The Sisters of Mercy, a Roman Catholic order founded by Catherine McAuley in Baggot Street, Dublin, in 1831, arrived in Enniskillen on 27 May, 1856 with the purpose of establishing a school for girls. This they quickly did. The ground floor of their living quarters served as a classroom until a separate school building was erected in 1887.
In 1909 the Sisters established Mount Lourdes Grammar School which remains the premier Roman Catholic school for young ladies (11-18) in County Fermanagh.
Of more interest here to me than the school was the Convent Chapel which opened in 1907 – a little beauty in all senses. Boasting a combination of Hiberno, Romanesque and Byzantine styles, the chapel was designed by Dublin architect William A Scott. The standout feature is the chapel’s stained-glass windows, of which there are 23. These were designed by artists of An Túr Gloine workshop in Dublin.
The windows in depicted above respectively depict the The Virgin and Child and St Joseph of the Presentation and St Margaret Mary and The Sacred Heart.
The main altar is of Carrara marble. Note the crucifix in the shape of a Celtic cross.
The other thing which made my visit here particularly memorable was that I got chatting to one of the Sisters – the eldest – who related numerous stories of her long ministry in the United States with the Sisters of Mercy. This sister, now into her 80s or 90s, had returned to Enniskillen ‘to see out her days’. I wish I had had more time to chat with this wonderful lady.
I subsequently read that ‘whilst never a cloistered order, the Sisters of Mercy had lived under a strict regime, rising at 7.30 am, turning in at 9.00pm, observing reverential silence during the day. When these rules were relaxed, some of the older nuns became confused and irritable, but a majority of sisters embraced the possibility of new challenges and opportunities’.
The Sister I spoke with was neither confused nor irritable!
It is likely that the main chapel doors will be locked when you visit. If this is the case enter via the convent door and make your presence known before proceeding on into the chapel. I suspect you will receive a warm welcome like we did.
Address: 6 Belmore Street, Enniskillen
This blog entry is one of a group (loop) of entries based on many trips to Enniskillen. I suggest you continue with my next entry – The Forthill Promenade and Pleasure Park – or to start the loop at the beginning go to my introductory entry – “Fare thee well Enniskillen, ………..”
The Rambling Wombat 