Presenter John Greene of “Where the Road Take Me” provides us with much appreciated weekly advance information regarding his excellent radio documentaries. But this Sunday (26th Jan. 2020) there is a Millstreet connection in that one of the main people interviewed is Sr. Bernadette Maria who is Coordinator of the Mercy Heritage Centre in Charleville Town. Along with Michael McGrath (photojournalist with “Corkman”), Michael Donegan and Kerry Corkery – Sr. Bernadette Maria recently visited Millstreet Museum (and “Cinnamon”) to explore ideas in advance of the establishment of a new Museum in Charleville. Tap on the images to enlarge. (S.R.)
The Mercy Order of nuns have had a lengthy, historical and warm connection to the town of Charleville.
After receiving a donation of a house and five hundred pounds from local landowner Mary Clanchy in 1836, Catherine McAuley opened her second house outside of Dublin, here in the town.
They began by visiting the sick and poor, nursing in the Kilmallock workhouse during the famine of 1845 to 1852, and providing education to those who were willing to learn.
During the Crimean war, two sisters from Charleville were sent to nurse the sick and wounded, many of whom were Irish. Working in deplorable conditions, they received anything but a warm welcome from ‘The Lady with the Lamp’ – Florence Nightingale.
On this week’s edition of Where the road takes me, John Greene visits the Mercy Provincial Heritage centre, which is attached to the convent in Charleville. Artifacts from all of their work down through the years is on view here, including an educational exhibition from the fifties and sixties.
The story of the Mercy Sisters in Charleville, this Sunday evening on Where the road takes me at 7 on C103.
Update: CLICK HERE to listen back to the programme
