SJC History in Ireland
In 1860 Father Leman C.S.Sp., invited the Sisters of St.Joseph of Cluny to Blanchardstown, Dublin, which was then a poor rural area. Ireland was the third European country (after France and Italy) to be privileged with a Cluny foundation, when Mother Callixte Pichet and two other Sisters arrived in Dublin.
Local people were employed making roads, working in flour and woollen mills, in the candle-making factory and in the cattle mart. Children form the region also went to work in the factories, running errands, learning trades etc. Consequently, they could attend school for only a short time each day.
The primary schools in the locality wer not even furnished. Yet, despite poverty and irregular attendance, Inspector O'Carroll reported in 1860 that Blanchardstown Boy's school was ranked in the top then schools of this district.
Against this background on the 13th December 1860, three French Sisters, with Archbishop Cullen's permission, took up residence in Blanchardstown village in utter poverty.
The Sister's new dwelling house had priviously been the home of the Holy Ghost Fathers and was formerly a Carmelite Convent. It originally served as a local seminary, St.Brigid's, dating back to 1810. In the very first year of the Sister's stay in Blanchardstown, nineteen Irish girls asked to enter the Religious Life. Since 1860 some 1,500 Irish girls have followed in the footstep of Blessed Anne-Marie Javouhey. They have devoted their lives to the provision of education and health service at home and abroad.
The Convent building in Blanchardstown was unsuitale for development. Consequently, Sr. Callixte, the Superior, purchased Uplands, also called Mount Sackville, with a view to establish a Girl's Boarding School. The Sisters transfered to from Blanchardstown to Mount Sackville in Februar 1863. From this date onwards Mount Sackville, Chapelizod, Dublin, served as a link between Ireland and France.
The History of Gallen Priory
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Then, on 3rd November 1921, in order to open a house to train novices, the Congregation purchased Gallen Priory from Sir Andrew Harvey Armstrong. The house was blessed by Rev. Fr. Brady P.P. in 13th December 1922 and the first Mass celebrated there the same day. |
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On 16th March 1923 four young women arrived in Ferbane from Clara and headed straight for the Priory. To their dismay there was nobody there....Mother Lucy Dunne, the Superior, arrived shortly afterwards and drove with them to the convent in Main Street where the Sisters of St.Joseph of Cluny had been established since 1896. They were welcomed by the District Superior, Mother Gabriel Horner, Mother Gabriel Mary Gallagher, the Mistress of Novices and the Sisters of the Community. That evening they returned to the Priory - this time to stay. |
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The History of Woodlock
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This magnificat building, situated in the "sunny south east" approx, eleven kilometres from the city of Waterford was originally owned by the Malcolmsons, a Quaker family, who ran a cotton factory in the locality. However, by the nineteen hundreds their business empire collapsed and the house was uninhabited for five years at which time it was bequeathed to the Sisters of St.Joseph of Cluny. |
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In 1909 two French Sisters arrived and began to bring order into the chaos, of overgrown gardens, neglected outhouses and a main building needing total restoration. |
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To earn their living they also did Bed and Breakfast, Wedding Receptions, looked after Convalescent Patients and Lady Boarders. Today descendents of the Malcomsons family still visit their roots and marvel at the way the house is preserved in all its grandeur. |
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SJC History in Scotland
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The first Community was in Girvan, Ayrshire. In 1879 the Parish Priest, Father O'Shaughnessy invited the Sisters to take charge of the small Primary School he had opened. They were the first Religious in the Diocese of Galloway since the Reformation. |
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The hard work of the Sisters brought success and in 1881 the Boarding School was opened with 25 children. In 1889 a new Primary School Primary School was built. |
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The Secondary Dept. was soon raised to the status of Academy. The school continued until 1991 when it was declared by the Educational Authorities that the Sec. Dept. was uneconomical to run because of falling numbers. The building was converted into flats, part of which the Sisters now occupy. |
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The Primary Dept. still exists as Sacred heart Primary School situated across the road from the old building in Henrietta Street.
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One Sister, Sr. Laurienne was killed by a train when out on an errand of mercy. After the death of a second Sister from a serious illness, the house was closed. Stranraer Irvine Glasgow Johnstone Ayr |
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