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 with Bishop Paul Connell and Father Patrick Kiernan as concelebrants.
In the afternoon, Sister Evelyn Treacy, a member of the Leadership Team, welcomed family, friends, former staff and pupils to the Coláiste Na Sionna, College of the Shannon. There they viewed a display of photos and newspaper articles that recounted news and events from past years. Guests listened to two speakers. Doctor Geraldine Noonan traced Holy Union’s beginnings in Banagher and their contribution to the education of girls in Ireland. Kevin Jordan, a long-time teacher in the Holy Union Secondary School in Banagher recalled the contribution and influence of the sisters on their students as well as on the people of the area.
The day ended with a walk to St Rynagh’s Parish graveyard where flowers were placed on the graves of Mary and Anne Fox. In the sisters’ will, they left money to be used for the establishment of a school for girls and a convent for the sisters. This enabled the Congregation to have a home and establish a school for girls when they arrived in Banagher.
Beginnings in Ireland
Accompanied by Father Debrabant, Mother Anatolie Badger and three other Holy Union Sisters arrived in Banagher in July 1863, 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 Coláiste na Sionna, College of the Shannon, the site of the bicentenary celebration.
Below is a gallery of photos from the celebration.