St.
Anne's Convent of Mercy
Mohill (Sr. Mary Doherty) |
Easter
Monday 31 March 1880 was an outstanding day in the history of Mohill,
when four Sisters from the Convent of Mercy, Longford, drove through
the quiet town, to take possession of a small building on the hill.
These sisters were: Sr. Aloysius Martin, Sr. Agnes Ryan, Sr. M dePazzi
McDermott and Sr. Stanislaus Tunney. They had come at the invitation
of Right Rev. Dean Eivers, P.P. Mohill, who through lack of funds
could offer but scant accommodation to the Sisters. He had renovated
and raised a second storey on the existing one storey school.(The
North West wing of the existing convent). The upper portion was
to be the sisters living quarters for the next ten years, while
the school work continued downstairs.
In November 1890 this less
than adequate school, was replaced by the much needed new two storey
building on the opposite side of the road. (The present Primary
School) The school was officially blessed by Rev. Dr. Woodlock.
It was thus that St. Joseph's Primary school began. In 1936 a new
addition was made. Owing to the decline in rural population in the
70's, the rural schools of the parish were closed but their pupils
and teachers continued their work in the town schools. In 1976 a
special school was added to the existing primary school. All of
this led to a need for further extension of the Primary School.
The difficulty was quickly overcome, however, when the sisters offered
a good existing building, which was converted into a three roomed
infant school. (St. Oliver's). The year 1979 saw this building much
improved by the addition of a general purpose room and other amenities.
In 1997/98 a further extension was made. This consisted of three
modern classrooms, a Basket ball court, and a playing field. All
of these together with the beautiful Arboretum planted on the occasion
of the Schools Centenary celebration in1990 leaves our students
with a very beautiful school and surroundings today. Thanks to the
foresight and dedication of Sr. Celine who accomplished all of these
during her principalship. The successive principals were: Sr. M
dePazzi, Sr. Aloysius Martin, Sr. Berchmans Bermingham, Sr. Michael
Condon, Sr. Stanislaus, and Sr. Celine. Mrs Brid McMahon carries
the torch into this new century. In early days the sisters were
assisted in their work by many lay teachers(monitresses). These
included Misses Maura Sheeley, Rose Gilligan, Brid Gavigan, Evelyn
Hawkes, Ettie Griffin(mother of Sr. Rose Macken), Rose O'Brien,
Josie Flynn and Sarah Gilmore who later became Sr. Stanislaus. These
assistant teachers had lodgings with the sisters in the limited
accommodation they had over the existing school in those very early
days.
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The Sisters integrated into
the local community and did much to alleviate the distress and poverty
which were widespread at the time. Through house visitation they
brought spiritual and material help to many. In addition to the
work of teaching, the sisters - in 1882 - acceded to the request
of the medical authorities to take charge of the Workhouse and school
attached to it. At that time there were 300 patients
in the workhouse. Sr. Clare Banahan was sent from Longford to do
this work. Sr. Patrick O'Sullivan later took charge of the school
there. She was assisted by Sisters Aloysius Martin and Berchmans
Bermingham. This good work they continued until its closure in 1922.
In 1923 through the generosity of John Farrell, Esq., a new chapel
was erected and the following year the convent as it exists today
was completed. At this time also, there was a donation of land from
the Burbage family, this was just another example of a kindly gesture
experienced by the sisters from a parishioner.
By the middle of the twentieth
century the need for Second Level Education was being felt all over
Ireland. The Sisters answered the call of the young people of Mohill.
Sr. Clare Fox, from her sick bed, had a vision for Secondary Education
in Mohill and in 1949 she started a 'Secondary Top'. Thirteen students
enrolled that year. The Secondary Top evolved and developed, the
number of pupils on roll increased but funds were low, so the Sisters
found it necessary to give over a complete wing of their convent
to provide the needed accommodation. Later they realised that nothing
less than a complete new school would meet the needs of the student
population, Marian College became a reality in 1969. I was officially
opened by Minister Brian Lenihan and blessed By Most Rev. Dr. Cahal
Daly. Successive principals were: Srs. Clare Fox, Goretti, Oliver,
Ciaran, Emmanuel, Mr Matt Gaffey and Sr. Helen Keegan.
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St.
Anne's Convent - 1964
Srs. Martha Bolger, Sr. Angela Clarkson, Sr. M. Celine Keegan,
Sr. Oliver Kelly, Sr. Odran McKeon, Sr. Goretti McDermott, Sr.
Aquin Dunning, Sr. Aloysius Nerney. Sr. Clare Fox, Sr. Stanislaus
Gilmore, Sr. Therese Treacy, Sr. Brigid Manning, Sr. Attracta
Manning, Sr. Maura Conlon, Sr. Ignatius Dalton.
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Bishop Cahal Daly speaking
at the Centenary celebration of St. Anne's Convent of Mercy Mohill
15th April 1980 had the following to say: 'Rarely is a religious
community so closely involved in the life of the town and parish where
they are situated, as is the community of the Sisters of Mercy of
Mohill. Rightly are the members of this religious community held in
high esteem and affection of the people of the town and parish. Mohill,
past and present, owes much to the Sisters of Mercy of this community.
Its people are proud of them, loyal to them, generous in support of
all that they are trying to do for the building of God's kingdom'.
Never did these words ring more true than in the last few months of
last year, when we Sisters of Mercy were faced with the painful but
hope - filled decision of closing St. Anne's Convent and having to
part with life-long companions on our Faith journey. Yes, a convent
and a people held in much affection, closed on the 26th November 1999,
but it was only a building that was closed. We know that these words
could be written in reverse, for we too hold the people of Mohill
in high esteem and affection, and want to offer them at all times
only the very best. It is an extraordinary providence that our new
home, beautifully built for us by one of Mohill's very own and past
pupil of our school Vincent Moran, is located, commanding a view of
our schools, the places where the sisters have laboured faithfully
for the past 120 years. As we take baby steps into this new millennium
we have experienced one of the greatest events of Mohill's Cultural
History -The Millennium Concert, a magical moment never to be forgotten,
an event brought about by a Sister of Mercy - Sr. Nora Keenan, who
was ably assisted by talented and generous choir members. Soon, we
are about to see the present Marian College building, replaced by
a new school building suitable for the development, not just of mind
and body but soul and spirit of the students in its educational environment.
To quote the architect, "We must create a built environment that
allows for the development of the body, mind and spirit together.
The process we engaged in, looked at cultivating and enhancing the
student." And it too falls to the lot of a Sister of Mercy to
carry this project to its completion. We thank Sr. Helen Keegan for
her generosity in making herself available for this momentous project.
True to the Mohill spirit, we know that Sr. Helen will not be alone,
but will also be ably assisted in bringing about this worthwhile task
by the fine group of colleagues with whom she works.
(Article written in 2000)
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