened that the Cappoquin Sisters also applied with the approval of the Assistant Bishop, Most Rev. Pierce Power. Mother Patrick was willing to withdraw her application, but was overruled by the Parish Priest, Fr. Burke, and other friends who considered a wider sphere of action necessary for the Stradbally Community. The matter was finally decided by the vote of the Guardians, the majority being in favour of the Stradbally community. On being advised of the result, Mother Patrick and her Assistant proceeded to Lismore to make arrangements about the Sisters’ accommodation and other business connected with their life in Lismore. When all the necessary preparations had been made, the three Sisters, Sr. Angela, Sr. Ignatius and Mother Patrick – arrived in Lismore on September 24th 1889, to begin their new mission. There were still some problems to be overcome, not least the question of a chaplain. In time these difficulties were resolved and the Sisters continued to work in Lismore for many years.
Besides their work in the school and the hospital in Lismore, the Sisters employed some girls in a small industry of shirt and vestment making, as well as weaving of linen, cambric and woollens which flourished for some time. The following is a testimony to its success;
“ Lovers of hand-woven linens will be glad to hear that the weaving industry, which was started about two years ago by the Sisters of the Convent of Mercy, Stradbally, Co. Waterford, is working wonderfully well. The district around Stradbally is one of the poorest in the country and there is no employment to be got for women. The Sisters, therefore, started this industry in order to help them, and already it is paying for itself without any other resources. They can, however, employ only about 10 girls at present, whereas, if the public would assist and give orders, work might be given to double or treble that number. They make lovely coloured linens, suitable for summer coats and skirts, children’s frocks, servants morning gowns, and many purposes of house decoration, and also dusters, glass cloths, rubbers, etc. Lady Cadogan recently gave an order for Stradbally linen and expressed herself in being much pleased with them. Lady Mayo can also testify to their excellence and it is hoped that the public generally will support this most deserving industry” ( THE IRISH TIMES. OCTOBER 30th 1895.)
Mother M. Gertrude Fitzgerald succeeded Mother Patrick as Superior, but before the latter finished her term of office, she engaged Mr. Hynes, Engineer, to draw up a plan and specifications for the remodelling of and building an addition to the convent in Stradbally. They were carried out in due course. A there were absolutely no funds for this purpose, the parish priest secured a loan from the Munster and Leinster Bank, Dungarvan, at reasonable terms, which the Sisters were able to pay off after some years. In 1889, Mr. Doolin, Architect, Dublin, was invited to supply a plan and specifications for the building of a school, which was duly carried out and for which purpose, the Board of Works advanced a grant of £416-19-4. The remaining portion – £208-9-8 –was to be supplied by local aid, but as a matter of fact, this was also borrowed from the Munster and Leinster Bank and was similarly paid off by the Sisters after some time. When the Sisters finished at Lismore (Workhouse) and returned to Stradbally, all their energies were concentrated on the school, visitation of the sick and the parish choir. From the late forties no new members joined the community and the older Sisters were passing away.
In June 1967, the Stradbally community was amalgamated with Carrick-on-Suir and from then on, Sisters from Carrick helped in the school and in the house. When the Union of the Diocese took place in1985 the community had dwindled to three Sisters. In January 1986 two Sisters to Stradbally. A lay principal was appointed in the Primary School when the last Sister died in October.
In 1988 the convent was closed and the remaining Sisters were allowed choose which community in the diocese they wished to join. The convent was finally sold in July 1991.
Southern Province 