Convent School in Ennis, 1855

Convent School in Ennis, 1855

Sisters of Mercy Ennis, County Clare

In 1854 four Sisters came from Limerick convent to set up a new foundation in Ennis, County Clare. Many young women joined the new foundation, and the number of Sisters grew dramatically. The Sisters worked in schools, the workhouse, and in the parish. In Ireland in the late nineteenth century there were very few opportunities for women in terms of education and employment. Many found that in religious life they were afforded opportunities to run schools, hospitals and other institutions, to be educated and to travel. Patrick Corish and David Sheahy, in "Records of the Catholic Church" (Dublin 2001) estimate that by 1900 there were 8,000 women religious in Ireland, in 37 religious orders. It was remarkable that the convent in Ennis was in a position to send ten Sisters to Hokitika, as well as making other foundations in Ireland, the United States and New South Wales between 1854 and 1963.
This Diary tells the story of the voyage of the ten Sisters from Plymouth to Hokitika, a journey that began on 1 August 1878 and ended on 15 October of the same year.

Sisters of Mercy, Ennis

Sisters of Mercy Archive, Ennis Collection

Sisters of Mercy Archive

1854-1963

Dunne, Joan

All rights reserved

Sister Pius O'Brien, "The Sisters of Mercy of Ennis" (Limerick 1992)

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Irelsnd in 19th Century