Stradbally Convent Past Pupils Gathering In 1947 Bishop Cohalan of Waterford and Lismore visited Mercy Convent School in Stradbally and advised the Convent not to take on any new "Nuns". It was the beginning of the end. In the later years, it must have being very challenging for the teaching Sisters, to work in the school all day and go home to the Convent in the evenings to mind the old and sick Sisters and back to work again the following morning . There is no doubt that these Mercy Sisters were a remarkable group of woman, the 1901 Census data show that every girl in Stradbally who had gone to the convent did learn to read and write. A short time before the Nuns arrived to teach, Illiteracy was as high as 63% for females in the parish. Besides teaching the "Nuns" visited the poor and sick helping best they could.They also farmed the land selling the produce in local shops and in Dungarvan. Sr Philomena was the last surviving Sister of Stradbally Convent (died 2007). When the Convent closed in 1988 Mrs Maureen Power became the first lay person to become principal of the Girls School. The Gathering( all events including Mass in the Girls School) is on Saturday July the 6th. Mass at 11 am. followed by a brief history of the Sisters time in Stradbally. An engraved stone to mark the years 1875-1988 "Sisters of Mercy" will be unveiled. One class room will showcase the Sisters in words and in picture. We are also delighted that "Stradbally na Déise 11" will be launched at the Gathering. The present pupils have their imput into this publication. A sample of the intricate lacework, now over a hundred years old will be on display. Finally, everybody is welcome, past pupil or not, a cup of tea and a chat afterwards.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 06:40:26 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015