1924-2024: The Centenary of the Killeshandra Nuns
Our Times Past columist Jonathan Smyth looks back on the Killeshandra nuns - who are celebrating their centenary this week...
This year marks the Centenary of the foundation of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Rosary whose Convent and Motherhouse was established at Drumully House in Killeshandra, Co Cavan, by Bishop Joseph Shanahan in March 1924.
Bishop Shanahan who was Bishop of Abila, and Vicar Apostolic of Southern Nigeria, founded the Congregation for the purpose of carrying out missionary work and to ‘promote the evangelization of Nigeria’ through the ‘provision of Catholic education’. Around the world, the Sisters are, to this day, respectfully referred to as the Killeshandra nuns.
Joseph Shanahan was himself a native of Glankeen, Co Tipperary. His studies for the priesthood began at the Abbey of Langonnet in Brittany, France, in which the Spiritans, also known as the Holy Ghost Fathers, formed a museum of African art. Afterwards, he returned to Rockwell College, Ireland, and was ordained to serve with the Holy Ghost Congregation in 1900.
During a visit to Ireland to interview two local Cavan girls for as prospective novices for the new Order in Nigeria, Bishop Shanahan called out to Bishop Patrick Finegan, the Bishop of Kilmore, and during the conversation Shanahan mentioned to him the that it was proving difficult to acquire a building to establish a missionary movement for women. Therefore, the young ladies would have to be trained in Nigeria.
In 1985, the Local Superior Sister Theresa Stapleton, recalled that Bishop Shanahan, had pointed out that no Irish bishop had offered a home for the Order, to which Bishop Finegan expressed a look of surprise before answering, ‘But, you didn’t ask me!’
Continuing, Sister Theresa said: “Bishop Shanahan was overjoyed to be invited to set up his new foundation in Kilmore Diocese.”
The Bishop of Nigeria soon located a suitable property named Drumully House, in Killeshandra, the former home of the Lough family of whom Arthur Lough was central to setting up the town’s famous Co-op. For many generations Killeshandra was universally celebrated for two reasons, the nuns, and the butter produced at the co-op.
Bishop Shanahan’s primary concern was that he had no money. The Killeshandra locals came to his rescue and supported the establishment of the noble missionary enterprise, and the Creamery Manager, James Gannon ‘went security’ for Dr Shanahan. Drumully House was bought for £5,000. The location proved an ideal training ground for the young ladies who intended to ‘offer their services to God’ as missionary workers on the West Coast of Africa in ‘faraway South Nigeria’.
The Killeshandra Nuns website takes up the story, telling us that Bishop Shanahan founded the Order having ‘realised that missionary efforts in Nigeria were only focused on the male population’ and ‘women were not being adequately catered for by the missionary movement’.
Three of the community’s first sisters were described as ‘the most distinguished Nuns of the Dominican Convent of Cabra’, and they, with other women who included a medical doctor, qualified teachers, trained nurses, and a lady who had worked for a large business in Dublin, helped to develop the Congregation. Over time, the Order welcomed more young women through its doors who acknowledged God’s call.
On Sunday, March 9, 1924, following the second Mass at St Brigid’s Church, Killeshandra, Dr Shanahan addressed the congregation to tell them about the newly opened Convent at Drumully, calling it “an instance of the mysterious working providence”, which he compared to Ireland’s gaining of independence, almost as something most unexpected but welcomed. The bishop spoke of the cruel marginalisation of African people and added, ‘these poor unfortunate people live under extraordinary conditions’.
Spreading the gospel of Christ is central to missionary work and he spoke of how boys were educated to a certain proficiency and that afterwards they could, under the supervision of the clergy, begin to impart their knowledge to families less fortunate. However, girls were not so lucky, and Bishop Shanahan emphasised existing barriers to their education, which he believed would disappear, under the ‘perseverance and guidance of the Sisters of our Order’ and added that, in Nigeria, ‘thousands of these girls are anxiously awaiting the education and religious instructions, which our mission is spreading.’
Shanahan concluded: ‘Ireland seems to have been preordained by God to send missionaries all over the earth… ever for the greater glory of God.’
A letter of congratulations was posted to Bishop Shanahan, dated March 12, 1924, in which Bishop Finegan wrote: ‘My Dear Lord Bishop, I cordially welcome to the Diocese of Kilmore the first community of the Sisters of the Holy Rosary to be founded with the view of giving their valuable help to the Irish Fathers of the Holy Ghost… that so many young ladies should sacrifice themselves and their worldly prospects for this noble endeavour is, I trust, in earnest of God’s blessing on the new community.’
The first Killeshandra Missionary Sisters arrived in Nigeria in 1928.
In 1985, sixty years later, the Sisters departed from Killeshandra and moved into the aptly named ‘Killeshandra House’, a newly built Convent beside the Cathedral in Cavan Town; in 1986 a second house was opened in Dublin. Maintenance costs and lower calls to vocation meant that the Order had to close the original Motherhouse.
This year, on the centenary of the Order, many people around the world will be reflecting on how their communities benefited from the nuns’ missionary work and will today express their sincere gratitude for the opportunities they have received in life as a result of the Sisters’ care and dedication. In many cases those communities will often want to give back in return too.
To this day, the Congregation of Sisters of the Holy Rosary carry out invaluable work and their invitation is extended to each new generation who sense God’s call to serve through a vocation.
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