A religious order that played an important role in both Health and
Education in Belfast has had its history chronicled in a new book.
The history of the Sisters of Mercy, who ran a number of schools and
hospitals in the city, has been documented in the book The Call of the
North : A History of the Sisters of Mercy in the Down & Conor
Diocese by Sr Maire Duddy, a member of the order founded by Dublin born
nun Sr Catherine McCauley in 1831.
As well as the Order's work in south Belfast, the book examines their
work in north Belfast which included establishment of the Mater
Hospital and several schools there.
Sr Maire who acts as archivist for the congregation said that initially, the history was intended for their own use.
“I was asked to collect all the records for the Down & Conor
diocese. As well as written records and artefacts, a lot of convents
were closing at the time and sisters were moving out so I took any
information I could to preserve the history of the order. Eventually I
was approached by a number of people to try and write a book on the
orders history. I was somewhat reluctant at first before eventually I
approached a publisher.”
The book, entitled The Call of The North a History of the Sisters of
Mercy in the Diocese of Down & Conor, is published by the Ulster
Historical Foundation and retails at a cost of £19.00 (approx. €24).
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