Tour of iconic Mayo convent attracts big interest

ONE of the most interesting events of Ballinrobe Festival 2025 was a guided tour of the Convent of Mercy, conducted by Frank Keane, which reflected on the history of the building and showcased some interesting memorabilia.

Frank and his wife Kate purchased the Convent of Mercy in 2014, and the following year they opened Ballinrobe Bright Beginnings in the building, which is a preschool and afterschool.

Ballinrobe pop-up choir Sing Song Social also hold regular events in the historic building.

The convent was run by the Sisters of Mercy up until their departure from the town in 2008.

In 1851, Mother Gertrude O’Brien, Sr. M. de Pazzi, Sr. M. de Sales and Sr. M. Veronica arrived to Ballinrobe from Westport, with the intention to start a new foundation for the Sisters of Mercy. Their mission included the education of children, visitation and care of the sick, and helping the poor.

The Parish Priest at the time, Fr. Tom Hardiman, made his way to the old church on the Castlebar Road to welcome the four Sisters to Ballinrobe.

Upon arriving, the Sisters lived in a temporary convent dedicated to St. Joseph, located opposite the present St. Mary’s Church, Main Street.

In 1853, it was decided that a site needed to be secured to build a convent in the town. A field was rented from Colonel Knox and construction of the present convent commenced.

The Convent of Mercy opened in 1854. Education was a driving factor and the classes were now a lot more organised.

The opening of the convent coincided with the close of a mission in the old church situated on the Castlebar Road. The mission was marked by huge crowds for Confirmation on July 13 and July 14, when Archbishop MacHale confirmed 1,500 candidates. After the close of the mission on Sunday, July 16, several thousand people walked to the convent, which was then officially opened by his Grace, the Archbishop.

Over the years, the Sisters of Mercy provided education in the Sacred Heart Secondary School, which opened in 1918, the Commercial School, opened in 1919, the secondary school, opened in 1956, and the primary school, which opened in 1971.

There was an average of 52 nuns in the Convent of Mercy, Ballinrobe, during the 1940s, '50s and '60s. They played a key role in the town through education, their work in the church, their contribution to the liturgy, and involvement in organisations such as the musical society, Apostolic Work Society, and Ballinrobe Agricultural Show.

A large turnout attended the guided tour, where tourists and locals alike found out some of the history associated with the building.

Owner and tour guide for the morning, Frank Keane, was delighted to see such an interest in the old Convent of Mercy.

“It was great to see such an interest in the old convent,” he said. “I suppose a lot of the people who were part of the tour would have gone to school here and some might also have family links to the convent.

“It is one of the most iconic buildings in Ballinrobe.

“A lot of people would have been curious to see inside and what we have done with the building in the intervening years. We weren’t expecting such a large group and I think there were over 50 people who were part of the tour.”

He added: “Some of the people might not have known the history of the building or how the nuns started off here when the Mercy Order came to Ballinrobe in 1851, and all of the history associated with that.

“It was nice to be able to tell the story of where they (nuns) came from and how they developed the convent over the years and also the good they did for the town. The Mercy Order started school education in Ballinrobe.”

After the guided tour of the convent and its grounds, guests enjoyed refreshments in the old chapel in the convent.

People were also fascinated to see old memorabilia discovered in the building by its new owners. Among the items was an Annual Bazaar and Drawing of Prizes ticket dating back to Thursday, July 27, 1882. The draw was organised by the Convent of Mercy. First prize was a 'valuable silver-plated biscuit box', while second prize was a 'handsome drawing-room clock under shade'. Some of the other prizes included a fat sheep, duplex drawing room lamp, a silver brooch and ear-rings, and a waterproof car rug.

There was also an old copy of ‘The Bridge’, which was a popular Ballinrobe Parish magazine.

Frank explained how preserving the convent was key when he bought the building 11 years ago.

“When we bought the convent, the first thing we did was to stabilise the building, waterproof it, make sure that it didn’t get any worse than it was. After that initial work, you can slowly improve the building once it is structurally sound.

“We preserved the building and it is great to see that there is still such an interest in the old convent.”