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 B k R . (L
R) 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. It 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 and Mr Matt Gaffey. Today Sr. Helen Keegan continues
their good work.
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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. |
Bishop Cathal 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 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.
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