Ben Bulben, Sligo
Bethany, Chapel Hill, Sligo
We are a community of six who live in picturesque Sligo. From the top windows of our home we look out on Ben Bulben; the Garravogue river, which flows into beautiful Lough Gill, is only a five minute walk from our front door. We live in an old cut stone building which was formerly a primary school. Some of the present community began their teaching career in this building which is one of our oldest Mercy schools in Sligo. Sometimes we imagine we hear former teachers, Mercy Sisters, who worked so hard to educate thousands of poor children walk the corridors late at night!
We are unique because, though each of us lives in an apartment/unit, we are very much a community with common spaces for praying, eating and recreating. We share a common search for God which we try to express in the quality of our presence to one another and to all those whom we meet. We express in our varied ministries the values of our Mercy way of life especially justice, compassion, concern for those who are disadvantaged and for our planet. Hospitality is one of our key values. Do come to visit with us!
Convent of Mercy, Collooney, Sligo
The Sisters of Mercy came to Collooney from Swinford, Co Mayo in 1909 at the invitation of Canon O’Rourke. At the time of their arrival, there was no convent so they resided in a house on Main Street, which still stands. In 1923 the present Convent – officially known as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel was completed and different generations of Sisters have lived here and been part of the local community ever since.
Situated strategically on a height with a commanding view of Union Mountains and the spectacular Waterfalls right beside us, it is indeed, a nice place to live. The town is well serviced with eight trains each day leaving for Dublin and back. We can boast of three churches, three schools, a Health Centre built on Convent grounds, a Bank, Credit Union, Chemist, State of the art Creche opened by President McAleese, numerous shops and the inevitable takeaways. Once we were on the main road to Dublin, but since the building of the new highway, to find us you take the third exit off the Roundabout, make for the spire of the Church and you are here.
A far cry, indeed from the early days of the last century, the era of the donkey and cart. The Sisters taught in the existing Primary School. When the present Convent was completed in 1923, the education of the girls was left in the hands of the Sisters. Three rooms in the Convent were given over for classrooms and the three sisters who taught there are still revered among the older residents.
In 1928 the Primary school was completed and believe it or not it is still a hive of academic activity, and in near pristine condition, and awaiting the Department of Education to provide a new amalgamated school in the area. Down the years, there has been an unbroken affinity between us and the Parish.
In older days, there were many needy families to which the sisters attended and indeed visitation is still part and parcel of our daily lives. They were also organists in the church and trained the local choir. Piano lessons were given in the Convent, and in 1959 Sr. Phyl Clancy founded the Colooney Band, which went from strength to strength and graced many an occasion down the years. They won various prizes at St. Patrick’s Day Parades and played on R.T.E. programmes. Involvement in Community Games has been a highlight and much credit is due is to the Sisters who worked with them at projects and winning gold medals at national level on many occasions.
At present there are six of us residing in Mt. Carmel and according to calculation, the sum total of our combined ages comes to 430 years – give or take – and even though we are officially retired our get up and go has by no means got up and gone yet thank God. Between us we cover such areas as Counselling, Literacy, Credit Union, Social Services, Tidy Towns, Samaritans, Health Centre Management, Vincent de Paul, Parish Church, Prayer Groups, teaching travellers, as well as the internal running of the house and we have time to give to prayer as well as enjoying life.
8, Cleveragh Road, Sligo
No. 8 Cleveragh Road is situated in the East ward of Sligo town, just off Pearse Road and on the edge of the Cranmore housing estate. The community currently has two members all involved in full–time ministry outside the house.
• One Sister works in the Mercy Secondary School as a School Chaplain.
• Another Sister works in the Primary school in Special Education.
At parish level our involvement with the local people includes having the celebration of Liturgy in the house for our neighbours once a month. One Sister sings with St. Anne’s parish choir and another is a Eucharistic Minister.
Our Lady of Mercy, St Patrick’s Avenue, Sligo
Our present community live in a picturesque setting. It commands a good view of Sligo town and environs. A mountain range fills the background. The approach to our house is a short tree lined avenue called St Patrick’s. The house is surrounded by a large garden, which ensures privacy and quietness for community living.
We are in this dwelling since 1993 when we vacated the originally established Sligo Mercy convent. The original convent is within view of our present dwelling and is now called Globe House – a dwelling for foreign nationals.
In 1846 a small colony of Sisters from Westport arrived in Sligo at the invitation of the local clergy and their mission was founded in poverty at the time of the famine. The first house was a small dwelling in Jail Street but they soon moved to a more suitable dwelling in George Street. This was one of two houses owned by a Protestant corn merchant. The second house was occupied by a gentleman and his wife who took umbrage at their new neighbours and sought to get rid of them on the plea that they were annoyed by the tolling of bells at regular times. The owner turned a deaf ear to the couple and refused to take any rent from the Sisters.
The Sisters immediately engaged in catechetical instruction and in visitation of the sick and poor. A convent was built for them near the then parish Church on Chapel Hill, built by subscriptions from Protestants and Catholics and by free labour. The Quakers helped the Sisters with substantial contributions of food and clothing for the destitute and sick. The cholera epidemic spread to Sligo, claiming the lives of many including two doctors and a Dominican friar. The Sisters were summoned to attend patients in the fever hospital as many of the nurses had fled in panic. In 1849 the Sisters moved to their new convent. Now that the Cholera panic had ceased and conditions in general had improved preparation for the opening of schools commenced. Many young girls were attracted to the Sisters’ way of life and were admitted as Postulants. St. Patrick’s Convent was now firmly established as the mother house of the Elphin Diocese. An increase in numbers led to the founding of communities in several towns. Their members responded to the need for teachers and nurses, while also nurturing the traditional prayer, house and hospitality ministries. This work continues to the present day and Sisters are involved in many aspects of pastoral ministry and voluntary social work. There is also a well organised outreach to African and Latin-American missions. A Cead Mile Failte awaits all who care to visit us.
1, St. Patrick’s Avenue, Sligo
We are a community of three Sisters, one fully retired and two semi-retired. We share community living through prayer, caring for each other, sharing faith and community chores.
One Sister although fully retired continues to support the community particularly in the area of maintaining community accounts. Another Sister is involved in part-time voluntary remedial teaching in our Primary school. She also shares scripture with Parish Groups during the Liturgical year. A third Sister is involved in school boards of management at second level and works on an education task group on behalf of CEIST (Catholic Education Irish Schools Trust). She also does some retreat work locally, guided prayer at Knock and provides Spiritual Direction in the local Family Life Centre.
