Sr. Alphonsus and John Cummins Remembered

Neither Sr. Alphonsus or John Cummins were natives of Athy.  Both were in time to become inseparably associated with the South Kildare town.   

Sheila Meagher arrived here from her County Limerick home in 1939.  She joined her sister Winifred in the Convent of Mercy, Athy where Winifred had entered a year earlier and taken the name Sr. Mary Oliver.  Sheila Meagher, when professed, took the name Sr. Mary Alphonsus.  Sadly the two sisters were to die within a year of each other, Sr. Oliver having pre-deceased Sr. Alphonsus who died this week.

Sr. Alphonsus was one of those gallant group of women who in the spirit of Catherine McAuley dedicated their lives to the education and welfare of others.  As a teacher and as principal of Scoil Mhichil Naofa she taught hundreds of young girls in the local primary school.

Some years ago Sr. Alphonsus facilitated my historical research in allowing me to examine the Annals of the local Convent of Mercy.  She was extremely helpful dealing with every and any query I raised.  My regret is that I did not embark on the writing of the history of the Sisters of Mercy in Athy in time to have the work completed before Sr. Alphonsus passed away. 

John Cummins came to Shaws Department Store in Duke Street in or about 1977, replacing Kennedy O’Brien as the Store Manager.  His happy, friendly, invariably optimistic approach to life was guaranteed to dispel the hidden shadows of gloom, no matter where and in whom they appeared.  He was an affable person with a character which shone bright, never down beat, ever optimistic, ever chirpy.

As I was writing the above I learned of the sudden death of Jack O’Rourke.  Jack was for many recent years a faithful servant of the local Dominican Fathers in the same way as the Dominican Fathers were servants over the centuries of the people of Athy and district.  A quiet gentleman, Jack was a native of Athy with family links extending back over many generations.  The O’Rourke family name is recalled and celebrated when everyone speaks and writes of the Irish War of Independence. Several members of the family were actively involved in that war and some of them were imprisoned for periods during that war on account of their involvement in the Republican movement.  Jack married Nan Breen, a member of an old Athy family and they lived in the Breen former family home in Offaly Street.

In a week which witnessed the death of three exceptional persons there is a reminder of the strong link between the secular life and the religious life in our local community.  For almost 70 years Sr. Alphonsus was to the forefront in the leading role played by the Sisters of Mercy in the education of the young townspeople of Athy.  Her work and that of her colleagues in religion brought enormous benefits to young people who might not otherwise have achieved their full potential in adult life. 

Jack O’Rourke and John Cummins were men noted for their loyalty and work commitment.  In Jack’s case to the Dominicans, John to the thriving business developed by Sam Shaw on the main street of Athy.  Jack was to be seen each day walking or cycling to and from the Dominican Priory and it was with the Athy Dominicans that Jack O’Rourke’s name was inevitably linked in his later years.  John Cummins was part of the Shaw team for so many decades here in Athy and earlier in Waterford that no reference could be made to him without a mention of Shaws.  A cheerful and good natured man he epitomised everything that was expected to be found in someone who dealt on a daily basis with the general public.

Today we mourn the passing of Sr. Alphonsus, John Cummins and Jack O’Rourke and acknowledge that as they passed away in old age they left behind a community which they enriched by their presence.

Garda Tony Geoghegan / Sr. Alphonsus

History is made by the man or woman in the street or in the home.  We are all part of the ever unfolding social panorama which viewed from a distance gives us a sense of the community or in a wider dimension the nation in which we live.

For very many of us the community of which we are a part delimits the extent of our interest and our involvement.  Very few others play roles of varying significance on the national stage but it is at the level of community involvement that one’s actions are subjected to the most detailed and exacting scrutiny.  The sweeping statement of the national figure is generally not parsed or examined with the same exactitude as the local figure whose every action or inaction is noted, scrutinised and critically detailed by members of the local community. 

How pleasing therefore it is to come to the end of your working life or to reach an impressive age and find that your community values your contribution to the local community.  Such are the experiences of two persons whose paths followed different routes as they served people of Athy over the years.  Garda Tony Geoghegan retires this week after 30 years service in the Garda Siochana, while Sr. Alphonsus of the local Sisters of Mercy community celebrated her 90th birthday at the end of October. 

Tony who is from Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow came to Athy 25 years ago.  He is one of the very few and every decreasing members of the Gardai who live in the town where they serve as members of the local police force.  It’s an unfortunate fact of these times in which we live that more and more members of the Garda Siochana have chosen not to live amongst the communities which they serve.  The local policeman is no longer an appropriate description for the man on the beat, then again the man on the beat is seldom, if ever, to be seen these days.

Tony Geoghegan epitomised everything that was to be admired in a police officer.  Having known him since his arrival in Athy I have only admiration for the exceptional qualities brought to his role as a local policeman.  He knew the people amongst whom he lived and he was able to bring to his everyday job as a policeman a depth of local knowledge and more importantly a respect for and understanding of what motivated or caused people to come to the attention of the Gardai.

Some years ago he was subjected to a most frightening and dangerous experience when he responded to an armed robbery in one of our local banks.  His bravery on that day was repeated on another occasion when he dived into the Canal in an unsuccessful attempt to rescue an unfortunate young man.  He retires with the good wishes of the people of Athy.

Sister Alphonsus came to Athy to join the local Sisters of Mercy on 6^th January 1939 from County Tipperary.  Her sister Winifred, now Sister Oliver, had already joined the local Convent having entered in September 1936.  The young Sheila Meagher received the Holy Habit on 14^th November 1939 just as war swept over the European mainland.  She took the name Sr. Alphonsus and pronounced her triennial vows in February 1942 before making her final vows on 16^th February 1945.  With her that day and also taking their final vows were Sr. Paul Cosgrave and Sr. Ignatius Fingleton, both of happy memory.

Her earlier involvement in community affairs outside the confines of the Convent included periods in which she helped organise the local Boys Club and during the early years of the local Wheelchair Association.  She had spent a lifetime teaching in the girls Primary School and is remembered fondly as Principal of Scoil Mhichil Naofa for three years before retiring in 1986 to be replaced by Sr. Joseph.  Subsequently she was appointed Superior of the Convent of Mercy in Arklow and happily returned to Athy some years ago. 

The Sisters of Mercy made enormous contribution to education of young people in Athy following their arrival in October 1852.  In later years as restrictions on convent life lessened, their involvement with the local community extended into other areas to the benefit generally of the young and disadvantaged.  Sr. Alphonsus was one of the courageous band of professional women whose pioneering social work gave help and encouragement to those in need.  The unspoken gratitude of generations of Athy people for the work of the Sisters of Mercy over the years can be readily presumed.  Perhaps as the years advance and the Sisters of Mercy become part of an advanced age profile should we as a community consider marking the contribution of generations of Sisters of Mercy to Athy in some meaningful way.

It’s a thought I put to my readers as I wish Sr. Alphonsus a belated 90^th birthday and wish Tony Geoghegan a long and happy retirement.