End of an era as nuns bid farewell to town

The end of an era: Mother Abbess Julie McGoldrick (centre) with Sr.Maureen O’Dea, Sr Anne Kelly, Sr Zita Daly, Sr Concepta Looney, Sr Karen Small, and Sr Mercedes Coen reflect on the Kenmare needlepoint ecclesiastical vestments and a feature chair presented to the then Mother Abbess by grateful children of the Novitiate on the Feast of St Michael, September 29th 1860.
Pictures: Valerie O’Sullivan

A poignant end of an era was marked in Kenmare at the weekend when the Sisters of St Clare Order severed their links with the town after more than 160 years.

The nuns first arrived in the county at the invitation of Archdeacon Fr John O’Sullivan in 1861 at a time when the town of Kenmare was destitute after the Great Famine.

Kenmare PP Fr George Haye with (centre) Mother Abbess Julie McGoldrick, Sr Maureen O’Dea, Sr Anne Kelly, Sr Zita Daly, Sr Concepta Looney, Sr. Karen Small and Sr Mercedes Coen

As well as being educators, they established the world renowned Kenmare lace-making industry, under the leadership of Mother Abbess Mary O’Hagan.

Fans of the beautiful lace included, Queen Victoria, King Edward VII who purchased a collaret for Queen Alexandra and the late Queen Elizabeth II received and antique bed-cover of Kenmare needlepoint.

This landmark building that was a convent of the Sisters of St Clare from 1862 to 1993

Ecclesiastical vestments of Kenmare needlepoint were also presented to Pope Leo XIII and Pope John Paul II.

At a special Mass in Holy Cross Church on Sunday to mark the immeasurable contribution of the Sisters of St Clare to the community of Kenmare, PP Fr George Hayes praise the good that they brought to the town and its people, their courage, their care of children and the very often silent contribution they made to society.

The ceremony was led by Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne and the church was packed for the nostalgic occasion.

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