The Sisters of the Sacred Heart have announced the closure later this year of their convent in Roscrea. The order, which is one of Ireland's longest-established educational orders in Ireland, set up its very first convent in Ireland in Roscrea in 1842.
The last remaining Sisters will transfer to Dublin when the Roscrea convent shuts in September.
Declining numbers has forced the decision on the order, which is ironically stronger now in third world countries such as Uganda where its mission was established mainly by Irish sisters.
Announcing the closure, Provincial Sr Aideen Kinlen said the order will continue to act as trustees for their school in the town.
"The first house of the congregation founded in these islands was in Roscrea and from there, it spread to Britain, Dublin, and Armagh,” she explained.
“We are an international congregation, founded in France in 1800, and now spread all over the world."
The order downsized its presence in Roscrea in 1999, when the town’s secondary schools were amalgamated to form a new community college.
The remaining nuns moved from their 19th century convent to new accommodation in Abbey Street, which will now be sold.
Sr Kinlen said that in the last few years there have only been two resident nuns in Roscrea, Sisters Madeleine Minogue and Maria Brady.
Sr Minogue, who ran a pastoral ministry for the bereaved and ecumenical groups, said: ”I am sad to go, but I know it is time”.
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