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John Phayer, B.Sc., M.A. in Ed. (Research), Specialist Dip. In Teaching, Learning and Scholarship (First Class Hons) will deliver our first talk of 2025 entitled: “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity”: Mary Anne O’ Brien: How a Limerick City lady established the Convent of Mercy, Newport, Co. Tipperary.John delivered a fantastic talk last year ‘Life on the Bog’, which was an exploration of domestic and industrial turf cutting in Castleconnell and Newport.
This presentation illustrates the life of Mary Anne O’ Brien, a Limerick City lady who established the Convent of Mercy in Newport. Information will be first given outlining her background followed by discussing the Green family. This family were well known and respected around Newport and its hinterlands, along with the Benn family of Dromore House, the Cullen, Gabbett and Wardell families, Robert Young and his wife Catherine Phayer of Clonalough, Killoscully and the Ryan family of Ballymackeogh House during this era.
Information will be provided about Canon James Howard and Fr. Edmond O’ Kane who assisted Mary Anne O’ Brien in establishing the Convent of Mercy followed by analysing the Barrett and Woodlock estate of Shower, Newport and its connection with Mary Anne O’ Brien. The presentation concludes by briefly describing other buildings on the Convent grounds, additional Mercy nuns who resided here and finishes by illustrating the final years of Mary Anne O’ Brien.
Lecture commences on 23rd April 2025 in the Lakeside Hotel, Killaloe at 7:30pm.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Lakeside Hotel & Leisure Centre, Ballina, Mayo, Ireland, Limerick
