Fore Abbey. A 13th Century Benedictine Abbey founded by St. Feichin
Brief Background History
In the original Gaelic divisions “Mide” was in fact a fifth Province and incorporated what is now Westmeath as well as the present Co Meath, the large parts of Cavan and Longford. Westmeath covers what was the northern part of the province, known as Teffia. Granted to the de Lacys in the 12th century it was never defeated or exploited as intensively as the de Lacy possessions further to the east and by the end of the 13th century it had reverted to the Gaelic Irish.
It was separated from Meath and became a county in its own right in 1541. After the final defeat by Cromwell, there were huge confiscations of land in the region and virtually none of the original properties survived. Westmeath is also well-known as the Lake County!
Today there is a Mercy presence in Kilbeggan, Mullingar and Rochfortbridge.
Rochfortbridge
Convent and Chapel, Rochfortbridge
On 21st August, 1862, three professed Sisters and one Postulant left Tullamore to found a new convent and primary school in Rochfortbridge. more>>
Kilbeggan
Convent of Mercy, Kilbeggan
On 10th February 2010, the doors closed and the community moved to a new house on the Tullamore Road, Kilbeggan
On 8th December, 1879 a foundation of four Sisters left Rochfortbridge to establish the Convent of Mercy in Kilbeggan. The Sisters lived in their first home until 1896 in Main Street. more>>
Mullingar
Mercy presence in Mullingar began when, in 1896, it was decided that the Sisters of Mercy from Tullamore should establish a community in the Workhouse, which had been built in 1841.
In fact, the Tullamore Sisters missioned three ‘branch houses’ to Mullingar – the Workhouse (now St. Mary’s Hospital), the County Hospital (now Midland Regional Hospital) and St. Finian’s College were served by the Sisters. These units did not become independent convents, but remained subject to the ‘mother house’ in Tullamore with which they maintained close links. more>>
Although the day-to-day activities of the Sisters have changed their living remains true to the Mercy vocation.
• Prayer
