BIG READ: Why one of Tipperary’s largest farms is being sold to redress sexual abuse victims

The Congregation of the Holy Spirit, whose members are often referred to as Holy Ghost Fathers or Spiritans, has announced its intention to sell one of Tipperary’s largest farms to help fund redress payments for victims of sexual abuse.

Rockwell Farm, a dairy farm dating back to 1864 and reportedly extending to over 800 acres, is the first of several Spiritan properties to be sold as part of their commitment to the Restorative Justice Framework, which it committed to three years ago.

The redress scheme follows evidence of historic sexual assault and the abuse of numerous children at schools operated by the Spiritans. It’s believed the sale of Rockwell Farm could generate approximately €20 million.

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On Wednesday, October 8, the Spiritans, one of Ireland’s most prominent Catholic teaching orders released the following statement written by member Fr Brendan Carr C.S.Sp.:

“A commitment was made to those sexually abused by Spiritans that we would provide a clear update on the steps we are taking towards redress and healing for all who suffered sexual abuse in childhood through the deplorable actions of members of our Province and those employed by us.

“The Spiritans welcome Restore Together’s continued engagement and acknowledge the deep pain and frustration expressed by victims and survivors in their October update. We remain profoundly sorry for the abuse suffered by those in our care, and we are committed – morally and practically – to a process of truth, justice and redress that is genuine, comprehensive and sustainable.

“We fully accept that progress has not been as fast as anyone would wish. Victims and survivors have carried this burden for decades, and we understand that every delay feels like a renewed injury. We share the determination to ensure that no one is left behind.

“However, we must respond clearly to the suggestion that the Spiritans are deliberately delaying or obstructing progress. That is not the case.

“We have been fully transparent about our financial position. The reality is we do not yet have the liquid resources required to begin issuing redress payments. Our plan, as part of the overall financial restructuring of the Province is to create the required liquidity by selling Spiritan assets.

“Progress is being made and Rockwell Farm will be the first of these properties to be sold, but this involves multiple legal, valuation and regulatory steps that simply take time to complete.

“As a registered charitable organisation, the Spiritans are subject to the oversight of the Charities Regulator and subject to audit. The Province is legally required to ensure that funds are properly realised and secured before any payments can be made. We cannot, in good conscience, promise payments before those funds are available – doing so would risk failing to deliver what you rightly deserve.

“We recognise the immense urgency that victims and survivors feel. We feel it too. We continue to meet regularly with survivors and to provide ongoing counselling and restorative meetings facilitated by the independent Restorative Justice Team. These encounters are deeply important to us, and they continue to shape how we respond and plan.

“The Spiritans remain fully committed to the Restorative Process Framework that we agreed with Restore Together. It is our intention to finalise the details of the framework once there is sufficient liquidity available. Our intention has never been to delay but to ensure that the redress programme is credible, transparent, sustainable and properly funded.

“We ask for understanding as we continue to navigate these complex financial and legal steps. We will provide a further public update as soon as key transactions are concluded and timelines can be confirmed with confidence.

“To victims and survivors, we reiterate our commitment: this process will be completed as quickly as it can be done responsibly, sustainably and with honesty, compassion and accountability,” Fr Carr concluded.

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Located in South Tipperary, Rockwell Farm once functioned as a flagship Irish agricultural college in the 1980s, but was forced to close its doors in 2001 due to declining numbers.

These days it is a specialist grass-based dairy farm managed by Michael Long, with over 600 cows being milked on the premises at its peak.

Keen-eyed motorists travelling on the M8 Dublin-Cork motorway will regularly see the Rockwell Farm herd crossing the road for milking using a specially built cow-overpass.

The farm surrounds Rockwell College (pictured above), one of the country’s leading co-ed boarding schools. Also founded in 1864 by the Holy Ghost Fathers, the school’s raison d'être in its early years was to provide education to the sons of Roman Catholics during a time when Penal Laws were still in place against the Catholic majority in Ireland.

One of Ireland’s most recognisable political leaders Éamon de Valera taught mathematics there as a young teacher and fellow 1916 Proclamation signatory Thomas MacDonagh attended as a pupil.

The college grounds extends to approximately 100 acres.

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Following the release of the Spiritans statement on October 8, school principal Audrey O’Byrne released the following on behalf of ths school:

“Rockwell College acknowledges the Spiritan Congregation’s statement and its decision to sell Rockwell Farm as part of its commitment to redress and to the Restorative Process Framework.

“We wish to confirm that this sale will have no impact on the operations, facilities, or student experience at Rockwell College. Our day-to-day teaching, boarding, and extracurricular activities will continue uninterrupted.

“We are grateful to every member of the Farm team, past and present, for their cooperation with Rockwell College over the years. In particular, we acknowledge the current management and team for their successful stewardship of the Farm. Their support and collaboration have always been greatly appreciated.

“Rockwell College looks forward to maintaining positive relationships with the future owners and managers of Rockwell Farm. We remain committed to excellence in education and to sustaining the strong, stable community that defines Rockwell College,” Principal O’Byrne concluded.

Earlier this year it was reported that the Spiritan congregation had paid out €8.8 million to 125 victims of sexual abuse nationwide. The Irish Times reported that between 1998 and 2022, the religious order made payments totalling €5.4 million.

It was the release of a radio documentary on RTÉ in November 2022, which detailed the harrowing abuse perpetrated by members of the Spiritans, that sparked a wave of new allegations, with hundreds of people coming forward with similar accounts of experiencing abuse at Spiritan-run schools.

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Since the documentary’s release, another €3.4 million has been paid by the Spiritan order in settlements to abuse survivors.
2022 also saw the religious order employ independent experts to engage with victims of historical abuse at schools and institutions run by the congregation. Fr Martin Kelly C.S.Sp., a Provincial of the Spiritans, issued the following apology on behalf of their Irish congregation:

“I want to express my deepest and most sincere sorrow to every person who was abused by a member of the Spiritans, or by a staff member, in any of our schools.

“I sincerely apologise for this. What was done to you as innocent children was cruel and indefensible. We are deeply ashamed of these actions.”

Despite their intentions to sell assets and make good on the redress scheme going forward, no specific timeline has been provided by the Spiritans as to the finalisation or official launch of the scheme.

If you have been affected by any of the themes raised in this article, you can contact the freephone 24-Hour National Helpline at 1800 77 8888, at any time of day or night, or visit www.drcc.ie.

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