By Róise Collins
AS part of the 170th celebrations marking Loreto eductation in Letterkenny, former teacher Ann Carroll will launch her new book ‘The Convent’ at a special event at her old school next week.
Ann, who grew up in Kilkenny, moved to Donegal in 1975 following the passing of her father. Her family moved to Manorcunningham to live in the house where her mother was reared.
That same year she started her career as a teacher in Loreto, where she worked for 33 years.
Ms Ann Carroll.
Following her retirement in 2007, Ann went on to study genealogy and she developed a keen interest in studying archives. Initially she contemplated creating a school archive before deciding to write a book on the history of the school.
“I felt it was important to put on record the story of the Convent,” she told the Donegal News.
After almost four years of research, compiled with newspaper cuttings, photographs, lists and documents, Ann has penned a book which focuses on the story of the nuns who served in Letterkenny from 1854 to 2015.
“The nuns were invited to Letterkenny in 1854 by the Bishop, Patrick McGettigan. He was keen to introduce education for girls, because there was no secondary education for girls in the whole diocese.”
Ann shared the amazing story of how this came about.
The Bishop’s sister Ellen and her husband, local bakery shop owner, John Gallagher had to send their daughters to school in Loreto Rathfarnham, as it was one of the only institutes in the country providing secondary education to girls at the time.
Back: Frances Cunningham, Mona Hilley, Ursula Doherty, Mary Surpless, Eileen O’Donnell, Fiona Williams, Noeleen Murphy, Ethna McTeague, Helen English. 3rd Row: Nellie Gallen, Margaret Doherty, Anne Marie Devine, Siobhan O’Reilly, Gwen O’Shea, Mary Hanley, Kathleen McNulty. 2nd Row: Claire McLaughlin, Marion Dorrian, Pauline Logue, Fidelma Curran, Mary McFadden, Christina Clerkin. Front: Pasqueline Keeney, Margo McDermott.
The book contains a letter from Bishop McGettigan offering Teresa Ball a founding sister at Rathfarnham Loreto his house and “nine acres of good land” for her to come and set up a school for girls in Letterkenny.
John and Ellen’s eldest daughter Josephine Gallagher then entered the order and went on to become the first superior in Loreto Letterkenny.
Past pupils may be familiar with the sculpture of Josphine Gallagher’s head, which is located on St. Eunan’s Cathedral facing the Convent.
“It was really interesting to research. They were great women and some of the stuff they went on to do was marvellous,” Ann added.
Another interesting fact she discovered during her research was that the Convent used to be called St Eunan’s until the college opened in 1906.
The book outlines the great relationship between the town and the Convent.
“The Convent was the community centre for the town,” she said.
Ann told of how the town and local parishes rallied together and organised fundraisers, when there was no assistance from the government.
Group 1934 – 1935, included are Mary Carberry (Rathmullan), Kitty Carr, Cassie Doyle (Dublin), Peggy Maguire (Fr Carney’s mother), Celestine Morley (Rathmullan), Kathleen Campbell (Dungloe), Mamie Sharkey (Annagry), Helen Lafferty (Creeslough).
One event was a carnival that lasted three days to fundraise for the construction of the concert hall building in 1937.
“There were about 40 committees for 40 different stalls, with 20 people on each committee. It was utterly amazing,” she added.
Grade II 1926-1927
Front: Cis Houston (Ballybofey), B McCafferty (Kilmacrennan), A Boyle (Dungloe), Ena Gildea (Ardara), Teresa Boyle (Dungloe), Una Walsh (Letterkenny), G McGee (Ballyshannon), L Kelly (Letterkenny), B Strain (Termon).
Back: Cis McMonagle (Letterkenny),?, Iza Peoples (Letterkenny), Annie McNulty (Ballybofey), Gertie Lafferty (Creeslough), Cis Gildea (Letterkenny).
Ann paid a special thanks to Anthony McGinley who designed the book.
The book launch will take place on Friday, 29 November at 5pm in the school lobby. The book will also be available to purchase in local book shops and from Loreto Letterkenny.
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