Tipperary's Scoil Mhuire Secondary School marks milestone 50th and 150th anniversaries

Sisters of Mercy Sr Anna Holden and Sr Paschal Jones unveiling the 50th and 150th anniversaries commemorative plaque at Scoil Mhuire Secondary School 

Carrick-on-Suir’s Scoil Mhuire Secondary School welcomed back many past pupils, staff and Sisters of Mercy last Saturday for the celebratation of two milestone anniversaries – 50 years at its Greenhill campus and 150 years of Mercy education in the town.

It was a joyful occasion filled with nostalgia as generations of past pupils, staff and Mercy sisters gathered first at St Nicholas Church in Carrick for a Mass and later at the school where ample refreshments were laid on and an exhibition of photos and memorabilia was avidly viewed by the large crowd of visitors.

Bishop of Waterford & Lismore Most Rev. Alphonsus Cullinan was chief celebrant at the Mass that featured beautiful performances from Scoil Mhuire’s student choir and musicians who were supported by past-pupils.

In his homily, Bishop Cullinan described the Sisters of Mercy who came to Carrick-on-Suir in 1874 and started a school as “tremendous women of vision”.

He spoke of how time was a treasure and how the Mercy sisters used their time to educate girls and look after the sick. “Let us be inspired by the Sisters of Mercy who used their time in the service of others and found their vocation in life,” he said.

At the end of the ceremony, past pupil and retired Scoil Mhuire teacher Mary Greene, addressed the congregation on behalf of the 50th and 150th anniversaries organising committee.

She was a member of the 1974 first year class that began their secondary education at Scoil Mhuire’s new school at Greenhill with construction still being completed as they started school life there.

“I would like to express our deepest gratitude to the Sisters of Mercy for their unwavering commitment to education, their dedication to social justice, and their enduring legacy in Carrick,” she said. She spoke of how she witnessed at first hand, the role the Sisters of Mercy played in “providing young women with the opportunity to develop their intellectual and spiritual potential”.

“Scoil Mhuire has been instrumental in empowering generations of women and has played a vital role in the social and economic development of our community.”

At the celebration that followed at Scoil Mhuire, a plaque commemorating 50 years of secondary education at Greenhill and 150 Years of service by the Sisters of Mercy in Carrick was unveiled by Mercy sisters Anna Holden and Sr Paschal Jones.

A 150th anniversary cake was formally cut by retired Home Economics teachers Monica Walsh, Helen O’Mahoney and Angela Casey. Helen O’Mahoney was the first lay vice-principal of Scoil Mhuire and was serving in that role when the school moved to Greenhill in 1974.

In her speech, Scoil Mhuire Principal Mary O’Keeffe gave thanks for the gift of education and gift of the Sisters of Mercy who have enriched the lives of so many. She remembered all the sisters who gave unfailingly of their lives to the service of students and the community in Carrick-on-Suir and surrounding areas.

She also gave thanks for the school’s students, who were the centre of their work and brought joy, fun, challenges and fulfilment to their school community.

Ms O’Keeffe paid tribute to all the school’s staff down through the years for their commitment and dedication and thanked the students’ parents and local community for their support.

Check out more of Noreen Duggan's photos from the Scoil Mhuire anniversaries celebrations in this week's edition of The Nationalist now on sale in local shops. 

Pictured below: Viewing the exhibition of photographs, press clippings and memorabilia of Scoil Mhuire Secondary School from years gone by at the 50th and 150th anniversaries celebration at the school last Saturday.