Mount Errigal, Co Donegal
Ballyshannon
The River Erne
Castle Street
The Sisters of Mercy came to Ballyshannon, from Kinsale, Co. Cork in 1867, on the invitation of Most Rev. Daniel Mc Gettigan, Bishop of Raphoe. As was the custom with other Mercy foundations, the Sisters set to work immediately. On 18th May, 1867, their first school, of very humble origins, was opened under the care of Sister Ignatius Mc Carthy, the first Superior of the new foundation. She was accompanied on that foundation by Sisters M. de Sales, Borgia Hurley and Veronica Rearden.
Today’s Community Care Centre, the site where the first Sisters of Mercy stayed before the convent was built
Over the next few years, the Sisters were joined by other young women and consequently, in 1874, three of the initial pioneering group returned to Kinsale, leaving behind Mother M. Ignatius as Mother Superior of the young community.
Sr. M. Patrick O’ Sullivan who was the second Superior of St. Catherine’s Convent
In 1881 the Sisters moved into an, as yet, unfinished new building and three years later on March 17th, 1884, their new convent was blessed. For this, the Sisters were greatly indebted to William Stephens Junior, Ballyshannon, who bequeathed an acre of land as a site for a convent and £1,500 for its erection.
The Convent of Mercy, 1884
During the ten years which followed Mother Ignatius’ death in 1888, many young women applied to join the young community of seven Sisters. This led to a time of expansion and growth as seen in the following initiatives: More>>
Mercy In Donegal Today
Mercy Sisters live and work in a number of towns in Donegal today – Ballyshannon, Ballybofey/Stranorlar, Bundoran, Donegal Town, Dungloe, Glenties and Letterkenny. There are also Mercy Sisters in Buncrana and Moville, both convents in the Diocese of Derry. Following the Union of all Mercy Congregations in the country in 1994, Raphoe and Derry Dioceses both became part of the Northern Province of the Sisters of Mercy. Below are some of the places where the Sisters live or work:
Ballyshannon Convent Today
St. Patrick’s Church of the Four Masters, Donegal Town
Church of Mary Immaculate, Stranorlar (1867)
Family Enrichment Centre, Stranorlar
Glor na Mara and Gardens, Bundoran
The former convent in Moville, now known as “Taobh na Cille”
St. Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny
Stonepark – the Sisters’ first house in Glenties
“Dia Linn”, Glenties
Dungloe
In the various towns of Donegal, Mercy Ministry takes a variety of forms. These could be summarised as follows:
Involvement In Parish/Diocesan Ministry
