The Priest in Wexford, Fr. James Lucey, wanted to establish a convent in the town to offer education to the poor and to provide care for the many sick and dying. While responding to the many requests for new foundations was difficult, Catherine McAuley agreed to send Sisters to Wexford as it was still suffering the aftermath of the 1798 Rising. This rebellion against the presence of the British in the country was particularly severe in the Wexford area.
On 8th December, 1840 four Sisters – Mary Teresa Kelly, Mary Gertrude Kinsella, Mary Aloysius Redmond and Mary Brigid Hacket set out from the Carlow foundation to go to Wexford. Such a journey today could take place in an hour. However in those days travel was much slower, usually by horse drawn coach. This proved tedious and difficult in the best of weather conditions. However on this day, particularly difficult conditions resulted in an accident along the way. The willingness of the coachman to go for help in nearby Enniscorthy made the completion of the journey possible.
Fr. Lucey had provided a house for the Sisters, but the winter was very severe, with water freezing and with very little heat. However, as in so many other places, local help saw them through. They got involved in education and visitation and are still present in the town today.
Southern Province 