The Holy Union Sisters in Ireland began their Bicentenary celebration in Banagher on the morning of September 29 with a Mass of Thanksgiving in St. Rynagh’s Church. Bishop Paul Connell and Father Patrick Kiernan were the concelebrants.
In the afternoon, Sister Evelyn Treacy, (right) a member of the Leadership Team, welcomed family, friends, former staff and past pupils to the Coláiste Na Sionna, College of the Shannon. They viewed an exhibit that included a collection of photos and newspaper articles recounting events that took place over the years.
There were two guest speakers: Geraldine Noonan, who has written about the Congregation in Ireland, traced Holy Union’s history from the beginnings in northern France up to recent times. Kevin Jordan, a long-time teacher in the Holy Union Secondary School in Banagher recalled the impact and contribution of the sisters on their students as well as on the people of the area.
The last event of the day was a short walk to St Rynagh’s old graveyard in the heart of Banagher where a wreath was placed on the tombs of Mary and Anne Fox. The two sisters’ endowment facilitated the establishment of the congregation when the first sisters arrived in Banagher in 1863.
Beginnings in Ireland
Accompanied by Father Debrabant, Mother Anatolie Badger and three other Holy Union Sisters arrived in Banagher in July 1863, Soon after, La Sainte Union School opened its doors in a house on Main Street. The original boarding school accommodated girls and boys. In 1927, the boys transferred to Killashee Convent in County Kildare. In 1947 the school again became co-educational when boys enrolled in the day school. The day and boarding school continued until 2010 when it merged with St. Rynagh’s Community College to form the Banagher College of the Shannon which was the site of the bicentenary celebration.