Mercy education in Carrick-on-Suir is 150 years old
Convent of Mercy 1910
In 1874, when then parish priest of Carrick-on-Suir, Reverend Dr Fitzgerald invited the Sisters of Mercy in Wexford, few would have expected the tradition of Mercy education to be alive and well 150 years later. Nonetheless, on this, the sesquicentennial anniversary of Mercy education in Carrick-on-Suir, Scoil Mhuire is still flying the flag for the Mercy tradition.
Carrick-on-Suir was buzzing with energy on Saturday, September 28, as the town came together to celebrate the remarkable milestone, which was marked by a special Mass in St. Nicholas’ Church.
The Sisters of Mercy have played a huge role in shaping education and care in the town, and this celebration was all about honouring their legacy.
The Sisters of Mercy have been a fixture in Carrick-on-Suir since they opened their first secondary school in 1874 and acted as pioneers in providing second-level education in the town for girls in the South East.
At that time, many families in the town lived in dire poverty, so breakfast and midday meals were provided for the children, as well as footwear and clothing in many cases.
In addition, sisters visited homes, nursing the sick and dying.
The sisters even took over responsibility of the hospital attached to the local workhouse, providing even more care to the community.
In line with the ethos of Catherine McAuley, who founded the Sisters of Mercy, the sisters ran a House of Mercy, an institution to educate girls to prepare them for skilled employment and homemaking duties. Founded in 1890, the House of Mercy was eventually replaced by Saint Joseph’s Technical College, which was established under the Department of Education.
The sisters set up the first Scoil Mhuire as a secondary school in the early 20th century, along with a junior school, St Anne’s and later a boarding school. Following the introduction of free secondary education in 1967, a decision was made to build a new secondary school on a greenfield site at Greenhill, Carrick-on-Suir. The school that opened in Greenhill is the school we all know today, Scoil Mhuire opened 50 years ago in 1974.
In 1974, the principal was Sr Benedict Andrews and Ms Helen O’Mahony was vice principal with 590 students enrolled. In the five decades since its foundation, Scoil Mhuire has continued to develop a reputation for high academic standards and sporting success enabled by a welcoming and pastoral approach for its students.
Now in this 150th celebration year, 486 students are enrolled with Ms Mary O’Keeffe as principal, assisted by Ms Michelle Sullivan, deputy principal. Programmes on offer in the school include the Junior Cycle, Transition Year programme, traditional Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Applied Programme and Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme.
To celebrate the occasion a celebratory mass was organised with Bishop Cullinan, who reflected on the incredible impact that the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine McAuley, and Scoil Mhuire have had on students and the entire community.
The Bishop spoke about how the work of the Sisters has not only provided education but also served as a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations of young people and educators alike.
Following the Mass, the celebration continued at Scoil Mhuire, where former and current students, staff, teachers, and members of the local community gathered to pay tribute to the school’s extraordinary history.
It was a day of pride and reflection, as stories were shared, and memories were relived. A commemorative plaque was unveiled by Sr. Paschal Jones and Sr. Anna Holden to mark the occasion, a permanent reminder of the school’s contribution to education in Carrick-on-Suir.
The words of one attendee summed up the mood perfectly: “Driving back in here is surreal. I can feel the warmth as I approach the door. Loved the fun and the friends made for life.” It was a testament to the lasting impact that Scoil Mhuire and the Sisters of Mercy have had on the lives of so many.
As Scoil Mhuire looks forward to the future, the celebration of this 150-year journey stands as a powerful reminder of how education and faith can transform lives, just as the Sisters of Mercy set out to do back in 1874.
