Patrician Brothers from all parts of the world converged on Abbeyleix, Co Laois, last week to celebrate their order’s bi-centenary and unveil a monument to commemorate the Patricians’ presence in the town. Abbeyleix had one of the first-established houses of the order which was founded in Tullow, Co Carlow, in 1888.
After Mass in the Church of the Most Holy Rosary at which PP Fr Ger Ahern was the chief concelebrant, a commemorative cut stone monument was unveiled outside Heritage House, the town’s heritage centre.
An area dedicated to the Patrician Brothers and to Bishop Daniel Delany (a nineteenth century Kildare bishop who spearheaded the launch of the order) and the Brigidine Sisters, which he also founded, was opened in Heritage House.
The exhibition includes the bishop’s writing desk, chair and favourite coal bucket.
The attendance included the Patricians’ Superior General, Indian-based Brother Jerome Elles, his predecessor, Brother Aengus Kavanagh who is a native of Abbeyleix and provincial of the order in Australia and Brother Camillus Regan, the order’s Irish Provincial.
Despite downsizing, the Patricians still maintain a presence in Abbeyleix and the celebrations were co-ordinated by Brother James Moran from the local house.
Among the mementos brought to the altar at Mass were an 1833 roll book from the Patricians’ first class in Abbeyleix and the last roll book from 1983, when the school closed following amalgamation with other local third-level institutions.
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