The famine and its aftermath mark one of the darkest chapters in the history of Doon parish. In one six month period alone over 300 people died and from 1847 to 1853 the number of houses in the parish decreased from 982 to 375. The horrors of the Famine were compounded by the activity of proselytizers and some who were desperate due to hunger and eviction succumbed to them. The arrival of the Sisters of Mercy on 7th February, 1865, from Kinsale, County Cork helped to transform the parish and surrounding area. Fr. Patrick Hickey, Parish Priest of Doon 1824 – 1864 was responsible for their coming, having left them his house and farm; his niece Mother M. Augustine Hickey was the leader of the group.
A few weeks later the first Postulant entered. She was Jane Greene of Glengar, from the hills above Doon. Religious instruction and visitation of the sick were the main works at first. There was no school so Sunday classes were conducted in a small part of the garden called ‘The Bower.’ Building began and schools and additions to the convent were completed. The first school was ready in 1868 and around 1878 a small boarding school was started for children who were too far away to attend daily; some of the students had lost parents and came from various parts of the country.
The schools flourished, primary, technical classes and secondary and were renowned for success in choral and plain chant competitions and for the number of girls who went on to become Sisters in Ireland and on the missions. One of the first documentaries on Irish television was the Radharc programme on ‘The parish with the most vocations in Ireland – Doon, County Limerick.’ For the centenary celebration of the convent, 1965, it was established that 296 girls from the schools had become Sisters throughout the century. Branch houses founded from Doon were The Hospital of the Assumption, Thurles, 1877, Cappamore, 1896, Newport, 1901, St. Patrick’s College, 1950, St. Mel’s, Fair Oaks, California, 1959 and St. Dunstan’s. Millbrae, California, 1972.
From Doon to:
1895 Cappamore, Co Limerick
1877 Hospital of the Assumption, (Workhouse), Thurles, Co Tipperary
1896 Cappamore, Co Limerick
1901 Newport, Co Tipperary
1950 Thurles, Co Tipperary
1959 St. Mel’s, Fair Oaks, California, US
1972 St. Dunstan’s, Milbrae, California, US
Baggot Street | Carlow | Limerick | Birr | Templemore
Doon | Abbeyfeale | Rathangan | New Inn
