The Sisters of Mercy at St. Mary’s Nenagh have had in their safekeeping a Chalice and Paten dated 1589 which was presented to them on their first arrival in Nenagh in 1854 by the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr. Daniel Vaughan. The sacred vessels were thought to belong to the suppressed Franciscan Abbey in Nenagh but research carried out by the National Museum believes them to be associated with patrons of Holy Cross Abbey. They were commissioned by T P and I E P, initials used by Barons of Loughmoe in Co Tipperary.

To ensure their continued protection and to share the ancient beauty of this Chalice and Paten the Provincial Leadership Team SCP have approved of their donation to the National Museum for permanent display. This donation of the Sisters of Mercy, who have been custodians of the treasures for nearly 160 years, will soon have a privileged position in the National Museum. The following extract from a letter from Raghnall O’Flionn, head of collections in the museum, shows the high regard in which the Chalice and Paten are held and appreciation of their donation by the Sisters of Mercy:

“I am writing to express my sincere thanks for the gracious and generous donation of these objects which are major additions to the national collections”.

A small, beautifully decorated Pyx dated 1647 is also being donated to the museum. Though in safekeeping in St. Mary’s Nenagh for many years, nobody seems to know its provenance. It belonged to James Phelan, Bishop of Ossry from 1669 – 1695 and was presented to him on the occasion of his becoming Dean of Ossry in 1647.

The Pyx “is comparable in its execution and significance to the chalice and paten of 1589. Both are superb pieces of ecclesiastical metalwork”. (Raghnall O’Flionn) 

South Central Province