The developers
have moved into what was the Convent grounds at Rathstewart and have begun the
work of transforming a site which from just four years after the Great Famine
was the nerve centre of education for the girls of Athy and district. The Sisters of Mercy who came to the newly
built Convent in Athy in 1852 finally left that much extended and enlarged
Convent a few years ago. However, the
schools which over the years were built to meet local needs are by and large
still in use today in one capacity or another.
The earliest school buildings have long gone but the National School
which was opened in 1893 is currently in use as an education centre. We locals commonly refer to the building as “Mount St. Mary’s” and recently I came
across an unpublished contemporary account of the official opening of that
school in August 1893 by Archbishop Walsh of Dublin. The Archbishop who arrived in Athy by the
morning train on 13th August was accompanied by Fathers Dunne and
Whitty. I will let the correspondent of
111 years ago continue with the story of the day’s events.
“The streets were spanned by arches
bearing such mottos as ‘WELCOME TO OUR ILLUSTRIOUS
ARCHBISHOP’, ‘EDUCATION’S CHAMPION’, ‘CEAD MILE FAILTE’, ‘WARM GREETINGS TO HIM
WHOM WE HONOUR’. On arrival of the train the
Archbishop was met by an immense crowd of people. On alighting he was received by the Parish
Priest, Canon Germaine, the local Curates Rev. J. Staples, Rev. M. Duggan, Rev.
J. Rowan and the members of the Reception Committee. The Archbishop then took a seat in a brake
which was parked outside the Railway Station and a procession formed to escort
him to the Parochial House. The Barrack
Street and Leinster Street fife and drum bands and the splendid brass band of
the Artane School which had been brought down for the occasion marched in front
of the procession, and each played in turn.
As he entered Canon Germaine’s house the Archbishop was warmly cheered
and he repeatedly bowed his head in acknowledgement.
Immediately after 12
o’clock Mass a procession was formed in the Convent grounds which were very
tastefully decorated for the occasion.
Festoons of ivy were twined along the railings of the principal walks
and these with the canvass covered band stand in the centre lent an air of
festivity to the entire place. The
children of the school walked at the head of the procession, each section
having its own banner. In all there were
over 400 young girls. Then followed the
older girls of the parish belonging to the confraternities, also bearing
banners. Following them were a number of
small boys and the members of the confraternity of the Holy Rosary from the
Dominican Church numbering close on 300.
The Archbishop mitred and vested with train bearers and attended by a
number of clergy and acolytes swinging censers came next.
The new school buildings
stands on an elevated spot overlooking the Convent and as the procession wound
up the hill the sight was a magnificent and impressive one. The sun shone out brightly and it flashed on
the rich banners, the bright costumes and the vivid coloured sashes of the
children and girls. Arriving at the door
of the new building the Archbishop solemnly blessed the threshold and sprinkled
it with holy water. Entering he repeated
the ceremony in the Principal Hall. The
ground plan of the new building is of a regular formation and the exterior is
of plain scholastic character, effect not being studied so much as solidity and
usefulness. On the ground floor is
situated the principal school which is a fine room measuring 60ft. by 28ft.
with a height of 20ft. Adjoining are an
infant school and a kindergarten school.
On the second story is a work room, 42ft. by 20ft., a classroom, a music
room and a cloakroom. The building was
constructed from plans prepared by Mr. Hague, Consulting Engineer. General regret was expressed that the
contractor, Mr. Daniel Carbery, had not lived to see the school completed, but
he was represented by his sons, Messrs Dan and Joe Carbery who brought the
building work to completion. [Mr. Dan
Carbery Senior had died on 8th July 1893]
The ceremony of blessing
over, Archbishop Walsh returned to the Convent where he was entertained to
lunch with a number of other guests. The
Artane Boys Band performed a selection of music on the lawn in front of the
Convent. The grounds were crowded with
visitors who enjoyed the music. At half
past two the Archbishop returned to the Convent grounds and on account of the
great heat of the day the addresses were made in the shadow of the Convent
wall. The people in thousands assembled
around the speakers, the school children by special request of the Archbishop
being placed in front. An address from
the pupils of the Convent schools was read by Miss Mary May, a young lady who
showed great nerve and whose reading was audible to the whole assemblage. Miss May was very prettily dressed in white
lace with purple trimmings and sash, the Archbishop’s colours. The address is on vellum and is a splendid
specimen of illuminating art, the colours being rich and tastefully
blended. The work of Sr. Mary Joseph
Maguire, it was very handsomely mounted in a gilt easel backed frame with
Florentine moulding. The Archbishop was
also presented by the Sisters of Mercy with a beautiful specimen of Beleek
China. D.J. Murphy, Town Commissioner,
then read an address on behalf of the local Town Commission in which he bid His
Grace a sincere and heartfelt welcome ‘to our old
and historic town’.
Responding Dr. Walsh
thanked the townspeople and their neighbours who met him at the Railway Station
and conducted him through the town with such a magnificent demonstration. He went on at length to speak of the advantages
secured for Athy in the establishment of the Convent schools and the schools of
the local Christian Brothers who came to Athy in 1861.
At approximately 2.30 p.m.
an entertainment was given in the new schools by the pupils of the Sisters of
Mercy. A fine stage was erected at one
end of the room with drop curtains. The
scenery on the stage was all very natural looking, having been painted within
the Convent by Sr. Mary Patrick. The
string band of the Artane School rendered some splendid orchestral music, in
addition to which the girls of the Convent School presented a number of scenes
and recitations on the subjects of Irish literature and Irish history.”
Canon Germaine,
the Parish Priest who welcomed Archbishop Walsh to Athy on that August day in
1893 had been appointed Parish Priest in Athy on the death in November 1892 of
Fr. James Doyle and he was to remain as Parish Priest of St. Michael’s Parish
until his own death in April 1905. The
schools founded by the Sisters of Mercy are still functioning, even though the
Order founded by the venerable Catherine McAuley is no longer represented on
the school staff. The National School
building of 1893 was replaced by a larger and more up to date building in
1959. Both buildings are still in use.
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