Contribution of Presentation Sisters to be Honoured

Sr. Lelia reflecting in the Presentation Convent Chapel in Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy 26-9-2013
Sr. Lelia reflecting in the Presentation Convent Chapel in Castleisland. ©Photograph: John Reidy 26-9-2013

A plaque to honour the Presentation Sisters of Castleisland and their Foundress Mother Joseph Harnett will be unveiled at the Library, Castleisland on this Wednesday, evening, June 22nd 2016 at 5pm.

The association between the Presentation sisters and Castleisland goes all the way back to famine times.

The arrival of Mother Joseph Harnett back to her native Castleisland during those dark days brought light to a lot of people in the area. Many depended on the convent for years for the sustenance which made the difference between life and death.

In fact, the Presentation sisters which followed her, kept up a discreet level of support for a couple of generations of school children who were in need of food at lunch-time.

This was done by means of a tray of sandwiches placed in a hallway of the Nano Nagle Primary School just before lunch-time each school day.

Those lacking food made their way and took what they needed from the unattended tray.

A marble plaque in honour of Mother Joseph Harnett, who was born in Sandville House in the historic year of 1798, was unveiled in the Church of Saints Stephen and John on October 13th 1998 to mark the bi-centenary of her birth.